Clean Makeup: the natural makeup that good (and bad) girls like

Apart from some beneficial intense green smoothies, the color palette of the TikTok videos that tell the story of the clean girl aesthetic is white, beige, cream and some shades of pink, the same shades that dominate the makeup in question. Natural “clean girl” makeup, the one next door so to speak, is nothing new, but in recent years this aesthetic has become so dominant that it has transformed into a lifestyle. In clean girl social tutorials, many skin care products and tricks are used in order to appear fresh and relaxed like at the end of a yoga class or after a good twelve hours’ sleep. It is no coincidence that the best representatives of this aesthetic are young, rich and beautiful supermodels such as Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid and Sofia Richie. And yet there is no shortage of controversy because these (effective) minimalist beauty routines have been criticized as they hide the efforts necessary to satisfy stereotyped, as well as Western-centric, beauty standards.
«We should consider the natural look for what it is: an elaborate and precise make-up, which does not really expose the face, but which is worked to restore an image in which one can recognize oneself», says the makeup artist in a video call from Los Angeles Diane Buzzetta, who regularly works with some of the best representatives of the clean aesthetic, from Hailey Bieber to Sofia Richie, up to Alessandra Ambrosio and Camila Morrone. Buzzetta, born in Brooklyn and of Italian origins, has become a reference professional in Los Angeles for what she calls natural pretty makeup. The appointment was a few days before the Oscars – an event that saw clean makeup as a big favorite on the red carpet.

What is your personal conception of clean girl aesthetics?
«It all starts with the right skincare routine: if the skin isn’t taken care of, makeup doesn’t work. Then, in makeup, it’s all about layers and attention to detail. It is thought that natural make-up is faster than a full look, but this is not the case, because it must be precise, but nuanced. Here it is not simply a matter of covering: the face is modeled with a soft sculpting made with precise gestures that make the skin appear healthy and hydrated.”

How did your career begin?
«At 16 I started selling cosmetics door to door for Avon, but I wasn’t very good because I bought everything myself! At the time I wanted to look older so I wore a lot of make-up and I also liked drawing faces, it had a sort of calming effect. But I really didn’t know how to make it a profession… When I moved with my family from Brooklyn to Las Vegas I attended a beauty school and in the meantime worked in a beauty salon. That’s where I had my first celebrity client, Paris Hilton. It was 2010. However, it was another client of the same institute, Mary Phillips (famous celebrity makeup artist, ed.): I met her by doing her eyelash extensions and I became her assistant. her. If today I am in Los Angels doing what I do it is also thanks to her.”

Other makeup artists you admire?
«Here in LA I met many people who inspired me, for example Kim Kardashian herself, who runs brilliant marketing campaigns (Buzzetta often puts makeup on her sister Kendall Jenner, ed.). As a makeup artist I really admire Ash K Holm – a portfolio of clients that ranges from Ariana Grande to Kim Kardashian – who has always supported me: it’s nice when bigger and more famous professionals help you, turning what could be a competition into a community: it’s a truly precious experience.”

Can you explain to us why the very luminous dewy effect has become the main characteristic of natural face looks?
«I think that the matte effect is still excellent for the stage or for TV, when the lights are so strong that they flatten any makeup, but for every day, for red carpets and all the events where people meet from alive, more natural looks are better, therefore also brighter.”

What beauty trend would you like to see in the near future?
«When I wore a lot of make-up, as a little girl, I did it to hide, to cover my discomforts, my suffering. For me it’s nice that today there is a strong desire to feel good in your own skin, with the added awareness of the products you are using. I hope we continue in this direction, maybe every now and then it’s fun to do something crazier, but a fresh and healthy face is what I prefer.”

What news will come?
«Unlike a few years ago, today it is possible to do good makeup using only organic, clean and sustainable makeup: this is a big step forward. We are understanding how to get the best from natural cosmetics and in the meantime these are becoming more and more performing: I hope that in the future we will be able to have a greater number of effective formulas for skin care and with better packaging for the planet.”