Isamaya Ffrench has finally revealed the origin story behind that penis lipstick

There are many beauty inventions we wish existed. Yet, a penis-shaped lipstick has never made the list.

But that’s exactly what Isamaya Beauty delivered just in time for Valentine’s Day last year. And even we had to to admit, it was pretty genius.

The lipstick bullet itself is classically slim with a flat and slanted tip for easy application, only it’s housed in an unmistakably phallic case.

It’s big, it’s bold, it’s a dick.

What’s the story behind the penis lipstick?

British makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench is the brains behind the brand (and bulge), renowned for her gender-fluid approach and experimentation. Her work as an artist has appeared in many fashion magazines including Vogue, Dazed and W Magazine.

She launched her namesake brand in 2022 after working as Creative Director for Burberry and Byredo’s makeup lines. Of course, she's not the only makeup artist trying to succeed in the brand game, competing with the likes of Gucci Westman, Mario Dedivanovic and Pat McGrath to name a few. 

One would assume the need to stand out is imperative — she certainly captured the Internet's attention with her prominent package-ing.

But as it turns out, the decision was a no-brainer for Ffrench.

"I was just like, we've got to do it," the makeup artist revealed in the latest episode of the Exhibit A podcast show. "There was no question."

"I had to do it. It didn't exist, and I didn't understand why it didn't exist, because it's the most obvious thing in the world," she explained. "I think I'm just sort of inferring what I pick up on in my job, and culture, and my traveling."

"When I developed the penis lipstick, in the background — and I only just realised this afterwards — there was so much going on globally around bodies, and conversations around identity, and gender, and nudity, and abortion laws in America, and trans rights movements, and all of these conversations that led to me feeling like [it was the right time to make] a penis lipstick," she divulged.

Isamaya Lips Lipstick Collection

The collection named 'Lips' currently consists of four products: a chrome encased true red called 'Cardinal' ($158 from Cult Beauty); a sheer black balm in a black case called 'Vanity' ($158.40 from Cult Beauty); a Barbie pink sheer lipstick balm with a matching pink bullet named 'Flamingo' ($158.40 from Cult Beauty); and a sheer bronze, metallic balm housed in gold dubbed 'Chalice' ($158.40 from Cult Beauty).

Main image credit: Isamaya Beauty

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