ISAMAYA FFRENCH

make-up artist

Isamaya Ffrench is an unconventional artist using bodies and faces as her canvas. As one of the most important make-up artists working in Britain today, she is interested in the evolution of beauty ideals as well as the changing face of femininity. Her works are a combination of classical looks with radical fantasy. She is the Global Beauty Director for Burberry Beauty.

Before commencing her career in beauty Isamaya Studied 3D at Chelsea college of art and then product design at St Martins. In 2010 she joined the Theo Adams Company, a London based collective of artists, dancers, musicians, actors and singers from across the globe, they create unique large-scale theatrical productions, film, events, photography and sound work. In 2017, Isamaya launched Dazed Beauty as Creative Director and since, has played a key creative role for numerous international luxury cosmetic brands including Tom Ford, YSL, Christian Louboutin and Burberry Beauty working as Brand Ambassador and Creative Director. In 2020, Isamaya collaborated with Perfume brand Byredo to launch their first make-up collection.

She works regularly with photographers Tim Walker, David Sims, Inez and Vinoodh, Tyrone Le bon, Mert and Marcus and Nick Knight on publications such as i-D, Vogue Italia, British Vogue, LOVE, Dazed, POP, American Vogue, Another and W Magazine as well as backstage on shows for Louis Vuitton, Ashish, Halpern, H&M, Kenzo, Thom Brown and Junya Watanabe.

In an extensive interview for The Guardian she reveals her fascination for the intersection of beauty and science. Her insights however are not always comforting: “The fact that up to 80% of women in Korea get plastic surgery is interesting, isn’t it? Especially when you start to think about their kids, and the money they’ll spend on their surgery. On shaving their jaws. But then there are developments in genetics, a process of choice now with pregnancy, where you can start to decide what your baby looks like. It’s happening!”

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