May 31st, 2022
Celebrated MUA and beauty director, Isamaya Ffrench has announced the launch her own cosmetics line in June. As global beauty director of Burberry Beauty and recognised as one of the most directional make-up artists of her generation, Ffrench ranks among the chief influential voices in fashion. Her brand, Isamaya, is genderless and speaks to a new generation of beauty creators, she tells Vogue in an exclusive interview.
Isamaya’s eyeshadow palette will be encased in a black compact, with a torso pressed through the lid, containing “industrial” colours in putty textures. Moody and inky shades sit alongside bright greens and oranges. Complete with a Rubberlash mascara, she has also created a pomade that laminates eyebrows and a foundation. Hitting the market as a capsule collection for now, more products are expected to follow.

Source: Vogue instagram
We’re always on the lookout for new summer saviours to help achieve the perfect glow and Morphe comes up trumps. From balmy blushes to radiant, sun-kissed bronzers, their new complexion staples are essentials in your kit.
First up is Morphe’s Blush Balm Soft-Focus Cream Blush (£12). This innovative, skin-nourishing, perfectly pigmented formula melts into cheeks for a velvety, sheer-to-buildable, colour. Infused with super-moisturising murumuru and cupuacu butter, the cream blush smooths and blurs on contact for a soft-focus effect. It’s available in five shades with a dewy finish.
Next from Morphe is Bronze Show Velvet Matte Pressed Powder (£13). Talc-free, finely milled and infused with skin-nourishing organic coconut oil, refined shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and plant-derived squalene, this pressed powder formula provides velvety, buildable, blendable colour that blurs imperfections on contact for an almost-airbrushed effect. Available in five shades with slightly different undertones: Touch of Sun, Bronze Vibes, Tropical Tan, Mocha Moment and Cocoa Whoa.
Fresh on the market from W7 Makeup comes the Flash Matte Liquid Eyeshadow Wand (£4.95) – a dual-ended liquid eyeshadow with matte and shimmer shades – and very pocket friendly. On one end is long-lasting matte formula to create a soft base, while the other adds metallic pigment for that final, flash finish. Available in five shades.
You can tell that summer is just around the corner with the plethora of travel sizes coming on the market. A perfect addition to your kit is Batiste’s Minis (£1.50). Based on their popular core range – Original, Tropical and Blush – Dry Shampoo On The Go has all the impact in a 50ml spray. Available from Boots, Superdrug and Batiste’s own page, great things come in small parcels.
Slow Ageing – the pioneer in slow beauty skincare – has launched a handy travel size collection, the Slow Ageing Essentials Seventh Heaven Collection (£60). Includes the favourites Essential Moisturiser, Wash and Balm and is available from their site.
Also from Slow Ageing is the Face and Body Exfoliator (£51 for 100ml) for smoothing skin and improving skin texture, radiance, and vitality. The plant butter-infused buffer for the face and body includes nourishing coconut oil, reinvigorating ginger, pomegranate, and orange to banish rough and dry patches whilst boosting microcirculation for brighter skin. Naturally stimulating citrus essential oils leave a lingering uplifting scent on the skin.
Kit saviour CARMEX Minis is the perfect three-pack which come in three delicious flavours – cherry, strawberry and pineapple mint. The mini tubes are packed with SPF 15 and are water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, making a perfect accessory for shoots in the sun. Available at ASOS for £6.
Fresh from Kiehl’s comes Super Multi Corrective Cream Eye Zone Treatment (£62 for 28ml). Formulated to address all four eye zones, the cream delivers multiple anti-aging benefits for a rejuvenated appearance. It combines cutting-edge science and multi-action technology that visibly smooths, firms, de-puffs and brightens the eye area for more lifted appearance. Available from Keihl’s, Look Fantastic, Feel Unique and high end department stores.
Summer also means the return of the dreaded hair frizz. If the word ‘humidity’ makes you recoil, Amika’s Shield Anti-Humidity Spray (£20) is set to be your new kit saviour because it protects all hair types from the perils of moisture – working to shield hair from frizz, no matter what your weather app predicts. Locking in your style and defending it against heat (up to 230°C!), sticky weather and harmful UV rays, this smoothing, lightweight, invisible spray extends your style and protects for up to 24 frizz-free hours. Available from Love Amika.
Industry News
Check out the new limited edition launch from MINTD Box, in collaboration with MZ Skin. Available as part of a subscription package or a one-off purchase, MINTD Box’s highest value box to-date retails at £70 for products with a total value of £720.
MINTD was founded by two young black women to bring luxury premium skincare to an accessible price point via curated premium skincare boxes that can be delivered on a variety of different subscription options, or, as with the limited edition MZ Skin Box, as a one-off.
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