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Rachel Pickus
If you haven’t heard of British-born makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Isamaya Ffrench, you’ve undoubtedly seen her sculptural, otherworldly work on the cover of publications like Vogue Italia, Dazed, LOVE, Garage, and more. Not to mention her recent collaboration with Byredo founder Ben Gorham on the brand’s first makeup collection, and her newly minted role as Burberry Beauty’s global beauty director, working alongside Riccardo Tisci. Throw in a handful of work with brands like MAC and Louis Vuitton, and you can see why she is one of the industry’s most in-demand makeup artists.
But when she’s not painting some of the most famous faces in the world (like Rihanna and Kylie Jenner, to name a few), how is Ffrench spending her free time—or rather, when she’s scrolling the internet on a leisurely weekend, what items is she adding to her shopping cart? With sartorial style that rivals her talent with cosmetics, we clearly had to know what pieces are catching her eye this season.
But when she’s not painting some of the most famous faces in the world (like Rihanna and Kylie Jenner, to name a few), how is Ffrench spending her free time—or rather, when she’s scrolling the internet on a leisurely weekend, what items is she adding to her shopping cart? With sartorial style that rivals her talent with cosmetics, we clearly had to know what pieces are catching her eye this season.
Photo: Courtesy of Isamaya FfrenchHow long have you been in the beauty industry?
“Almost 10 years! I feel like it was yesterday—time flies!”
When did you first fall in love with fashion?
“It’s a love/hate relationship!”
Was there anyone in your life that inspired you to explore your sense of style?
“Not really. My mum let me wear whatever I wanted to, and I have always been quite a sporty person, so that influences my fashion choices. [My personal style] is style-less.”
What is your morning skin-care routine?
“Standing under a freezing cold shower! It boosts circulation. I always give the tip to apply vitamin C serum before moisturizing the skin, but I don’t always follow it.”
Who are your favorite shoe designers?
“I love La Sportiva trail running shoes, Robert Wun for futuristic boots, and Margiela for everything else—I love shoes!”
“Almost 10 years! I feel like it was yesterday—time flies!”
When did you first fall in love with fashion?
“It’s a love/hate relationship!”
Was there anyone in your life that inspired you to explore your sense of style?
“Not really. My mum let me wear whatever I wanted to, and I have always been quite a sporty person, so that influences my fashion choices. [My personal style] is style-less.”
What is your morning skin-care routine?
“Standing under a freezing cold shower! It boosts circulation. I always give the tip to apply vitamin C serum before moisturizing the skin, but I don’t always follow it.”
Who are your favorite shoe designers?
“I love La Sportiva trail running shoes, Robert Wun for futuristic boots, and Margiela for everything else—I love shoes!”
Favorite styles of jewelry?
“Silver, industrial stuff—bars, hoops. My favourite designer is Alan Crocetti.”
Do you prefer to shop vintage or ready-to-wear?
“I don’t really shop for vintage much. [If I do,] maybe Vestiaire [Collective]. I prefer to go shopping in real life. But [I’ll] sometimes [browse] Farfetch. I still love London for shopping, or L.A.—they always have the best buyers in L.A. [Designers] I love are Heliot Emil, Ottolinger, Charlotte Knowels, Junya Watanabe, Vivienne Westwood.”
Top five investment pieces?
“Margiela Tabi, a good mask and snorkel from MARES, my Medea bag, and a Vivienne Westwood corset.”
Top five most-worn items in your wardrobe?
“Nike workout pants, Yves Tumor band shirt, New Rock leather boots, La Sportiva hiking boots, Heliot Emil weatherproof jacket.”
How does your makeup play a role in expressing your sense of style?
“It helps finish or begin a look, but I don’t wear a lot of it myself, actually. I applied the Burberry Beauty Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base that I recently discovered, and that’s it for the day.”
What are your top five skin-care essentials?
“Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, Medik8 Retinol, Medik8 Blemish Control Pads, Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil.”
“Silver, industrial stuff—bars, hoops. My favourite designer is Alan Crocetti.”
Do you prefer to shop vintage or ready-to-wear?
