How to Create Natural-Looking Fake Freckles With Makeup

Freckles have made appearances on major runways and many beauty influencers as of late, so naturally, they have become one of the most sought-after beauty feature right now. So much so that people who weren’t lucky enough to get them naturally are going to great lengths to fake them, even getting them tattooed on their faces for permanence. 

The good news is that if you don’t have natural freckles, you don’t have to get a face tattoo to try the look because there are many different ways to fake them. So below, we’ll walk you through the process of how to create faux freckles using makeup, detailing the techniques and makeup products you’ll need to bring freckles to life.

What Can I Use to Get Faux Freckles?

A brown shade of liquid or gel eyeliner works well for creating faux freckles because they both have a precise tip. Another great option is a brow pencil, like the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil. It also has a fine tip and you already know the shade will be a good, natural-looking match for your skin because it matches your hair.

How to Get Freckles With Makeup

No need to be jealous of all your friends with freckles because you can recreate their mom-given feature with makeup. We’re breaking down all of the steps in detail, below.

What you’ll need:

L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Matte Setter

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner in Brown

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray

Step 1. Prime Your Face

Prep your skin for your fake freckles makeup look with the Prime Lab Up to 24H Matte Setter, which will help to extend your makeup wear time while keeping your skin free of shine.

If you have dry skin, prime with the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Blurring Face Primer Infused with Serum.

Step 2: Apply Foundation

Faux freckles are going to last longer on a matte base, so we recommend a powder foundation, like the Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder. Not only does this powder last for up to 24 hours, but it’s also sweat-resistant and smudge-proof. For the most seamless finish, apply the foundation with a blush brush, lightly stippling the product into the skin to create the most natural and seamless coverage. All skin types can use this powder foundation, even those with dry skin because the formula melts into the skin. If you’re still worried about dryness, try the L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation. The formula is infused with hyaluronic acid for extra hydration and it has a natural finish.

Step 3: Dot on the Fake Freckles

Liquid eyeliner is great for sharp-winged eyeliner and faux freckles. We love the Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner because the precision felt tip is ultra-fine and perfect for crafting the tiniest of faux freckles. It’s also important to consider the shade that you reach for — we recommend the brown shade because classic black won’t look as natural.  

Start by taking your brown liner and lightly dot it across your nose and cheeks, reaching up to your cheekbones and all the areas that would naturally freckle if you spent more time in the sun. After you’ve covered those main areas, apply a few stray freckles on your forehead and chin so everything looks super-natural. 

Once you’ve dotted everywhere you want with eyeliner, gently pat each individual freckle to blend them — this will help make the spots look a bit more authentic. Be careful not to drag your fingers as you don’t want to smudge your freckles and expose that they’re fake. 

Step 4: Set the Look With Setting Spray

Once each freckle is perfectly in place, finish your look with a spritz of the Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray to lock everything in place. 

How to Get Faux Freckles With Hair Color Spray

Social media has no shortage of beauty hacks and they’ve found quite an interesting way to achieve faux freckles with the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up. That’s right, the slightest spritz of root touch-up can create a subtle dusting of brown specks that resembles freckles. This technique definitely takes some trial and error with the lightest touch of product. If you want to try this technique out, apply all of your face makeup first. 

1. Prime Your Face and Apply Foundation

Using a primer for your skin type and the aformentioned True Match Super-Blendable Foundation, complete your face makeup as usual. 

2. Spritz the Root Touch-Up On Your Face 

As for how to get fake freckles with root touch-up, you’re simply going to spritz your face with the canister. A few things to keep in mind is that you must close your eyes. While this dye is ammonia-free, (which is likely why many can use it without irritating their skin) you don’t want to get it in your eyes. 

Another extremely important tip is to use a light hand, if you press down on the spray applicator all the way, you’re going to have brown globs of root touch-up all over your face. Ultimately, remember that this product is intended for your hair, not your face so if you experience any irritation, discontinue use immediately and contact your doctor if it doesn’t go away.

3. Dust Your Faux Freckles With Powder

Once your faux freckles are on, use a face powder, like the Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder and a fluffy brush to lightly buff any freckles that look too dark or unnatural. 

The Best Makeup to Pair With Your Fake Freckles

When you’re sporting faux freckles for the day, you want them to be the star of the show, so keep your eye and lip makeup simple and fresh-faced. Apply a volumizing mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara to give your lashes some definition and pair it with a hydrating lippie, like the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick with Pomegranate Extract to add a little bit of color. 

Next: The New Makeup Launches That’ll Upgrade Your Spring Beauty Routine

Photo Credit: IG/@chloe.enchanted, Photo Design: Sarah Duvivier