Sun-kissed glow punctuated by a smattering of freckles is fabulous for summer, and Swedish makeup artist Linda Hallberg is here to show you how to master the natural look
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Whether you attribute it to the ‘skinification’ of makeup or the rise of the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic, there’s no doubt that we are seeing a surge in natural-looking makeup. As part of this shift away from heavy foundations and intense contouring, many people have begun celebrating their natural skin, letting their freckles shine where once they may have been covered.
“I’m all about skin looking like skin,” says Swedish makeup artist Linda Hallberg, who is known for her bold makeup looks that often feature her freckles. It’s better “not to hide your natural skin texture,” she says, advocating instead for an embrace of natural skin.
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But featuring your freckles doesn’t mean you must go without face makeup completely. Hallberg prefers to spot-conceal her skin and then go in with very thin layers of sheer makeup to build her base while keeping it transparent. “If you happen to cover up the freckles, it’s easy to enhance them with a freckle pen or eyebrow pen that matches the colour of the freckles,” she adds.
Hallberg starts her routine with a toner, serum, and sometimes an oil before moisturising. She likes to add a slightly shimmery product to her moisturiser to add some “extra glow.” Still, no matter your skincare routine, she stresses the importance of setting yourself up for success: “Skin prep is everything if you want to make your base last all day!”
When it comes to the makeup itself, Hallberg isn’t afraid to take a DIY approach: “I use a very, very sheer skin tint or mix my foundation with a serum or moisturiser to make it even thinner”, she says. However, if she doesn’t need foundation, she forgoes it entirely. “I think it looks better and more natural to just spot-conceal where needed, and then go over with bronzer and blush on a naked face. It looks amazing and super fresh.”
A fount of beauty tips, Hallberg also has a trick for letting freckles shine through when using powder on the face. She shares that a quick application of setting spray will help them be visible once more. She also advises taking the application slow and steady, as “it’s easy to put on too much, and that can make the freckles look a bit ashy.” No matter what, Hallberg encourages people with freckles to wear them proudly, saying, “Dare to enhance your freckles! They are beautiful!”
Below, discover our picks of the best products to enhance your freckles:
