Five Tips to Achieve the “Clean Girl” Makeup Look
Easy ways to lock down a cute and effortless look for the Spring.
by ILA KRISHNA ★ APRIL 20, 2022
The “clean girl” look has been blowing up on TikTok and Instagram. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s basically a casual, chic, model-off-duty vibe. It’s all about being simple—think neutral and glowy makeup. It’s one of my personal favorite looks because it’s so quick and easy but looks classy and put together. Here are five tips to achieve the model-off-duty “clean” makeup look!
#1: Start off with the most important step—moisturizer and SPF!
Before putting any makeup on your face, it’s CRUCIAL to moisturize. SPF is super important even in the winter or on cloudy days. The sun can damage skin, cause wrinkles, and lead to serious issues like skin cancer. My go-to face sunscreen has been Unseen by GOOP. It’s super strong, moisturizes your face, AND it’s a clear gel that can’t be seen at all, so you don’t have to worry about sunscreen residue!
#2: Invest in a good concealer.
Find the perfect concealer for your skin tone and use it as needed. I usually put it under my eyes (because I have the WORST under-eye bags) and over any blemishes. My absolute favorite concealers are the NARS concealer and the Tarte Hydroclear concealer. The Tarte one is amazing because it’s vegan. NARS offers a variety of shades for their concealers. These are my go-to’s because they aren’t super heavy and get the job done while still looking natural—perfect for the clean girl look.
#3: Use minimal eye makeup.
The clean girl look is all about being simple and quick, so minimal eye makeup is key. The key is a few coats of black mascara, eyebrow gel, a neutral eyeshadow color, and a thin line of black eyeliner. I’ve tried all sorts of fancy mascaras from Sephora, but my all-time favorite mascara is L’Oreal Telescopic. I swear by it and recommend it to ALL my friends. It's super affordable and can be found in any drugstore, too!
#4: Break out the blush.
Adding a slight pink blush to your cheeks will get you that natural, sun-kissed look. Liquid blush is great - I love the Glossier Cloud Paint in shade Puff. For powder blush, I’m obsessed with the NARS Orgasm blush. The key is to lightly brush it on so it doesn’t come off too strong.
#5: Keep it neutral on the lips.
A neutral lip gloss will complete the look. I’d recommend something light pink, like the Dior Lip Glow, but do whatever best compliments your skin tone! My other personal favorites are the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in the shade, Shimmering Rose Nude and the Dior Lip Glow Oil in shade Mahogony. Both are super neutral, but add a pop of color and glossy finish.
Put your hair in a neat ponytail and wear some neutral colors to complete the clean girl look! The absolute best tip I can give you to rock any makeup look is to BE CONFIDENT. Confidence is the BEST accessory. You’ll look amazing no matter what!