Celebrity Inspirations……..I’m gonna be real with you — when the clean girl makeup trend first started showing up on my feed, I rolled my eyes. Not because it’s bad (spoiler: it’s actually kinda genius), but because it felt like one more thing to “achieve” before 8 a.m. when I’m already running on coffee fumes and a bagel. You know that feeling? Like when someone says, “Oh, it’s effortless,” but you just know there’s a 27-step routine behind it.
But then — and I’m almost embarrassed to admit this — I started noticing celebrities absolutely owning the clean girl look. Hailey Bieber with her glazed donut skin, Zendaya making no-makeup makeup look like she literally woke up glowing, and even J.Lo, who somehow hasn’t aged since my 8th-grade graduation. (Back then I wore two different shoes to school. Not on purpose. It was a Monday. That was my “trend.”)
Anyway, this isn’t gonna be some stiff article telling you how to contour your face into another dimension. This is just me, a Queens girl who’s seen the inside of too many Duane Reades, talking about why this trend is everywhere, how stars are making it cool instead of clinical, and how I’ve been (clumsily) trying it out myself.
So, What Even Is the Clean Girl Makeup Trend?
Okay, picture this: your skin but glowier, your brows brushed up but not like laminated-to-your-forehead, lips hydrated but not sticky, and makeup that makes you look like you’ve been drinking water (I have not) and sleeping 8 hours (also not). That’s basically it. It’s less about heavy products and more about subtlety.
It’s the anti-heavy contour. The anti-three-false-lash-stacks look. It’s the girl at brunch who’s like, “Oh, I didn’t even try,” but her blush is sitting just right and her skin’s like glass.
Celebrities have been leaning hard into it. Not just on Instagram either. Red carpets, interviews, off-duty pap shots. And it’s wild because for decades, stars have been known for glam. Think: full beat, smoky eyes, sculpted cheekbones. Now, they’re going for something that feels more… human? More like, “I’m famous but I could also be your cool cousin who lives in SoHo and eats açai bowls.”
Hailey Bieber: The Poster Child for Clean Girl Energy
Listen, I’m not saying Hailey invented it, but she’s definitely its Beyoncé. Her glazed donut skin care brand launched and suddenly everyone’s face needed to be dewy. She does this thing with cream blush that makes her look alive in a way I haven’t felt since before the pandemic.
I watched one of her tutorials once and thought, “I can do that.” Cut to me at my mirror, dabbing highlighter with my ring finger, looking less like a donut and more like I got caught in the rain. But that’s part of the fun, right? Trying, messing up, laughing at yourself.
Honestly, seeing someone like Hailey (who could totally go full glam every day if she wanted) choose the clean girl aesthetic makes it feel more approachable. Like, okay, if she’s into subtle glow and brushed brows, maybe I don’t need to contour my nose into oblivion anymore.
Zendaya: Effortless but Strategic
Zendaya’s version of clean girl makeup is different. She’s not just doing the “fresh-faced” thing for a grocery run — she’s making it red-carpet-worthy. And she’s proof this trend isn’t about skipping artistry; it’s about finesse.
She’ll show up with barely-there eyeshadow, a hint of highlight, and a soft matte lip and still look like the main event. Meanwhile, I’m out here trying to blend tinted moisturizer with my hands because my brush is still dirty from last week.
But I love her take on it. It’s like she’s saying, “Yeah, I’m glowing, but it’s intentional.” And honestly? That’s where the magic is. Clean girl doesn’t have to mean boring. It can mean subtle and powerful.
J.Lo: Glow Goals Since Forever
Let’s be real — J.Lo has basically been the blueprint for glowing skin since before Instagram was even a thing. In Queens, where I grew up, she was the icon. Her bronzed cheekbones? Legendary. Her glossy lips? A cultural moment.
Now she’s doing a softer, cleaner version of her classic glam and it’s just… chef’s kiss. It’s like she distilled all the glow we remember from the early 2000s and made it fresh again. If J.Lo can pivot to clean girl vibes, the rest of us can too.
Why Celebrity Inspirations Are Loving This Trend (and Why I’m Not Mad About It)
I think part of the reason stars are embracing this look is because it’s relatable. Don’t get me wrong — they’re still using products that cost as much as my ConEd bill. But the vibe? The vibe feels like Sunday mornings, soft sweaters, and iced lattes. Not a club at 2 a.m.
It also photographs beautifully. Every celeb knows their face will end up on social, in HQ pap shots, in Zoom interviews. Heavy makeup can sometimes crack under flash or look cakey in 4K. This? This just looks like skin.
And from a mental health angle (not to get all deep here), it’s nice seeing trends that are about enhancing what you have instead of transforming yourself completely. It’s like permission to be “enough” as is — with a dab of blush and lip balm.
How I’ve Been (Kind Of) Trying It Myself As Celebrity Inspirations
So here’s my little confession: I’ve been playing with the clean girl makeup trend in my own chaotic way. Some mornings, I do the full “no-makeup makeup” routine — tinted moisturizer, cream blush, clear brow gel, balm. Other mornings, it’s just chapstick and dry shampoo and hoping my mask hides the rest.
But the days I do lean into it? People notice. My coworker literally asked if I’d “been sleeping more.” (Reader, I had not.) It’s wild how a bit of cream highlighter and brushed brows can make you look like you’ve got your life together, even if your laundry pile says otherwise.
Tips If You Wanna Try (Without Spending $500)
- Start with skin. You don’t need Hailey’s brand — even a drugstore hydrating serum will help.
- Cream products > powders. They melt into skin and look more natural.
- Brows: Brush them up. Even if you skip everything else.
- Lip balm with a tint = instant polish.
- Blend with fingers. Seriously. It gives that soft, real-skin look.
You don’t have to do all of it at once. Pick one or two things. Make it yours.
Where This Trend Might Go Next Celebrity Inspirations
Part of me thinks we’re in the calm before the next big glam storm. Trends always cycle. But for now, I’m loving this softer vibe. It feels refreshing, especially after years of cut creases and baking your face for an hour.
Also, I’m curious to see how different celebs twist it. Will we get “clean girl goth”? “Clean girl but make it Y2K”? Honestly, I’d be here for it.
Outbound Links (Suggestions)
- Into The Gloss for insider celebrity beauty tips.
- A fun TikTok creator who breaks down celebrity makeup trends.
