Temporary freckle tattoos make for a surprisingly controversial beauty trend
Temporary face tattoos are turning freckles into a fashion statement – and some online aren't happy about it.
A new beauty product designed to sprinkle semi-permanent freckles across anyone's face has the internet buzzing this week at levels not seen since the dawn of the man bun.
Called "Freck Yourself," the cosmetic kit is essentially a set of stencils accompanied by a skin-pigmenting formula.
Users place a stencil where they want freckles to appear, roll the formula over it and voilà: the look of sun-kissed skin for two days (or up to six weeks with everyday use, according to the product's website.)
While the product is not even officially on the market yet, a Kickstarter campaign for the Los Angeles-based company is inspiring news headlines all over the globe right now as people simultaneously swoon over and scoff at the idea.
Fair-faced freckle-seekers seem stoked on the company's promise of "realistic, semi-permanent freckles" that "don't smudge and last for days," and select L.A.-area women who've tested the product early have been raving about it on Twitter, Instagram, and in testimonials.
I didn't really have a Halloween costume this year but I got frecked by <a href="https://twitter.com/FreckYourself">@freckyourself</a> & I'm liking how it looks 👌🏽… <a href="https://t.co/7Pe0GX5YTr">pic.twitter.com/7Pe0GX5YTr</a>
—@krisellerhiaxGuys my friends made this invention that gives you freckles and I tried it today and ITS SO COOL WTF 😍😍 I AM SO CUTE <a href="https://t.co/evYViOev8F">pic.twitter.com/evYViOev8F</a>
—@lifeaseva<a href="https://twitter.com/feralcreature">@feralcreature</a> still rockin' her frecks! Get yours too at <a href="https://t.co/aj1I2fpSMC">https://t.co/aj1I2fpSMC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gofreckyourself?src=hash">#gofreckyourself</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/frecklefriday?src=hash">#frecklefriday</a> <a href="https://t.co/WQLoGmvqol">pic.twitter.com/WQLoGmvqol</a>
—@FreckYourselfWomen who were born with freckles, on the other hand... not so much.
Sure, some are happy to see their natural-born complexions being held up in a positive light, but most of the product's critics online seem annoyed by the fact that freckles have been deemed "trendy" by the beauty gods.
"Growing up, the kids in my school that had freckles used to get teased endlessly," wrote Sydney Gore for Nylon. "If only those freckled kids knew that their condition would become the latest 'fashion' trend now... They would probably still be livid."
Yup.
i remember wanting to cry in fourth grade when someone gave me shut about having freckles and now people want fake freckles....ok
—@MimiDennistonI think it's hilarious that fake freckles are a "thing" now. What about my real freckles? They've always been my thing.
—@andoNINA<a href="https://twitter.com/FreckYourself">@FreckYourself</a> is actually kinda making me mad because my freckles were always what I hated most about myself and now they're selling them.
—@fandomquxxnYou can now buy a fake freckle makeup kit for temporary freckles. Like are you kidding me when I was younger I was made fun of mine
—@marchzebraI had to come to love my freckles. Now you can buy fake ones?! 😑 hmph.
—@HelloAliyaThe Kickstarter campaign is also facing criticism for failing to offer products for darker skin tones, and for playing into the glorification of "fake" beauty.
fake everything. the color of eyes, hair, and now the freckles too. (will we ever be happy about ourselves?) <a href="https://t.co/mCFZkhhjDh">https://t.co/mCFZkhhjDh</a>
—@straordinariaAnother reason <a href="https://twitter.com/FreckYourself">@FreckYourself</a> is eyeroll worthy - totes excludes Black Freckled folks, or rather wannabe black freckleds. Formula too light.
—@KiaJDFirst fake glasses now fake freckles? Get over yourselves hipsters! <a href="https://t.co/nGu5LUiMMn">https://t.co/nGu5LUiMMn</a>
—@ZombiedextriousFreck Yourself still needs to raise more than $200,000 in order to meet its Kickstarter goal and fund round one of its mass-produced "Freck Kits."
Nearly 250 people have donated to recieve a kit of their own, but with just 21 days until the campaign ends, this trend could die before it even really takes off.
Those who really want to live the life of a bespeckled beauty can still get permanent freckle tattoos, of course, which have been around for years.