How to Wear Makeup When You Have Freckles

Freckles shouldn’t put you in a tight spot (ha!) when it comes to wearing makeup. Just because your face is dotted with freckles doesn’t mean you have to be stuck in an eternal debate between wearing lots of layers of foundation to hide them or going makeup-free in order to embrace your complexion. It’s possible to opt for something in-between. You can wear just enough makeup to accentuate your best features—including your freckles! After all, freckles are a major makeup trend right now—why would you want to cover them up? That’s why we’re sharing our best beauty tips for anyone who’s sporting spots. Read on, and you’ll be loving your freckled face—and your face makeup—in no time.

Makeup Tip #1: Select the Right Foundation Shade

As if finding the right foundation for your skin tone wasn’t already challenging enough, it can be even difficult when your face is marked by freckles. The issue is, people often try to choose a foundation or tinted moisturizer shade based on the color of their freckles rather than the skin beneath them. While it isn’t the craziest mistake to make, it won’t end with you applying the right shade of makeup. Instead of basing your product pick on your freckles, you should be looking in between them. The skin that’s peeking out underneath your freckles is what your face makeup needs to be a match for—otherwise you’ll have makeup that’s too dark for your face. And we all know that’s a major beauty faux pas.

Makeup Tip #2: Seek Out Sheer Formulas

Even when it’s not your goal, it’s all too easy to accidently cover up your freckles with foundation. That’s where sheer formulas come into play. Stick to BB creams, CC creams, tinted moisturizers, or foundations that only provide light coverage as your base. That way, you can even your complexion and hide imperfections—without completely concealing your freckles. If you’re reading this and suddenly realizing you’re in the market for new face makeup, try the L’Oréal Paris Magic By Studio Secrets Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream. The BB cream is formulated with encapsulated pigments infused in an ultra-light lotion and instantly transforms to your perfect shade (talk about convenient) for a flawless bare skin finish.

Makeup Tip #3: Don’t Be Afraid of Dewy Finishes

News flash: Dewy skin pairs perfectly with freckles. If your skin doesn’t naturally have the perfect amount of glow after using moisturizer, not to worry. You can get the look with makeup. All it takes is smoothing on a layer of the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer, which instantly hydrates and luminizes for an all-over, fresh, naked glow. For even more “dew,” try giving your clear lip gloss a new purpose. Turn it into a highlighter, dotting the gloss above your cheekbones and cupid’s bow for a highlight that’ll look real.

Makeup Tip #4: Give Cheeks a Pop of Color

When you have freckles, you may need to be more discerning with the colors you use on your cheeks. Blushes that are more on the brown side—similar in shade to your freckles—run the risk of making your makeup look muddy. When it comes time to brush on blush, apply a pretty peach or pink, like the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Blush in Barely Blushing or Baby Blossom, to the apples of your cheeks. 

Makeup Tip #5: DIY Your Dots

If your freckles aren’t as uniform as you’d like—or you just want more—you can always shape them up with the help of a trusty eyebrow pencil. Use the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Pencil in a mid-toned brown to dot on freckles wherever you think it’s necessary, then follow with a makeup setting spray. A few spritzes of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray can help lock your drawn-on freckles in place until you’re ready to remove them.

If you’re unfortunately without any freckles, that’s not a problem. You can always fake them! Here’s How to Fake Freckles if You Don’t Have Them.