Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How to Create Natural Looking Faux Freckles -No Sun Required
Updated with Freck discount and more: 3/9/26
I was born with auburn hair and skin covered in freckles. Some family members used to call me “freckles” or said I was so “freckle-y” and I loved it. I liked my freckles and I wore them proudly. I remember reading the book Freckle Juice by Judy Blume as a kid and thinking it was weird that the child in the book didn’t like his freckles and did a bunch of things to try to get rid of them.
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Faux freckles are easy to create
As an adult, I understand the book explored this subject as a way to teach kids to be more appreciative of how they look. Well, maybe I gained some confidence in my freckles because of this book or because some celebrated them.
I was the only one in our family that had my skin tone, freckles and hair color, and instead of being made fun of, my look was celebrated by people and that was helpful.
As an adult, I still have freckles all over and they pop out even more after a day in the sun. I wear a daily sunscreen (I am loving HUEGUARD by Live Tinted), so when I want to have a freckly look, I do it the sun-safe way and add them back on after I add makeup to my skin, as it covers most of my face freckles up.
Be proud of the skin you were born with
I didn’t think much of my freckles until I saw people adding faux freckles to their skin in the makeup and beauty world. Adding faux freckles to your skin has been a trend that has faded in and out of the makeup world. There are so many ways to add faux freckles to your skin now such as:
Freck XL or the OG (love this product and my link gives you a discount)
Using a freckle pen (there are tons out there but the Lime Crime Freckle Pen has good reviews on Amazon and is cruelty free)
Using a pencil brown makeup eyeliner (try a $1 version like Wet n Wild Simma Brown Now!)
Using a liquid brown makeup eyeliner (I like KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner in Mad Max Brown)
Using a freckle tattoo (I haven’t tried them, but this freckle tattoo kit is on Amazon for around $7)
Try metallic gold tattoos (This set of 10 galactic gold face freckle tattoos have great reviews on Amazon)
Using bronzer or eyeshadow
All genders and skin types can have freckles
The way I created natural looking faux freckles on my skin that actually works and lasts is by using a dark bronzer and a dotting tool. I think I like it the best because I have combination skin that tends to get oily and a powder faux freckles stay on my skin better. Freck makes a formula that is also very long lasting and I love it!
For the sunkissed makeup look I created for this article, I added a pinky nude lip and love it. Catch my 1 minute tutorial below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Faux freckles are a great summer look
I bought a Natasha Denona #3 bronzer from ipsy and it was a little dark for my skin. I kept it because I knew I could use it as an eyeshadow. Then I saw fake freckles being in style again, so I tested using it with a very small dotting tool that I already had and it worked. It had very little shimmer to it, which is probably best for making freckles, unless you want your freckles to glimmer. I also love her Tan Bronze & Glow Palette and it would work for freckles too.
Fake freckles or real….they all look great!
You can add as many freckles to your skin as you want. If you want to make them look natural, try placing them randomly all over your face instead of just on your nose, as I see many people do. This is totally fine if that’s the look you are going for, but if you really want them to be very natural looking, placement is key.
The XL Freck brush and formula is super long lasting!
Faux freckles make a great way to cover up pimples. I have added a faux “beauty mark” (AKA the “Cindy Crawford” or “Marilyn Monroe” look) to cover up a pimple before! Read more about the history of beauty marks, moles and freckles via Allure’s article.
Freckles tend to look natural when randomly placed
See my one minute faux freckle video tutorial below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
My full faux freckle tutorial:
1--I applied most of my makeup to my skin including Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Correcting Cream. Then I tapped the dotting tool into my dark Natasha Denona bronzer (a dark brown eyeshadow would work too) and tapped it onto my skin, which transferred the dot of bronzer onto my face.
I love Freck!
I also love Freck XL for making freckles. Dab the brush onto your skin, then use your fingers or a brush to tap them to make them less brown and to spread them out a bit (it makes your finger a freckle stamp to spread the product out a bit more!)
How to create faux freckles using bronzer
2--I was able to use my own freckles (which are hidden a bit under my foundation) as a guide on where to apply them and how big/small to make them. If you do not have any freckles, study some images of people that have freckles and see what you’d think would be best on your face.
Study images of people with freckles before adding them to your face
3--After I added the freckles, I tapped them with my finger to soften them a bit.
4--Next, I used an it Cosmetics fluffy powder brush to tap some HALEYS Re-touch Soft Focus Setting Powder over my entire face. This sets my makeup AND sets the freckles.
The smaller the dotting tool the better
5--If the powder covers them up too much, I use the dotting tool to add some more bronzing powder over the freckles again.
6--Lastly, I spray Urban Decay DeSlick Makeup Setting Spray all over my face and the faux freckles last all day! I also love Freck Face Hack makeup setting spray.
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If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💚 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
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Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.