How to Get Freckles

Co-authored by Bia Rehman

Last Updated: November 22, 2022

Some people have a sprinkling of freckles across their nose and cheeks, while others are covered from head to toe. Freckles are hereditary, so you either have them or don't, but that doesn't mean you can't get a freckled look if they're not in your genes. Thanks to makeup and even cosmetic tattooing, anyone can rock freckles. Keep reading to learn how to get freckles whether they're in your genetics or not.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Getting Freckles Naturally

1
Determine if you might have the right genes. If there are no freckles in your genetic line, you will not be able to develop natural freckles. The people most likely to develop freckles are those with red hair and pale skin, but freckles are not exclusive to this set of characteristics. People with dark hair are less likely to have freckles, though it is still possible for them to have them. People with light hair and light colored eyes are also more likely to have freckles.
- To determine if freckles are in your family line, look at your family. Siblings, parents, grandparents, and others who you are directly descended from are your best sources to consider, but extended family whom you are not directly descended from still share some genetic traits with you.
2
Spend a little time in the sun. Freckles are drawn out with exposure to UV light. If you have natural freckles, spending a little time in bright sunlight might bring them out of hiding. Be careful, though - you should never stay out long enough to get a burn. Wearing sunscreen that's 20 to 30 SPF will still allow your skin to tan while protecting you from getting burned.
- When UV rays hit the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), it thickens slightly, causing the cells in your body to produce more pigment. As a result, the pigmentation of your freckles darkens, making them visible.
- If you would rather skip the sunbathing, consider exposing yourself to UV rays at a tanning salon. Follow the salon's recommendations concerning the amount of time to spend tanning, since tanning too much in a salon can lead to cancer.
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3
Understand the cause. Freckles are a hereditary trait caused by an uneven distribution of skin pigmentation. A freckle occurs when there is a large concentration of the melanin pigment underneath one spot on your skin.^{[1]
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Research source}
- Most natural freckles are small and essentially harmless. They tend to show up on areas exposed to sunlight, like your face, and these are probably the type you're longing for. They also range in color and may be tan, brown, black, yellow, or red.
- Sometimes freckles form as the result of sunburn. These are larger and often have irregular borders. While regular freckles usually fade after sunlight exposure decreases, sunburn freckles stay put.
4
Set a limit on your tanning. Too much exposure to UV rays can be a major risk factor for skin cancer. Even though UV rays can seem like your best friend if you want freckles to form, they can have some very nasty side effects. As such, it is strongly recommended that you limit the amount of time you spend in the sun without sunblock or protective clothing.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Drawing Freckles with Eyeliner

1
Choose brown eyeliner tones. Start with a brown shade with the same underlying hue of your skin. For instance, if you are cool skinned and have undertones of yellow, a tan would work better. If you are warm toned and have undertones of red, a richer hue of brown with burgundy undertones might be a better choice.You will need a light ash tone and another tone that is one shade or so darker.
- An ash brown is a safe bet for most skin tones.
- If you are not sure about what looks natural, compare the shades to the color of your eyebrows. The light shade should be two shades darker, and the darker shade should be another shade darker than that.
2
Draw small freckles on your skin with the lighter color. Use the pencil to sprinkle small, uneven dots across the bridge of your nose and tops of your cheeks. Stop before you go overboard, since the freckles won't look as natural if you have too many.
- Make the dots uneven in size as placement. They should all be around the size of the head of a pin, but some should be a little smaller than others, and they should be evenly scattered by asymmetrical.
- Do not attempt to create a mirror image from one side to the other.
3
Fill in a few gaps with the darker tone.^{[2]
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Research source} Use the darker shade to draw a few more freckles here and there. People with natural freckles usually have them in more than one tone, since freckles darken with age.
- Look in the mirror to make sure that none of the dots overlap.
- This second layer of freckles should be fewer in number than the first.
4
Soften the freckles with cotton. If you need to soften the freckles a bit in order to maintain a natural look, carefully and gently pat the area with your fingertips or a small piece of cotton. You could also use a clean eyeshadow blending brush to lightly buff over each spot.
5
Apply a setting spray or powder. This is completely optional, but a quick sweep of either option will help hold your makeup in place for more time. A setting spray or powder will also make your skin appear glossier and healthier.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Creating a Sun-Kissed Look

