How To Use a Freckle Pen for a Natural, Sun-Kissed Effect

Whether you were naturally born with them or apply faux ones to your nose and cheeks daily (a la Huda from Love Island), freckles are having a moment—and we can’t get enough of them. Known to emerge during the summer months when we’re getting a little extra sun, freckles are a delightful addition to the skin, and especially shine at golden hour when wearing a sun-kissed makeup look. While most freckles appear naturally all over the face, using a freckle pen can give you creative freedom on where to place them, along with control over their shape and size.

Ready to get in on the trend? Keep reading for a full freckle pen tutorial.

What Is a Freckle Pen, Exactly?

Freckle pens or stamps are used to create faux, natural-looking freckles or to enhance the ones you already have. Usually formulated in light, medium, and deep shades, they have a precise tip or stamp that places tiny dots on the skin when pressed. This way, you can mimic the look of natural freckles and control their size to achieve a believable look. Whether you want to create tiny freckles or more noticeable ones, a freckle pen can help you achieve the goal with minimal fuss.

How To Choose a Freckle Pen or Stamp

Ashley Rebecca / Byrdie

Before choosing a freckle pen, assess your natural skin tone and undertones. Would you be better suited to warmer freckles? Or should they be on the cooler side? Do you want them to be subtle or stand out more? With a variety of freckle pens and stamps available on the market, many of which come in multiple colors, you have options.

The second part of choosing a freckle pen is deciding if you want a single-tip pen or a prong-like stamp that creates multiple freckles at a time. If customizing the size of your freckles is vital to you, opting for a pen with a single tip might be your best bet. Lastly, if you have any specific skin sensitivities, keep this in mind when shopping for a freckle pen and make sure the ingredients are suitable to prevent any reaction.

How To Use a Freckle Pen

Ashley Rebecca / Byrdie

I’m a natural redhead and was born with natural freckles. I had them throughout childhood, and still have them as an adult. Since I’ve received both IPL and Fraxel Dual Laser, some of my freckles have diminished over time; my remaining freckles are most prominent around my nose.

I wanted to add freckles to my nose and cheeks, so I opted to use the Tarte Cosmetics Go With The Faux Freckle Stamp in the shade Medium. I love how it has a prong-like stamp that adds four freckles at a time, and it is easy to use.

Start Small and Build As You Go

Once my full makeup look was applied, I went ahead and pressed the stamp into the product to pick up the pigment, and then started placing the freckles where I wanted them. I started on the apples of my cheeks, moved inward along the bridge of my nose, and continued to the other cheek, moving back and forth until I had all of the freckles I wanted.

Blur Once Applied

To make my freckles appear more natural, I lightly tapped the area with my finger, smudging ever so slightly once the pigment dried. This blurs and diffuses the freckles, helping them look much more believable. If you want, you can layer more on top of your initial freckles for added depth.

Byrdie Tip

To vary the tone of your freckles, you can mix shades and use more than one product. For example, using both light and medium shade freckle pens or stamps can create contrast.

Create Different-Sized Freckles

When using a freckle pen with a single tip, like Revolution’s Fake The Freckle Self Tan Freckle Pen, you can press the tip against the skin where you want the freckles to appear. Places like the bridge of the nose and the cheek area are familiar, as this is where most natural freckles form. Create different-sized dots to mimic real freckles, and tap them lightly with your finger to blur them. It’s best practice to apply the freckles as the last step in your makeup routine, after foundation, bronzer, and blush.

Over applied? Not to worry. You can easily create a more faded freckle look by lightly tapping some foundation on top of your freckles if they are too obvious, or if you applied more than you’d like. After you’ve blended your makeup, you can go back in with the pen and add more until you’re satisfied.

Ashley Rebecca / Byrdie

Don’t Worry, They’re Easy to Remove

Freckle pens won’t stain your skin, so there’s no need to worry about a complicated removal process. Faux freckles will come right off with any standard face cleanser and won’t leave behind stains or residual color. Wash your face and continue your skincare routine as usual.

The Final Result: Natural, Sunkissed Freckles

Ashley Rebecca / Byrdie

Once you’ve applied your desired number of freckles, you can sit back and admire your work. I love how real these freckles looked and how easy it was to create them. The precision of the stamp allowed me to apply them with ease, and they looked great with my natural makeup. I liked having freckles naturally, so I’ll be utilizing this stamp much more often to create some extra freckles and embrace my childhood nostalgia.