I SWEAR by two products – a mascara and a lip gloss. They are a staple and the two products I religiously keep in my bag whenever I leave the house (well and sometimes a concealer). So, when the news broke out that one of the industry’s leading make-up artists, Isamaya Ffrench was going to release her own line of products, the anticipation of what she would launch was felt through the beauty sector and I hoped she would be releasing a version of what I considered necessity items.
Isamaya by Steven Klein
With stints at Tom Ford Beauty and YSL Beauté as an ambassador, Byredo as its make-up creative director and the title of global beauty director of Burberry, it is safe to say that Ffrench’s has become a face trailblazer. Launching her namesake brand Isamaya with the intention of creating limited themed drops, her debut instalment, entitled Industrial, centres around five products – a well-rounded introduction to what is to come.
Isamaya Industrial Collection
Speaking on this capsule, Ffrench explains: “Industrial is a hardcore, hard-hitting concept both visually and materially. Leather and latex, piercings and rubber, flesh, strength, and self-possession, for makeup lover who don’t want to conform”. Evident from the Steven Klein shot BDSM-inspired campaign, this line is crafted for those with a bold outlook on make-up mirroring some of her past fashion looks, however she does balance her products with an understated side.
Rubberlash Latex Lift – £35
Her inky coloured mascara, aptly named Rubberlash Latex Lift, comes with a curved wand consisting of a multitude of tiny brushes elevating your lashes to new lengths – and due to the delicate precision of the wand, you are able to keeping adding without your lashes sticking together.
For those who after thick, Twiggy-esque clumpy lashes, this probably isn’t for you, but it is a product that will enhance every single lash giving you the ultimate fan effect without overpowering your look.
Liplacq Maximising Lip Serum £32
I also tried the Liplacq Maximising Lip Serum, a dark berry pigmented gloss infused with a botanical plumping properties made to balance nourishment with a punkier aesthetic. Admittedly I felt like the colour was a little too dark to use during the daytime, however mixed with a pinkier option underneath, I still got that edgier look Isamaya clearly intended it to have but with my more refined take on make-up. It also came with the bonus of making your lips look slightly fuller without the sensation that you’ve rubbed chilli across your mouth.
With credits that read a mile long, it comes as no surprise that her products have lived up to the expectation we all had. And with continuous, evolving drops of products, what comes next is a mystery but one I am excited to unpack when it arrives.
by Imogen Clark
Industrial Rubberlash Latex Lift Mascara, £35
Industrial Liplacq Maximising Lip Serum, £32