makeup

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Manicures are an extension of our personalities, from maximalist looks topped with rhinestones to classic French manicures for the minimalists. Barbz can now channel Nicki Minaj with the launch of her first-ever press-on nails brand, Pink Friday Nails.

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The manicure brand debuted on Friday (March 15), and Billboard Shopping had the opportunity to try the new press-on nails, which after testing a set out, it’s one of the most durable yet stylish press-ons I’ve tried yet. Besides having a wide selection of nail styles to choose from, each design is modeled after actual manicures the “FTCU” rapper has sported on and off the red carpet, including a recreation of her press-on set that famously fell off during the 2023 MTV VMAs.

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Pink Friday Nails

One of the most notable qualities is the amount of shapes and sizes to choose from. There are four shapes available: stiletto, coffin, square and almond as well as sizes short to XXL. I decided to keep things simple with a short, square-cut iridescent set of press-ons, but there are styles decorated with as many as 400 gems and charms for anyone who prefers some extra sparkle.

Starship Chromes

When opening the press-on nails kit, you’ll find a mini file, different nails sizes to choose from, nail glue, adhesive tabs, a cuticle pusher, a nail file and buffer and an alcohol pad. Since both application methods are included, you’re not limited to particular art designs. Every single shape and size includes both application methods, making it accessible for beginners and more advanced press-on users.

Glue application can stay on for a up to two weeks, but the sticky tabs will last a week at most. The best way to remove press-on nails, according to Minaj’s nail tech Yvett G, who helped create and design Pink Friday Nails, is to soak your hand in warm water, then gently remove the nails from the outside edges. That doesn’t mean the nails aren’t shower-proof — I was able to wash my hair without a single nail falling off — but just make sure to use care when lathering your hair.

The nails, when applied properly, won’t fall off easily, either. I got them caught in my jacket, hair and even banged my hand on my desk, and the nails remained chip-free. Friends also couldn’t stop complimenting them on how trendy the design was, and I loved seeing how shocked their faces became when I revealed my manicure was actually just a set of press-ons.

Whether you’re looking for a bold manicure to pair with your denim dresses and platform boots, or want a unique gift for music lovers, Pink Friday Nails has got you covered.

Keep reading to shop more bold styles available or view the entire collection here.

Queen’s Ransom

Bring some pink to your looks with these square-cut press-ons. Each nail features its own pattern, ranging from a textured French tip to a bedazzled crystal topping. You can apply them with glue or the included sticky tabs for an eye-catching look.

Majesty in Stiletto

Love a long look? These ruby red crystal encrusted nails will bring the length and style. You can choose from three colors and three widths. Included is also an alcohol prep pad to make sure the nails stay on for as long as possible.

Moment 4 Mattes

Keep things simple with a pair of matte black nails. The tip is in an almond shape for a more rounded look. And if you’re looking to make your nails pop, you can choose from three other colors: white, brown and red.

Mogul in Stiletto

Add these press-on nails to your cart if you want to be dripping in glamour. The style is available for preorder in the black and nude shades, with three sizes to choose from. Orders will be shipped starting April 15.

For Minaj, the desire to build her own nail brand started when she became a mom and didn’t have time to sit in a nail-salon chair. With help and collaboration from Yvett G, the two created Pink Friday Nails to make salon-quality press-ons accessible to anyone.

“I couldn’t spend as much time getting my nails done as when I only had to worry about me, so it became a necessity to create fly, quaility press-on nails,” said Minaj in a press statement. “Pink Friday Nails are the actual nails I wear designed by my actual nail tech. And I have very small nail beds, so normally, press-ons are way too big and don’t hit the same. Our nails come from short to the longest length I wear, in all shapes, all sizes and polishes.”

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best celebrity fragrances, beauty products celebs love and nail polish colors for spring.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Vanessa Hudgens dropped some major news at the 2024 Oscars as she walked the red carpet, debuting her pregnancy. The “Sneakernight” singer was practically glowing as she posed for photographs, and while some of that glow can be credited to her pregnancy, it’s also thanks to ColourPop’s Bronze Stix in La Jolla Cove, which is on sale for $7.

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To complete her red-carpet glam, Hudgens relied on ColourPop to give her a radiant look that, along with the bronzer, included the Super Shock Highlighter in Churro and ColourPop’s Bare Necessities eyeshadow palette. Her makeup was further enhanced paired with her form-fitting turtleneck gown designed by Vera Wang.

