Faux freckles are the latest anti-aging makeup trick

The beauty landscape is teeming with heavy-handed tutorials about all the latest ‘ings’ (you know them: contouring, strobing, colour correcting) to obliterate pores and skin imperfections with layers of makeup. But there’s a quirky little trend that’s pushing back and picking up speed. I’m talking about faux freckles.

The chicest of artificial speckles first popped up on spring/summer ’16 runways with makeup gurus such as Charlotte Tilbury casting a sprinkling of spots over model’s cheeks and noses to re-enforce a naturally beautiful vibe. Fast-forward to earlier this year and faux freckles got another ringing endorsement, this time from the be-all of supernatural gorgeousness: Gisele Bündchen. In a Chanel Beauty Talks YouTube video clip, Bündchen demonstrates how she re-captures her freckled features after foundation application. It’s one of her subtle beauty tricks that gives her a perennial youthful glow.

Sure, drawing dots on your face sounds silly. But really, is it any sillier than contouring? Plus, DIY-ing freckles is actually stupid easy and fairly goofproof. Grace Lee, Lead Makeup Artist for Maybelline New York Canada, breaks it down: “The fine point and colour range of the Maybelline New York Brow Precise Micro Pencil make it easy for anyone to create faux freckles: just draw dots ranging in all sizes, and then dab with a sponge. I love using the Maybelline New York Dream Blender — it has a handle and you don't gets your hands dirty!" Aim for a random, less-than-perfect placement, which buoys the underlying message here. "I love this trend because it celebrates the individual. It's all about loving your natural beauty and to me that's awesome!” says Lee, who fashioned faux spots for Rudsak’s fall show (shown here). Pencils up!

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