Delmaine Donson
As minimalist makeup looks trend season after season, it’s no surprise that rocking a fresh, freckled complexion is currently en vogue. Over the past few years, the natural aesthetic has inspired countless viral tutorials on how to create fake freckles using brow pencils and classic eyeliners. And, a handful of brands have debuted special freckle pens and tints—so you can more easily get the speckled effect even if you aren’t genetically blessed with it or haven’t just returned from a tropical vacation.
“Adding freckles to your complexion creates a sun-kissed finish (minus harmful sun exposure) and a youthfulness to your makeup design,” says Nick Lujan, director of artistry and education for Kevyn Aucoin Beauty. “Applying faux freckles can also help make a full-coverage foundation appear a bit more natural—giving the illusion that you can see freckles through the makeup.” Additionally, the look can be used to camouflage breakouts, Lujan notes.
To make your faux freckles seem as real as possible, Lujan suggests applying them “where you receive the most sun on your features,” like on the upper cheeks and across the bridge of your nose. And as tempting as it may be to get calculated with it, “do not make them evenly spaced or balanced, since you do not want them to look intentionally patterned.”
When using a freckle pen, “be sure your pen is pointy and employ varying pressure and color saturation,” Lujan advises. “By varying your pressure, you are creating different sizes and saturations of color, creating a more authentic appearance.”
Remember, if you plan to go for a full face beat, always apply faux freckles as the final step of your makeup routine. “When using a setting powder, dust off any excess powder so that the freckle color can adhere well without spreading (over-powdering can lead to the color bleeding outward),” Lujan notes.
Ahead, shop the six best freckle pens for your ultimate glow-up—according to Lujan, customer reviews, and our own rigorous testing.
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1
Best Tested Freckle Pen
Lime Crime
Freckle Pen 2
It-Girl Favorite Freckle Pen
Freck Beauty
The Original Freckle 3
Soothing Freckle Pen
Jason Wu Beauty
Jason The Freckled Boy 4
Best Freckle Pen For Buildable Color
Colourpop
Freckle Pen 5
Best Budget Freckle Pen
Lottie London
Freckle Tint 6
Best Freckle Pen Alternative
Kevyn Aucoin
True Feather Brow Marker Gel Duo
How can I apply a freckle pen to mask blemishes?
“Applying faux freckles is a great way to turn small blemishes into beauty marks,” Lujan says. “For long-wear application, remove any makeup, oils, or powder from the blemish. (I like using a teeny tiny, pointy cotton bud with water-based makeup remover.) Place the tip of the cotton bud on the blemish and give it a quick twist, using light pressure to avoid removing too much makeup from the surrounding area,” Lujan adds. Finally, dot on your freckle pen and let the formula dry completely before applying a veil of loose powder, Lujan advises.
Nick Lujan is the director of artistry and education for Kevyn Aucoin Beauty.
Sam Peters is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over five years of experience covering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle topics. For this roundup, she spoke with a makeup expert about the best freckle pens and how to apply them. The author also tested one of these products and considered a range of top-rated freckle pens on the market, evaluating each on their features offered and customer feedback.
Sam Peters Commerce Editor Sam Peters is a Commerce Editor at Hearst covering fashion, beauty and more.
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