Covering freckles with makeup

Freckles are awesome but maybe you’d like them to be a little less noticeable. Here are a few suggestions on minimizing the appearance of your facial freckles. Some of these tips are long term and others are for short term cosmetic fixes.

1. Stay out of the sun and when you are in the sun where sun screen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Exposure to sun will cause your freckles to “pop” up or more to appear. Freckles also appear more vibrant when you are hot or physically active.

• Regardless of your age or skin color you should always wear a SPF 15 or greater sunscreen.

• Most quality foundations have SPFs so always get one that does.

• Wearing sunscreen will prevent you from premature aging.

• These should be worn year round and not just in the summer or while you are tanning.

2. Visit a make up counter and speak with a consultant

3. Look for medium to heavy coverage liquid or cream foundation that matches your current skin color and blends well into your cheeks and neck.

4. Do not buy a color the same color as your freckles or buy a color in between your freckles and your skin color. It’s about coverage, not color.

• Medium and heavy coverage is most often used by women to hide flaws and even skin tone

• This type of coverage usually contains more oil so you won’t find it in “sheer” formulas or hypoallergenic formulas (Clinique).

5. Try several shades to find one that blends well with your neck and not one that is the same color as your freckles.

6. The foundation alone may not cover them entirely. Don’t look for magically disappearing freckles. Instead, look for a foundation that reduces the appearance of your freckles.

• Remember most people aren’t looking at your freckles from less than a foot away

• You notice your freckles more than anyone and you are probably looking for them when most people aren’t

7. Now that you’ve reduced their overall appearance you can try to find a dual finish powder. This is a powder that can be worn alone or as a finish to foundation. This is not a matte pancake make up, just a colored compact with a lasting finish. Since you are looking for coverage you will wear the powder on top of your foundation. If you didn’t want to go all out you could also just use the powder with a more sheer foundation. These powders will usually be colored similarly to the foundations. These are pressed powders and not translucent loose powders. Translucent and loose powders will not give you the coverage you want. Besides, you will need something to set the heavier foundation.

8. Apply the powder with a puff to your face over the foundation.

9.Apply blush to your cheeks to add brightness and dimension and to accent your cheekbones. This is even more important since you are using a heavier foundation and you might not see the definition without it.

10. Continue applying your eyeshadow, liner, mascara and lips as you normally would.

11. If you are trying to hide freckles on your eyelids you can also apply the foundation and powder there. Do so sparingly but it will provide an excellent base for eye makeup and your eye makeup should stay on longer.

12. Do not apply heavy foundation to your neck. Blend into your neckline like you normally would. Applying foundation to your entire neck will get on clothes and start to separate as your neck may perspire more.

13. Remember to wash your face well and exfoliate regularly. The heavier foundations will clog pores so cleanse with proper cleansers for your skin type.

14. Do not try to apply concealer to large areas of skin. The coverage is too thick and it will start to show lines and look cracked.

15. You may be able to cut back on your normal moisturizer since the foundation will have more oils.

16. If you’ve followed the steps your freckles are much less noticeable. Congratulations on your new fresh face.

(Source: www.ehow.com)