No One Will Know Your Freckles Aren't Real With These Celeb Makeup Artists' Tips
If you have Instagram, TikTok, or pretty much any other social media platform, odds are you’ve scrolled past someone posting a selfie with their fake freckles on at least once. Fake freckles are very ~trendy~ right now, which means makeup lovers everywhere are using all kinds of tools to create the signature look. Whether you're interested in learning how to do fake freckles yourself or just want to know why exactly they're so darn popular, keep reading.
“Freckles make the skin look healthy and give a sun-kissed appearance,” says makeup artist Renée Loiz. “They can also be used to cover pesky blemishes.” Which, TBH, is kind of a genius idea. They also "evoke a feeling of fresh youthfulness" according to makeup artist Molly R. Stern, so if you’re into the natural look, you’re going to want to give this a try ASAP.
Fake freckles are particularly popular as of late since many people are cooped up inside but still want to get that just-tanned look. “Quarantine both inspired creativity in makeup and embracing natural beauty along with our imperfections,” says makeup artist Lisa Aharon. “Applying fake freckles falls perfectly in the middle of the two, so I’m not surprised of their recent popularity.”
While the look may look simple (It’s just adding some lil’ dots to your face, right?!), making your fake freckles look authentic takes solid makeup skills. That's why Women’s Health consulted pros who can detail how to apply fake freckles step-by-step on every skin tone.
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Step One: Gather the tools you’ll need before you start.
“To rock fake freckles for a day, start by applying your favorite foundation,” explains Nour Agha, YSL Beauty’s National Makeup Artist. After you have your skincare and base layer of foundation or concealer on, you’ll want to decide which kind of tool to use to create your freckled look.
For rounder, circular freckle dots, grab a brow pencil to create your look. “Using a brow pencil gives a more natural appearance,” Agha explains. “I use the YSL Couture Brow Slim.” Just be sure that the brow pencil matches your hair color and has a warmer tone, Loiz explains.
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For a spattered, tinier freckled look, you’ll want to grab one of the cool products specifically formulated for faux beauty marks. Take FRECK OG for example, which has a pigmented, buildable liquid formula that shows up (and stays) on all skin types. Using one of these brush-based products, you’ll get a more speckled look, rather than the rounded, dotted nature of using a brow pencil.
For covering blemishes, it’s best to use a darker pigment that takes up larger surface area to ensure the zit is fully covered. “If you want a more editorial faux freckle look, try Milk Makeup’s Freckle Tattoo Stamp and stamp on nose and cheeks,” Loiz says. Dot this on your zit (or zits), too, and you’re good to go.
Step Two: Apply your freckles.
Now, it’s time to get to work. “Take a product like FRECK and dot on freckles where the sun naturally hits, such as the nose and cheekbone, spacing them imperfectly apart,” Loiz explains. You can also sprinkle a few dots on the apples of your cheeks. “The key is to start sparingly; you can always add more,” says Stern.
And honestly, you don’t need to worry about the placement of each dot, Aharon notes. “The more imperfect they look, the better and more natural,” she says. “If you’re using a pen like FRECK OG, once you’ve gotten a good spattering of them applied, tap your finger over them, essentially stamping them lightly to fill in the other areas. This will give the effect of them coming through the skin, not just sitting on top.”
For the most just-got-back-from-the-beach look, start centrally in whatever area you’re applying, then go lighter, moving the pencil and dabbing onto the outskirts of your face and hairline.
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Step Three: Dab and set your look.
After you’ve applied all of the freckles your heart desires, lightly press them in with your (clean!) fingers so the color becomes one with your skin, Loiz explains. To round out your freckles look, you can also use a setting powder and blush. “For the most natural flattering finish, I like to create a sun-kissed effect with a hint of cream blush or bronzer over the flecks,” Aharon says. “If your skin is on the oilier side, dust a touch of powder on top to help them last longer.” Noted!
Lastly, here are some other important freckle notes.
Check yourself: “Once you applied your first application, walk away from the mirror for a minute and then come back and check your work,” Stern explains. “It’s important to gain perspective on the application to really know if you need more or not.”
Start small: “I love using a fine tipped liquid liner, like the Armani Eyes to Kill Designer Eyeliner in Wood,” Stern says. “These tend to have a sheerer application and stay on better than a traditional pencil might.” For those of you who are new to the faux freckles game, it might be helpful to start with a fine-tipped option so that it’s easier to erase mistakes and build on your sheer freckle work.
You still need SPF: Looking sun-kissed doesn’t actually require any harmful sun exposure! Even though your look may seem pigmented, be sure you’re still applying all the sunscreen necessary for safe skin. TLDR; You can always add bronzer, freckles, and blush to your complexion instead of getting burnt IRL.
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