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Tutorial: Realistic Fake Freckles Using a Stipple Sponge (for cosplay)

fake freckles for cosplay

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For this method of creating fake freckles, you will use a stipple sponge (often used for stage makeup) to press a pattern of freckles onto your face. It’s best to use cream makeup for this method, but you can also get decent results if all you have is powder makeup.

This method will create dramatic freckles very quickly. You can very easily press freckles across your entire face. These freckles are probably not going to hold up to close-up scrutiny, but the effect of the freckles will look excellent in photos for costumes and cosplay.

What you will need:

stipple sponge freckles
Using a stipple sponge can make dramatic freckles for cosplay.

1. Cut your sponge into a round shape

Before you get started, you need to cut your sponge into a round-ish shape. Most of the time they will automatically come in a rectangular cuboid shape, but that will create harsh edges to your freckles that don’t look natural at all. Use a regular pair of scissors and cut off all the edges so that you get a round shape. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you don’t want any hard edges.

trim your stipple sponge
Cut your stipple sponge so that there are no hard angles.

2. Collect cream makeup on your sponge and press it on your face

Collect a dark brown cream makeup onto your sponge. You will then press the sponge onto your face to create the freckles. Make sure to only press the sponge up and down so that you avoid smudging the makeup as you apply it. 

Repeat this process all over your face to create a random pattern of dark and dramatic freckles. I like to start at areas of the face where the freckles would likely be darkest (nose, cheekbones, etc.) and then move to other areas without putting more makeup on the sponge. This will create more prominent freckles in the areas where the sun would be touching your face more.

press freckles with a stipple sponge
Press cream makeup onto your face using your stipple sponge.

3. Press the makeup with a blending sponge

Just like with the other two methods, you want to use a blending sponge to press the makeup into your face to make it less likely to smudge during the day. Make sure you don’t rub or wipe your face so that you don’t smear the freckles around.

press freckles into their face
Use a blending sponge to press your freckles into your skin so they don’t smudge.

4. Add foundation to create greater variation in color

Now it’s time to add a little bit of foundation to make the freckles look a little more natural. This will help to blend out the edges and add more variation in the color of the freckles. Take a little dab of your regular foundation and use a blending sponge to apply it to your face. Try not to over blend so you can make sure the freckles stay sharp.

Once you’re finished, it’s a good idea to apply translucent powder to your face to keep the cream makeup from smudging or running throughout the day. It’s a good idea for the other methods in this article too, but cream makeup is the most likely to smudge, so I highly recommend it here.

add foundation
Add foundation to further blend the freckles into your skin.

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