It’s been two weeks since the Royal Wedding, and Atlanta cosmetic tattoo artist Gabrielle Rainbow has been “crazy busy” ever since.
As we reported last year, Rainbow specializes in the very specific treatment of semipermanent “freckles”—a not-so-standard twist on the “face tattoo,” which involves about an hour of time, a $250 price tag and some “bee sting–like swelling” that ends up with a year-to-three of natural-looking, fake freckles.
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Since Meghan Markle met Prince Harry at the end of the aisle in St George’s Chapel, Rainbow says she’s noticed a slight increase in the request. While she didn’t initially anticipate the UK union as being the cause, she now thinks it has definitely “boosted customers’ interest in the whole idea of freckles.”
“I think cosmetic tattooing or permanent makeup is really on the rise, and obviously with any trend, you will have people who will want to take advantage of that,” she says. “Because this is your face, it’s important that you do your research and find artists who aren’t afraid to show their portfolio and healed work. Even if this is ‘semipermanent,’ there are risks, such as technicians who will go too deep or not use the proper inks.”
Like most things buzzing in beauty, Markle’s freckles aren’t just limited to the extreme, and makeup artist Courtney Larrabee, who is also a Walgreens Beauty consultant, has even seen the sparked interest amongst customers who simply come into the drugstore to shop.
“I’ve been asked to recreate Markle’s freckles a lot lately,” she says, adding that anyone who wants to recreate the look doesn’t need to rely on the sun, genetics or a tattoo. “The secret is using a sharp felt tip eyeliner or brow pen. You want something in a brown or taupe that is soft and natural. It is important to remember to only use the tip of the pen to create the freckle, and dab it instantly with the flat of your fingertip to soften the look. A favorite of mine is Milani Brow Tint Pen in Natural Taupe 01.”
Larrabee’s solution rings up at a cool $7 and, as she says, gives the not-so-certain a test-drive in the trend.
