Since the rise in popularity, the trend has received quite a few pushbacks and rightly so. First, the phrase “clean girl” may feel exclusive, as it refers to a “dirty” girl on the flip-side — that if you prefer heavy coverage or a full face beat, you’re a little less “clean.” It doesn’t exactly help that the accompanying string in the video features users with naturally clean, hydrated skin; They can only use a thin layer of tinted moisturizer, as they usually do not need anything else to mask breakout or hyperpigmentation in the first place.
Let’s announce earlier: you can break up or get uneven textures and still achieve bright, dewy makeup; Skin concerns like acne, roughness and texture do not make you “dirty” in any way.
There is also a lack of representation outside of skin type: in most “Clean Girl” videos, users are white, thin and rich, which means that only if one meets these indomitable standards can the trend continue. This could not be more false, especially since Latina women have been wearing gold hoop and cut-back hair for centuries without almost the same commercial recognition. User Lupita (@ guada.lupita) said in a TikTok video, “We’ve always done our hair this way.” “When I was a teenager, [people] Call us dirty, because you don’t do your hair and don’t put it in a braid with a flashy bun, ponytail or hoops. Now it’s called ‘Clean Girl’, while it’s called ‘Dirty Look?’
In response, Latina women took ownership of the trend and created their own popular hashtag, #latinagirlaesthetic. Other counter-movements have also emerged, led by those who refuse to properly adhere to these impossible preconditions. For example, the hashtag #cleanmakeupforblackgirls has over 1 million views and you can find lots of videos featuring “Clean Girl Looks” for acne-prone skin.
Bottom line? Anyone can be aesthetically pleasing to a clean girl regardless of skin tone, body type, or budget and this is by no means a new trend — so it is important to give credit where credit is due.