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Freckle pens have made it possible for anyone who wasn’t born with freckles to sport the natural sun-kissed look. The versatile makeup trend has been around for years, with celebrities like Hailey Bieber incorporating it into both her minimalist and bold looks. Selena Gomez, meantime, donned fake freckles in her music video for 2017 single “Fetish.”
The natural aesthetic has continued to garner a large following on social media with countless beauty influencers on TikTok providing tutorials on how to achieve the most realistic-looking fake freckles. Makeup brands have also dropped tools ranging from freckle pens to stamp applicators so you can ditch using mascara or an eyebrow pen to apply the beauty trend.
Below, Billboard Shopping breaks down how to use a freckle pen including how to create realistic freckles and the best freckle pens to stock up on.
What Is a Good Freckle Pen?
A good freckle pen will have a soft, lightweight tip to help you effortlessly apply fake freckles to your face. You’ll want to make sure the shade is complimentary to your skin tone to create realistic freckles, as the hue could show up too dark or not at all. If you like wearing powder foundation and concealer, the best freckle pens will be buildable, allowing you to layer the formula over your makeup.
How Do You Get Realistic Freckles?
The key to making realistic freckles, according to most TikTok beauty creators, is to take the freckle pen and apply the brush randomly onto your face for the most natural look. Then, use your finger or a beauty blender to lightly blend and spread the formula around your face. Apply another layer to different spots and areas around your face and repeat the process until you get your desired look. Make sure to put freckles in spots that the sun would hit the most and avoid staying in one section or area of your face, as TikToker @peytonliveslife suggests in a tutorial video.
What Are the Best Freckle Pens?
We’ve rounded up some of the best freckle pens that you can buy online, based on our own experience testing them and on top user reviews.
EDITOR’S PICK
Lime Crime Freckle Pen
This freckle pen has been loved by Amazon reviewers for its fine tip and color options, including a bold magenta for anyone looking to add some color to their makeup looks. You can apply it onto your bare skin or over foundation thanks to its buildable formula, and shoppers boast that it “lasts all day even without setting spray.” The ingredients are also 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
TIKTOK PICK
Freck Beauty The Original Freckle Pen
TikTok can’t get enough of Freck Beauty’s freckle pen with @peytonliveslife using the makeup tool within the review. You need to shake it before using, but once applied, it boasts a waterproof and long-lasting formula that’s cruelty-free, gluten-free and oil-free. TikTokers are especially obsessed with how it turns out, praising its ability to provide a realistic look.
“It’s very, very warm, but once you dab it out it looks so, so natural,” TikToker @cakedbybabyk said in a review video about the freckle pen.
BUILDABLE PICK
ColourPop Freckle Pen
Even after applying a full face of makeup, this freckle pen will still be able to give you a natural look using its staying formula and felt-tip pen. It comes in a soft brown shade recommended for fair to medium skin tones and comes out with “subtle marks,” according to reviewers (of course, you can always make them darker by applying more color). For those with freckles, one reviewer likes using the pen post-makeup routine, saying “these help me enhance them after makeup.”
BUDGET-FRIENDLY PICK
HandAiyan Freckle Pen (2-Pack)
Amazon’s under $10 freckle pen is ideal for those who want to try out the trend with a quality formula that’s affordable. You’ll receive two pens in either light brown and natural coffee, or chestnut and dark brown. Both come with a soft felt tip for a simple yet comfortable application. In addition to being a best-selling on Amazon, reviewers note that the shades appear soft, which means you don’t need to spread the freckles out with your fingers.
FIBER BRUSH PICK
Tarte Freckle Pen
Tarte’s Freckle Pen has a larger shade range, with three options to choose from: light, medium and dark brown to match to your skin tone. What makes it unique from the rest is its flexible fiber brush tip that you can use to splatter across your face or gently tap. The formula is made with vegan ingredients and is waterproof for a more long-lasting look.
STAMP PICK
Maykoo Freckle Stamp
If using a brush sounds too advanced for you, consider trying out a freckle stamp like this one by Maykoo. Instead of using a brush to randomly spot your face, you’ll dip the stamp into the tub, making sure the applicator is completely covered. Then, lightly press it onto a section of your face. Blend it and then repeat until you get the look you want.
Amazon reviewers love its easy application and design, praising “how the stamper has different size points on it” and that the result “makes full coverage makeup seem more realistic.”
SKIN-SOOTHING PICK
Jason Wu The Freckled Boy Freckle Pen
What sets Jason Wu’s freckle pen apart from the rest is how it infuses rosewater into its formula to help soothe skin with every application. It comes in a light brown shade, which is suitable for most skin tones, and has reviewers raving over how it’s “perfect for summer time.”
To apply: “lightly tap the fine point tip wherever you want faux freckles and dab off any excess. Reviewers also say “the pigment is on point [and] blends beautifully with makeup.”
For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best refillable lipsticks, makeup tools for beginners and press-on nails.
