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Beauty Look to try: faux freckles

Oct. 27, 2021
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As someone who grew up without the blessings of natural freckles, to me, they were always the forbidden fruit. Something about a smattering of the beauties across the bridge of a nose or the tops of cheekbones always gives a more cute, youthful, sun-kissed look. And now for those who, like me, aren’t naturally blessed in the freckle department, there’s a solution. Faux freckle products, once solely reserved for stage makeup kits and dodgy Halloween costumes, are becoming an everyday makeup staple. Here are two ways to try out the faux freckle look.


Faux freckles can be a fun way to spice up your regular "bronzed goddess" look. Start by cleaning your face thoroughly with a gentle cleanser like Noto Botanics The Wash, then apply a hydrating and repairing serum like the Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief Serum. I love this in the morning as it leaves my skin feeling protected and looking nourished and glowy. Next, apply a bronzing base like the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti Pollution Sunshine Drops. This can look a little crazy on fair skin tones at first, but as you rub the product in, it leaves a beautifully tanned glow. While looking tanned is key, actually being tanned is best avoided, so follow up with an SPF. I love the Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte, which offers a tiny hint of coverage and a beautiful glow alongside the sun protection. To keep the base minimal, add just a hint of concealer (the Nars Soft Matte Complete is ideal for tapping and blending with a finger) only where you need it.

To amp up the sun-kissed look, apply the Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer in “Baked” wherever the sun would naturally hit your face, buffing in with a brush. Then take a warm-toned cream blush like the Stila Convertible Color in “Gerbera” over the apples of the cheeks, using whatever excess you have over the bridge of the nose for an adorable “sunburn” effect. Finish with a gold, dewy highlighter like the Ciate Dewy Stick in “Gleam,” and, of course, your Freck Beauty XL Faux Freckle Cosmetics in “Neutral” across the bridge of the nose and the cheekbones.


Fill in and sculpt your eyebrows using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze respectively. For the eyes, take a fluffy brush and a powder bronzer with a hint of shimmer like the NARS Laguna Bronzer and define your crease. Line the upper lashline with the NYX Slim Eye Pencil in “Dark Brown” and create a slim wing. Blend the wing shape gently upward with a finger to diffuse any harsh lines and lift the eye. Add a couple of layers of the Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara, then line the lower waterline with the Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘n’ Kohl Eye Cheat to banish any redness and open up the eye.


Line the lips with a slightly darker nude pencil, like the Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Liner Pencil in “3C Medium Natural Beige,” then fill in with a softer, peachy nude lipstick like the Glossier Generation G Lipstick in “Cake.” Finish with a dab of the Origins Drink Up Nourishing Avocado Lip Butter, which keeps lips looking soft and nourished throughout the day.


For a more fun take on the faux freckle look, you still need to start with an SPF. I’ve been loving the La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Aquagel SPF 30 because it almost feels like it doubles as a primer. Skin feels smoother and plumper after use, and it creates the perfect canvas for a more out-there look. A sherry, dewy base is a great way to complement a heavier eyeshadow, so first apply the Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint, concealing any areas needed with the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.


Next, take a warm, poppy red blush like the Glossier Cloud Paint in “Spark” and apply over the cheekbones and a little on the bridge of the nose. Blend this bright shade in using the Milk Makeup Holographic Stick in “Mars,” which is sheer but has a peachy-red reflect. Top up your glow with the Burt’s Bees All Aglow Highlighter Stick, which is natural and dewy. For these more obvious freckles, try the Colourpop Freckle Pen in “Soft Brown,” tapping some of your “freckles” with a finger to blend and ensure they aren’t all exactly the same color and size—a dead giveaway.


Brush up your brows with something fibrous like the Elf Cosmetics Wow Brow Brow Gel. To begin any more extravagant eye look, it’s essential to make sure your lids are properly hydrated and prepped. I love applying just a tiny bit of the Elemis Pro Collagen Eye Revive Mask both under my eyes and on the lids to ensure makeup never looks crusty or dry. Next, take the brightest pink shade from the Huda Beauty Rose Obsessions Pastel Eye Palette and apply in a five-petaled floral shape to the upper lid. Don’t worry too much about being neat here—you can easily clean up the edges with a bit of the Garnier Skin Micellar Cleansing Water on a Q-tip, plus the liner edges will hide all manner of sins. Once you have the basic shape down, you can draw your flower outline with the Glam Vice Cosmetics Retro Liner in “Peaches and Cream” on a fine liner brush. Line the waterline with a white pencil like the NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil in “Milk,” then apply some fluffy black mascara like the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes.


Line the lips with a soft pink pencil like the MAC Lip Pencil in “Edge to Edge,” then fill in with a corresponding lipstick like the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in “Very Victoria.” And if you do want to add an adorable orange tone to your hair (but aren’t keen on too much commitment) the Bleach London Awkward Peach Shampoo gives a subtle warm tint that washes straight out, but also leaves hair feeling soft and strong and smelling great.