WSJ. MAGAZINEWhen British makeup artist Isamaya
Ffrench, 31, helped launch the site Dazed
Beauty in 2018, the idea, she said in an
interview, was simple: to broaden people’s
minds as to what is beautiful. Ffrench
has spent her career doing just that. There
were the rail-thin black-pencil brows
she gave Rihanna for the September 2018
British Vog ue cover shot, the crystal-
encrusted eyes at Halpern’s fall 2020
show and the fl owers seemingly rooted
in models’ faces at Giambattista Valli’s
spring 2020 show. Ffrench often serves
as her own canvas: On her Instagram she
appears as an array of characters, her
images recalling the work of artist Cindy
Sherman. “[I bought] Kevyn Aucoin’s book
Making Faces when I was 7 years old and
read it cover to cover millions of times,”
she explains. Ffrench recently launched
Byredo’s fi rst makeup collection, and
last May she was announced as Burberry
Beauty’s global beauty director. “I’ve
managed to position myself where I can do
ultra-luxe high-end work and also weird
lowbrow stuff ,” says Ffrench. “I never
want to limit myself with my work.” •ISAMAYA
FFRENCH
- What are your essen-
tial skin-care products?
I get facials from Jasmina
Vico [in London, shown],
and she gives me unla-
beled pots of creams that
are better than anything
I buy.... I’ve also just
started using the Lyma
Laser, which has gotten
rid of my under-eye
shadows. - What music do you
listen to while working?
George Clinton [shown],
Vangelis, Aphrodite’s
Child and Eartheater. - What are three things
getting you through this
diffi cult time?
My fi ancé, Julian;
Truman, our Dalmatian;
and my kettlebells. - What’s your favorite
indulgence?
Chips. - What’s your go-to
drink?
Sparkling water or Lilt. - What’s your favorite
getaway?
Iceland or Jamaica
[shown]. - What’s your favorite
hotel?
The Greenwich in
New York. - What’s the last
great book you read?
Beware of Pity [by
Stefan Zweig]. - What were the best
moments of your career
thus far?
People say never meet
your icons, but working
with Marilyn Manson,
Madonna [shown] and
Cher was the biggest
highlight of my career. - What makeup prod-
ucts are in your
personal rotation?
Burberry Fresh Glow
Luminous Fluid Base,
Burberry Cat Eye Liner
and the Mesolithic
Colour Stick by Byredo. - Who are your go-to
designers?
Heliot Emil, Charlotte
Knowles, Ottolinger
[shown] and Andreas
Kronthaler for Vivienne
Westwood.
724913108CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: COURTESY OF BURBERRY; DAVID ALEXANDER; THERESIA LYNCH; LIPSKIY/SHUTTERSTOCK; LIPSKIY/SHUTTERSTOCK; IANDAGNALL/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO;GREENWICH HOTEL NEW YORK; COURTESY OF OTTOLINGER; COURTESY OF BYREDO; BEN STANSALL/GETTY STAFF; COURTESY OF NYRB CLASSICS; URBANBUZZ/SHUTTERSTOCK1156wsjmag_ 20210213 _m 089 .crop.pdf 1 11 - Feb- 21 18 : 17 : 46