It's an Instagram craze that isn't going anywhere, and with summer (freckle season!) fast approaching, now's the perfect time to create some faux freckles. "Everyone wants freckles because they exude youth and health," points out makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes, who created the gorgeous looks shown here. Ahead, her top tips and four easy ways to score a supercute smattering of spots.

Image via Imaxtree

Using eye makeup yields the most believable end result, says Hughes, but before you even get to the freckles, it's important to properly prep your complexion. "You want your skin to look glowy and fresh," she explains. "Freckles and matte skin don't go together."

Start by using a rich moisturizer to deeply hydrate the skin, followed by a little bit of a foundation with a luminous finish. "Cakey foundation plus drawn on-freckles isn't going to look right," cautions Hughes, who suggests stippling it on with a BeautyBlender or buffing it in with a flat brush to ensure lightweight, sheer coverage.

Image courtesy Katie Jane Hughes

Once you've perfected your skin, it's time to draw on the freckles. Hughes recommends starting with a liquid eyebrow pen (which will deliver transparent color) in a cool brown tone. Her pick: Make Beauty Brow Pen, in Collected, $20. Holding the pen very loosely (it should feel wobbly in your hand), lightly dot on the color where you'd naturally find freckles, think across your cheeks and nose, as well as on your forehead and temples, says Hughes. Then, pat gently with fingertip to blend ever so slightly. Since natural freckles aren't all one color, add some more spots, this time using an eyeliner pencil in a taupe shade with warm undertones, like Surratt Beauty Expressioniste Brow Pencil, in blonde, $40. "The mix of different products and colors creates dimension and makes the freckles appear natural," Hughes explains. Like you did with the eyebrow pen, add a smattering of spots, keeping the placement random and not overly precise. Finish with blush and bronzer for a youthful flush and glow that pairs perfectly with your new freckles.

Image courtesy Katie Jane Hughes

While not exactly natural, glittery freckles are undoubtedly fun and playful (music festival makeup, anyone?), and an easy way to add a pop to an otherwise simple look. Your skin shouldn't be completely matte, but it also shouldn't be quite as dewy as it is for natural-looking freckles; too much moisture on your skin can prevent the glitter from adhering, notes Hughes. Rather than applying both moisturizer and foundation, opt for a tinted moisturizer or lightweight foundation with a velvet finish.

Image courtesy Katie Jane Hughes

You can create this effect with either powder or wet glitter, says Hughes, but she strongly suggests the latter: "Loose, powder glitters are harder to control and aren't as sticky, so you can easily end up applying too much, or with lots of fallout." For this look, she used Lemonhead Spacepaste in Dirty Penny, $22. Another good liquid option: Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner, $20.

As far as the color goes, the choice is up to you, though warmer shades (like the one used here) will look more subdued and less dramatic than bright rainbow colors, such as pink or blue. Using your fingertip, scatter the glitter where freckles typically crop up, then flick off any excess with a clean spoolie. Since applying any kind of powder afterwards will tamp down the glittery shine (and you def don't want that), Hughes recommends finishing the look with cream blush or bronzer.

Image courtesy Katie Jane Hughes