Why freckles are the statement-making beauty look du jour

With full-coverage make up beginning to make way for featherweight bases that celebrate skin, freckles are earning some well-deserved envy from those who're less-blessed on the beauty spot front. As the 'soft focus' filters give way to more honest, un-photoshopped images, freckles are the breakout star of this new, long-awaited wave of beauty realism (hallelujah!).

Nothing spells 'summer' like checking the mirror and seeing your face now resembles a pointillist masterpiece (cute!). However, although people's pigment behaves differently (some will have freckles whatever the weather), for many - these beautiful markings are signs of sun damage and therefore, a dermatological 'no-no'. With sunscreen a daily essential (who else's alarm reads "Apply SPF!"?), freckles are becoming scarce - which only makes them all the more desirable. They hint at a life enjoyed somewhere that sandals and floaty sundresses are par for the course, suggesting a carefree existence spent sipping iced lattes (or sinking sangrias) in faraway lands where the light's always right for a freckle-faced #selfie. Which means, as with everything - tanned skin, Angelina-esque lips and a full set of doe-worthy lashes - the beauty world's opting to fake it...All the pretty pros without the DNA-mutating impact of exposure to UV? We'll raise our eyeliner pencils to that! Whether your skin's nearly-bare or you love your foundation full-coverage, this technique helps to convince everyone that you #wokeuplikethis (make up GOALS).

So, why not pepper your complexion with a smattering of speckles? We advocate Anastasia Beverly Hills' best-loved (ultra-fine) {Brow Wiz}, which comes in a spectrum of shades to facilitate 'born this way' beauty dots. Choose two, or even three colours depending on your skin tone - those who're fair or red-headed can opt for the 'Auburn' and 'Caramel' shades, while those with darker skin can try the deeper shades of 'Soft Brown', 'Dark Brown' and 'Chocolate' - then make sure you fix everything with a mist (we rate {Resting Boss Face}).Or, snap up Lime Crime's purpose-made {Freckle Pen} - a flattering, long-wearing 'ink' that ensures you look beautifully sunkissed. Use a haphazard hand (it doesn't pay to be too careful) to achieve the most believable, 'just back from holiday' effect, and use a delicate touch to decide where you want them, before going over a few here and there to achieve an array of shades, sizes and shapes. Remember, a freckle is rarely a circle, so don't stress yourself about symmetry.Et voila! Who needs sun? We've got freckles on tap!

Verity Douglas Writer and expert

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...

Why freckles are the statement-making beauty look du jour

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