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Right now, the makeup brand is hosting some of the best beauty deals online, offering 30% off practically everything on the site. You can buy the exact Bronze Stix used by Hudgens online, including other makeup used to create her red-carpet look.

Keep reading to shop the exact beauty products.

Bronzer Stix

$7

$10

30% off

$10

The Bronzer Stix is not only 30% off for a limited time, but will help provide a sun-kissed glow using a creamy formula you can glide straight onto your skin. The brand suggests swiping the product onto your cheekbones, forehead, jawline and chin, then blending it out with your fingertips or a beauty blender for the best results.

Super Shock Highlighter

$6.30

$9

30% off

Add some shimmer to your look with ColourPop’s beloved highlighter. The makeup features a powder texture mixed with pearly, bronze shades that’s buildable so you can easily swipe it on over your foundation.

Bare Necessities Shadow Palette

You day and night looks can be crafted using ColourPop’s Bare Necessities palette. It comes with 30 different shades to mix and match, or you can use the shade Complicated, which Hudgens chose for the red carpet.

The “Breaking Free” singer isn’t the only star to have sported ColourPop, either. The makeup brand has been swiped across the faces of artists including Haim and Becky G. Its popularity has expanded past celebrities and into the entertainment sphere, where ColourPop has collaborated with major franchises including Twilight, Sailor Moon and Naruto.

And, if you’re looking to stock up on more of the brand’s viral products, make sure to snag some freckle pens, which have garnered a cult following for its natural and long-lasting formula.

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best press-on nails, refillable lipsticks and powder foundation.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Freckle pens have made it possible for anyone who wasn’t born with freckles to sport the natural sun-kissed look. The versatile makeup trend has been around for years, with celebrities like Hailey Bieber incorporating it into both her minimalist and bold looks. Selena Gomez, meantime, donned fake freckles in her music video for 2017 single “Fetish.”

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The natural aesthetic has continued to garner a large following on social media with countless beauty influencers on TikTok providing tutorials on how to achieve the most realistic-looking fake freckles. Makeup brands have also dropped tools ranging from freckle pens to stamp applicators so you can ditch using mascara or an eyebrow pen to apply the beauty trend.

Below, Billboard Shopping breaks down how to use a freckle pen including how to create realistic freckles and the best freckle pens to stock up on.

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What Is a Good Freckle Pen?

A good freckle pen will have a soft, lightweight tip to help you effortlessly apply fake freckles to your face. You’ll want to make sure the shade is complimentary to your skin tone to create realistic freckles, as the hue could show up too dark or not at all. If you like wearing powder foundation and concealer, the best freckle pens will be buildable, allowing you to layer the formula over your makeup.

How Do You Get Realistic Freckles?

The key to making realistic freckles, according to most TikTok beauty creators, is to take the freckle pen and apply the brush randomly onto your face for the most natural look. Then, use your finger or a beauty blender to lightly blend and spread the formula around your face. Apply another layer to different spots and areas around your face and repeat the process until you get your desired look. Make sure to put freckles in spots that the sun would hit the most and avoid staying in one section or area of your face, as TikToker @peytonliveslife suggests in a tutorial video.

What Are the Best Freckle Pens?

We’ve rounded up some of the best freckle pens that you can buy online, based on our own experience testing them and on top user reviews.

editor’s pick

Lime Crime Freckle Pen

$15

$15

$15

This freckle pen has been loved by Amazon reviewers for its fine tip and color options, including a bold magenta for anyone looking to add some color to their makeup looks. You can apply it onto your bare skin or over foundation thanks to its buildable formula, and shoppers boast that it “lasts all day even without setting spray.” The ingredients are also 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

tiktok pick

Freck Beauty The Original Freckle Pen

TikTok can’t get enough of Freck Beauty’s freckle pen with @peytonliveslife using the makeup tool within the review. You need to shake it before using, but once applied, it boasts a waterproof and long-lasting formula that’s cruelty-free, gluten-free and oil-free. TikTokers are especially obsessed with how it turns out, praising its ability to provide a realistic look.“It’s very, very warm, but once you dab it out it looks so, so natural,” TikToker @cakedbybabyk said in a review video about the freckle pen.