“I don’t really shop for vintage much. [If I do,] maybe Vestiaire [Collective]. I prefer to go shopping in real life. But [I’ll] sometimes [browse] Farfetch. I still love London for shopping, or L.A.—they always have the best buyers in L.A. [Designers] I love are Heliot Emil, Ottolinger, Charlotte Knowels, Junya Watanabe, Vivienne Westwood.”
Top five investment pieces?
“Margiela Tabi, a good mask and snorkel from MARES, my Medea bag, and a Vivienne Westwood corset.”
Top five most-worn items in your wardrobe?
“Nike workout pants, Yves Tumor band shirt, New Rock leather boots, La Sportiva hiking boots, Heliot Emil weatherproof jacket.”
How does your makeup play a role in expressing your sense of style?
“It helps finish or begin a look, but I don’t wear a lot of it myself, actually. I applied the Burberry Beauty Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base that I recently discovered, and that’s it for the day.”
What are your top five skin-care essentials?
“Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, Medik8 Retinol, Medik8 Blemish Control Pads, Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil.”
Top five makeup essentials?
“Burberry Beauty Essential Glow Palette and Fresh Glow Fluid Foundation, MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation, Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Your Brows Kit, Huda Beauty Silk Balm Hydrating and Nourishing Lip Balm.”
“Burberry Beauty Essential Glow Palette and Fresh Glow Fluid Foundation, MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation, Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Your Brows Kit, Huda Beauty Silk Balm Hydrating and Nourishing Lip Balm.”
What body-care items do you swear by?
“I don’t wear any body oils or lotions—occasionally I will use a Cowshed body oil, but I prefer perfumes and coconut oil, as it is more natural.”
What beauty tools do you incorporate into your routine, and how often?
“I get facials with Jasmina Vico—she is the best facialist in London, so other than a quick massage before bed, I leave everything to her.”
You have five minutes to get ready—what will you wear, and what beauty essentials will you use?
“Depends where I’m going—cycling shorts and a wooly jumper always works for me, and maybe some mascara. Just make sure you wear lots of SPF and carry a Caudalie face mist with you!”
“I don’t wear any body oils or lotions—occasionally I will use a Cowshed body oil, but I prefer perfumes and coconut oil, as it is more natural.”
What beauty tools do you incorporate into your routine, and how often?
“I get facials with Jasmina Vico—she is the best facialist in London, so other than a quick massage before bed, I leave everything to her.”
You have five minutes to get ready—what will you wear, and what beauty essentials will you use?
“Depends where I’m going—cycling shorts and a wooly jumper always works for me, and maybe some mascara. Just make sure you wear lots of SPF and carry a Caudalie face mist with you!”
Photo: Courtesy of Isamaya FfrenchFive things you always keep in your bag?
“To be honest, I carry about five lip balms with me at most times... Does that count?”
What era of fashion and beauty is your favorite?
“I love Serge Lutens and the beauty images he made. He had such a distinctive and radical style that managed to capture both beauty and terror simultaneously.”
Is there anything sitting in your online shopping cart at the moment?
“I’m trying to buy less at the moment, [but] I do have a thing for vintage furniture like Desede and Percival Lafer, but you can’t really have more than one sofa in your living room.”
Photos: Courtesy of Isamaya Ffrench
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“To be honest, I carry about five lip balms with me at most times... Does that count?”
What era of fashion and beauty is your favorite?
“I love Serge Lutens and the beauty images he made. He had such a distinctive and radical style that managed to capture both beauty and terror simultaneously.”
Is there anything sitting in your online shopping cart at the moment?
“I’m trying to buy less at the moment, [but] I do have a thing for vintage furniture like Desede and Percival Lafer, but you can’t really have more than one sofa in your living room.”
Photos: Courtesy of Isamaya Ffrench
Want more stories like this?
Ask a Makeup Artist: Are You Applying Your Mascara Wrong?
9 Hydrating Sunscreens Your Winter Skin-Care Routine Needs
Ask a Makeup Artist: How to Shade Match Your Foundation Online