1
Lightly apply bronzer to your nose and cheeks. Use a large makeup brush to sweep a little bronzer along the bridge of your nose and across the top of your cheeks, along the cheekbone.^{[3]
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Research source} Bronzer provides your skin with a slightly darker base for applying the fake freckles. Since real freckles are brought about by sun exposure, it makes sense to have slightly tanned skin beneath those freckles.
- You do not need to sweep bronzer across your entire face. Doing so can make your overall skin tone look unnaturally dark.
- Use a matte bronzer instead of a shimmery one for a more natural appearance.
2
Choose an eyebrow pencil for drawing freckles. As a general rule, go for an eyebrow pencil that is two shades lighter than one you might use for your actual eyebrows. An eyebrow pencil is drier than most liners and do not turn out as dark, which is what you actually want for this look.

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3
Draw a few small, scattered dots. Make sure that the pencil point is sharp before you start. Use the pencil to create small, light dots across the bridge of your nose and the tops of your cheeks, where you applied the bronzer.
- Keep the freckles tight around the tops of the nose and directly under your eyes. Spread them out a little more as they go further down.
- Make the freckles small, but not completely equal in size. They should vary slightly, with some being a little bigger than others, and they should not be obviously patterned or symmetrical.
- Go over any freckles you already have with the pencil to accentuate your natural features.
4
Fill in the blanks. Stand back and check the way your freckles look in the mirror. Take the opportunity to add more dots, where necessary, to fill in any unnatural gaps. If necessary, pat the freckles with your fingertips or a small piece of cotton to soften them slightly.
5
Apply a light sweep of foundation, if desired. For dramatic freckles, do not use foundation. If the pencil you used was too dark, however, or you want to make your freckles look more subtle, lightly brush a powder foundation on top.
- Do not use a liquid foundation since it will cause your faux freckles to smear and rub away.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Getting Cosmetic Freckle Tattooing

1
Understand how cosmetic tattooing works. Cosmetic tattooing is done with an electric needle that rapidly deposits ink pigments into the dermis layer of skin. Cosmetic tattooing is also known as permanent makeup. These procedures are often used to create the appearance of fuller eyebrows, permanent eyeliner, or permanent lipstick, but using it to create freckles has become more popular in recent years.
- A hollow, vibrating needle will pierce through the top layer of skin and release a droplet of pigment.
- While cosmetic tattooing is possible to remove, it is very difficult to do so, and your skin may never look the same again.
2
Consult a few professionals equipped for cosmetic tattooing. To reduce the risk of negative side effects, like infection, make sure that the professional you hire knows what he or she is really doing.
- Check each tattoo artist's credentials. Make sure that he or she is a properly trained and licensed aesthetician.
- Get a recommendation from a plastic surgeon or former client. Speak with former clients, and ask to see before-and-after photos of freckle tattoos.
3
Discuss the look you want. The professional may have suggestions, but in order to get the look you really want, you need to have an active voice in the matter. If possible, go over a few photographs to determine which freckled look is right for you.
- The tattoo artist will help you determine the best hue and shade of color for your freckles.
- You should also discuss the placement of your freckles.
4
Get the tattoo. When the time comes, schedule an appointment and get your freckles tattooed on. Before the procedure, the technician will sketch out the area that will be tattooed using a sterile surgical pen. Anesthetic gel will then be placed on the area to numb it. During the procedure, you can expect to feel a little stinging sensation.
- Make sure that the aesthetician uses sterile gloves and sterilized equipment during the procedure.
5
Take care of your tattoo afterward. You will need to reduce the swelling with a cold compress and apply an antibiotic ointment to minimize the risk of infection.^{[4]
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Research source} Follow the tattoo artist's instructions about how to take proper care of the area while it heals.
- Note that immediately after the freckle tattoo is applied, the color will look dark. This should not be a cause for concern, though. The color will fade to its final shade after about three weeks.
- If the area seems unusually swollen, painful, or red after the first few days, however, there is some chance that an infection or allergic reaction may have been triggered.

Warnings

Do not spend much time in the sun without protective clothing or sunblock. Too much exposure to UV rays can cause skin problems, including an increased risk of skin cancer.

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