buildable pick

ColourPop Freckle Pen

Even after applying a full face of makeup, this freckle pen will still be able to give you a natural look using its staying formula and felt-tip pen. It comes in a soft brown shade recommended for fair to medium skin tones and comes out with “subtle marks,” according to reviewers (of course, you can always make them darker by applying more color). For those with freckles, one reviewer likes using the pen post-makeup routine, saying “these help me enhance them after makeup.”

budget-friendly pick

HandAiyan Freckle Pen (2-Pack)

Amazon’s under $10 freckle pen is ideal for those who want to try out the trend with a quality formula that’s affordable. You’ll receive two pens in either light brown and natural coffee, or chestnut and dark brown. Both come with a soft felt tip for a simple yet comfortable application. In addition to being a best-selling on Amazon, reviewers note that the shades appear soft, which means you don’t need to spread the freckles out with your fingers.

fiber brush pick

Tarte Freckle Pen

Tarte’s Freckle Pen has a larger shade range, with three options to choose from: light, medium and dark brown to match to your skin tone. What makes it unique from the rest is its flexible fiber brush tip that you can use to splatter across your face or gently tap. The formula is made with vegan ingredients and is waterproof for a more long-lasting look.

stamp pick

Maykoo Freckle Stamp

If using a brush sounds too advanced for you, consider trying out a freckle stamp like this one by Maykoo. Instead of using a brush to randomly spot your face, you’ll dip the stamp into the tub, making sure the applicator is completely covered. Then, lightly press it onto a section of your face. Blend it and then repeat until you get the look you want.Amazon reviewers love its easy application and design, praising “how the stamper has different size points on it” and that the result “makes full coverage makeup seem more realistic.”

skin-soothing pick

Jason Wu The Freckled Boy Freckle Pen

$14

$13.99

What sets Jason Wu’s freckle pen apart from the rest is how it infuses rosewater into its formula to help soothe skin with every application. It comes in a light brown shade, which is suitable for most skin tones, and has reviewers raving over how it’s “perfect for summer time.”To apply: “lightly tap the fine point tip wherever you want faux freckles and dab off any excess. Reviewers also say “the pigment is on point [and] blends beautifully with makeup.”

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best refillable lipsticks, makeup tools for beginners and press-on nails.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. BLACKPINK’s Jennie has a new makeup essential and your bathroom counter is calling. As the global brand ambassador for K-Beauty brand […]

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Ariana Grande is entering a new era that’s leaping into the balletcore trend and all its soft-pink hues. To celebrate the latest stage in her life, she’s teamed up with her makeup brand R.E.M. Beauty to tease a new collection titled Yours Truly, which will be released on the brand’s site Tuesday (Jan. 16) and globally on Thursday (Jan. 18), making it one of the beauty releases this year you won’t want to miss.

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Say goodbye to whatever refillable lipsticks you’re currently using, because R.E.M. Beauty‘s limited-edition collection is serving not only a baby pink lip gloss, but also includes a highlighter and liquid eyeshadow in similar ballet pink colors to help you craft soft, monochromatic looks.

You can’t shop the new makeup yet, but you can sign up to join the waitlist here. Plus, if you’re a new user signing up for updates from the brand, you’ll be able to score 10% off the Yours Truly collection when it drops.

The makeup brand announced the limited collection on Instagram with a photo of the “Yes, And?” singer sporting light pink tights, a mini wrap skirt and a wrap long-sleeve top, which is typically worn by ballet dancers, further showing Grande’s shift toward balletcore. As further proof, the pink shades the collection boasts are similar to that of a ballet slipper that you can see modeled in another Instagram post R.E.M. Beauty posted on Jan. 11.

“yours truly ♡ see you on january 16,” the caption reads, followed by a video of models showing off the new highlighter, lip gloss and liquid eyeshadow.

For Grande, the new collection also represents the ideal tie-in to her beauty routine and music, as well as encapsulates the vibe of what you can expect from her new album.

“I love taking any opportunity I can to marry the music to the makeup, as I think they help bring each other to life in such a beautiful way and always have!” said Grande in a statement on the new collection’s landing page. “My makeup has changed so much throughout the years, and it’s such an important piece of the storytelling puzzle to me. I’m excited to release these new colors that I truly feel capture the energy of the Yours Truly era so perfectly. We hope you enjoy these new, soft, sweet shades that are perfect for driving down Honeymoon Avenue or sipping a pop of pink champagne!”

For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best press-on nails, classic lipstick shades and celebrity fragrances.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Halsey just dropped a major new release — and no, it’s not new music. Instead, the “Without Me” singer has a […]