Available shades: 1
Best Budget: Colourpop Soft Brown Freckle Pen
Why it’s worth it: If your budget is at the utmost minimum, treat yourself to Colourpop’s Soft Brown Freckle Pen, which will only set you back $9. As its name suggests, this felt-tip pen features a cool-toned, teddy-brown shade that’s sheer upon application, but you can build its intensity up as needed by layering its pigment. Feel free to wear it over your makeup or, if you’re having a minimalist day, straight onto your bare skin (we promise it won’t stain!).
Available shades: 1
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I apply a freckle pen?
Before applying a freckle pen or stamp, Spickard notes that most of your makeup (if you’re wearing any) should already be done in order for your design to look more prominent and have a layer of base makeup to cling onto. “You’re going to want to have your entire complexion done and finish with the freckle pen,” he says.
Once you’re ready to apply, Dresher says to dot the freckle pen along half the area you’d like to freckle—not the entirety!—and then “stamp” the freshly-dotted freckles with your finger. This allows you to disperse the pigment around the area to create a blended, natural-looking appearance, “since natural freckles differ in darkness, shape, and distance between them,” she says.
How can I make my faux freckles last longer?
For budge-proof faux freckles, both Dresher and Spickard swear by two items: setting powder and setting spray, both of which you apply after creating your freckled look. If you want pro-level hold, Spickard recommends combining your freckle product with Inglot’s Duraline, a transparent eyeliner sealant, before applying. “Tap the freckle pen into some Duraline and then apply; this will lock in the freckles and keep them on the face for an extremely long amount of time,” he says.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best freckle pens, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.