Freckles. Love Them. Or Fake Them.

Thu, 5 July 2012 4:26PM

If I had a dollar for every time I (or any other beauty writer) described Cate Blanchett’s skin as “luminous”, well, I wouldn’t have to be sitting at this desk right now. The reason, of course, for all the luminosity love is that even skintone has been beauty’s new black of late. Also think of Jennifer Lopez’s honey-glazed skin, or Keira Knightley’s perfect porcelain complexion.

Pigmentation is skin enemy number-one and, sure, sun spots and melasma are pains in the butt. But there’s one type of pigmentation that I don’t believe should get bundled with all the rest: freckles.

I got to thinking about freckles after spotting this recent photo of Olivia Munn:

How refreshing, in a world of airbrushed-looking celebrities, to be able to actually see someone’s skin, don’t you think? I love that she doesn’t try to hide her freckles under layers of foundation (or get her derm to bleach them away). She’s out and proud with her pigment. And so she should be – she looks adorable.

Sure, as many girls with freckles will tell you, it’s not all fun and games. If freckles aren’t kept in check, they can play a not-so-nice session of join-the-dots all over your face. That means vigilant sun protection is a must, even in winter.

The sad thing is, with all the talk of skin brightening that’s around, many freckled types now feel pressured to de-pigment. One of my most drop-dead-gorgeous friends has more freckles than I could ever count, yet she is constantly complaining about how dull and blotchy she thinks she looks, and forever slathering on some new face-lightening lotion. Thing is, no matter how much she applies, the freckles rarely fade – or, if they do, they always come back.

If you’re in the same boat, you should know this: anti-pigmentation products are best suited to skin with the more mottled kind of discolouration, or larger sun spots. Freckles are generally genetic – thought to be due to overactive melanocytes. So fade one freckle, chances are another one will soon pop up in its place.

Moral of the story? Love your freckles, ladies!

I would, if I had them (hands up who else grew up wishing she was Pippi Longstocking?). I’ve even been known to try the trick employed by many makeup artists backstage when making up models for a summer catwalk show; use M.A.C’s Lip Pencil in Hodgepodge to smatter on some faux freckles. Unfortunately, the pencil has been discontinued, but you can use any other freckly-hued pencil instead.

PS – In other skin-spotty news, beauty marks made a mini comeback on the Alexis Mabille’s couture show, where makeup artist Carole Colombani stuck a small black Swarovski sticker onto each model’s face.

So very Marie Antoinette, non? Not sure how it translates to real life, but if you want to give the look a whirl at your next ball, simply use a liquid liner pen to DIY.

PPS – That fabulous blue-red lipstick? Courtesy of M.A.C’s Ruby Woo, $36, M.A.C.

 

So, Primpettes, do you have freckles? If so, are you out and proud like Olivia?

Or confess: have you ever faked them?

What about the faux beauty spot? Is it on your to-try list?

 

Kat x

Posted by: Katrina Lawrence

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Tags: aw '12 couture, cate blanchett, freckles, glowy skin, jennifer lopez, keira knightley, luminous, mac, olivia munn, pigmentation, red lipstick, simpleskincare