How to update your look with fake freckles

If you don’t already flaunt your freckles, you will now. Thanks to actresses such as Emma Stone and Emma Watson, freckles are officially trending. If you weren’t blessed with spots of your own, you’re in luck because fake freckles are the latest beauty craze. Some people are choosing to get fake freckles tattooed on their face, but a less permanent option is to create fake freckles with makeup.
But what causes freckles, exactly? Well, freckles are clusters of concentrated melanin (the substance that gives skin its pigment) most often visible on people with a fair complexion. They’re also triggered by exposure to sunlight, which is why you may notice a few more popping up in the warmer months!
Freckles give you a sun-kissed, natural looking appearance, so it’s no wonder why celebrities are loving the fake freckles trend. Margot Robbie even admitted to having her makeup artist draw fake freckles over the top of her foundation with a brow pencil for red carpet events.
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Want to know how to get your own fake freckles? Here are MAC Global Senior Artist Nicole Thompson’s expert tips for faking your freckles with makeup:
STEP 1: Powder your face. Don’t be too heavy-handed; use just enough to ensure there’s no moisture on the skin. Nicole loves MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder. We also like essence Mattifying Compact Powder.
STEP 2: Choose a pencil. Pick a colour that works with your hair colour and doesn’t go on too dark (or your freckles will look fake). Nicole recommends MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil. You can also use a brow pencil – we love the Models Prefer Retractable Eyebrow Pencil.
STEP 3: Don’t stress about where the dots should be placed – just apply them quickly and softly. Start across the bridge of your nose as this is where the sun would hit naturally, and add as many dots as your heart desires!
STEP 4: For the most natural effect, pat your ‘freckles’ into your skin using your fingertips once applied. This can also help if you’ve applied too heavily!
STEP 5: As long as you apply onto powdered or dry skin, your freckles should last the distance, but if you’re feeling a super hot day coming on, apply a light layer of sheer invisible powder over the top to set. Our members rate Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder.
Do you adore freckles as much as I do? What other makeup trends are you loving lately?
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144 Member Comments
Just accept your skin
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Over the past couple of years some of my freckles have decided not to practice social distancing and have joined up creating patches of pigmentation so I've spent the lock down period concentrating on lightening them, and it's worked.
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I have natural freckles, I have to say I would not add them to my face if I did not have them. Each to their own with beauty.
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I love freckles and yet never had them
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I absolutely love freckles, but i think this is just way too much effort! Wish I was naturally blessed with them.
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I don't think you can fake these things
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looove freckles on people! Just met one 'kid', in his 20s, has these adorable freckles on top of his cheeks. ^^
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If I had then naturally I would be fine with it but im not prepared to draw them on.
As a kid when I was at High School I always had to have my school uniform hem so that my one freckle on my leg was visible...I have no idea why.
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when you get older freckles become islands and pigmentation haha
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Hahahah so funny Ray_Jay ! And true ! I guess there won't be any faking of the freckles for us !
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Freckles are cute but I don't think many would want them so much to fake them.
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I remember as a kid hating mine. I cant believe its the in thing now!
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This article is a little old, is this trend still trending? :)
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Yes, this article is 3 years old! If it ever really was a trend, I think it is well and truly over by now.
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I have freckles already, I've never really hated them nor do I love them. I just kind of forget they are there. I never imagined anyone would be bothered to fake them.
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Me too. I thought that is why we apply foundation to hide imperfections.
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this is a silly trend
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Probably would not paint them on myself unless it was for a dress up party maybe.
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Freckles are cute but I wouldn’t fake them on me
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This is weird because I remember having freckles from age 8 to 12 and tried everything to get rid of them. I hated them and I'm not sure where they went, but they did when I reached my teens.
Although if you see someone with freckles through their make-up, it's not something that stands out to me these days.
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This is so silly...
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Another stupid trend
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I love freckles but it's not something I would draw on myself
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I have real freckles that come out more in the sun - but disappear with makeup. I couldn't imagine putting them back on fakely haha
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