In this episode of Breaking the Rules, we record from an unusual location — the bathroom floor of a public restroom — as we explore an increasingly popular social media trend: “clean girl culture.”
Across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the clean girl aesthetic promotes a polished, minimalist lifestyle — natural makeup, tidy wardrobes, “clean” eating, and curated routines that appear effortless and healthy.
But when does a healthy routine become rigidity, anxiety, or compulsive behavior?
In this conversation we unpack how trends like clean girl culture can blur the line between wellbeing and preoccupation, and how certain aspects of the aesthetic can overlap with OCD patterns, particularly around contamination, checking, perfectionism, and the need for control.
We also explore the broader question clinicians and individuals often face: how do we know when something has gone too far?
In this episode we discuss:
Ultimately, this episode isn’t about criticising trends — it’s about helping people reflect on the “why” behind their behaviours and recognizing when something that started as self-care begins to shrink a person’s life instead of expanding it.