There’s personal power to be found in beauty. When we encounter something alluring, it inspires us. When we feel beautiful, it distils confidence. Beauty is also an outlet for creativity; it’s an extension of self and a means to communicate with the world around us. Intertwined with identity, it inspires transformation and restoration and is deeply personal but universal all at once.
This way of thinking connects Elodie Russell, Jarvis Aivali and Sisi Stringer, the emerging creative minds fronting our February issue of ‘The Face’ wearing YSL Beauty. In the depths of what could be called the resurgence of the ‘It’ girl/boy/person phenomenon, these multi-disciplinary talents firmly encapsulate our current social and cultural preoccupations. While knowing the power of the lens of aesthetic beauty, what underscores this group is a sense of holistic ownership in regards to their image-making. They have taken control; more than merely subscribing to the meticulous crafting of a portrayal in the social realm, they are acceding the conventions of creation to carve a place for themselves across platforms that allow them to evolve their identities.
Left: BOTTEGA VENETA shirt and tie; model's own nose earring (worn throughout). Right: SAINT LAURENT dress and belt.
Beauty notes – Left: YSL Beauty Touche Éclat blur primer; YSL Beauty All Hours Liquid Foundation; YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Pen; YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture The Bold Lipstick in shade 21. Right: YSL Beauty Touche Éclat blur primer; YSL Beauty All Hours Liquid Foundation; YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Pen; YSL Beauty Lash Clash Mascara; YSL Beauty Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette in shade 900; YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Velvet Radical Lipstick in shade 309.
It’s a move that takes courage, as historically models and actors have been viewed as mysterious and unattainable. Their beauty existed in a vacuum – it was them, and us. Now, these boundaries are blurred; and these dynamic image makers are using the shift to their advantage. Yes, they front campaigns and films, but they also share their opinions, style and self-express through beauty. While many of us turn to social media to check out, for these three, it’s an opportunity for storytelling, and to do so takes a certain degree of fearlessness.
Sisi, a Byron Bay-born actor’s relationship with beauty was a slow burn. With roles in Mortal Kombat, Bloody Hell, and most recently, Force of Nature: The Dry 2 alongside Eric Bana under her belt, her strength as a performer is deeply intertwined with how she projects herself.
"My personal approach to beauty is whatever feels right on the day, in the moment. I don't stick to rigid rules, and I don't think anyone needs to have one look... This really changed for me when I started curating my style based on how I was feeling on the inside. It’s a creative outlet, really."
Working in film and Hollywood, there's an unavoidable focus placed on outward appearance. It's changing incrementally, but it's something Sisi has witnessed and experienced. "Unfortunately, in Hollywood, if you're not a certain kind of conventionally attractive, you are less likely to be hired. I know this affects me, too. I take it all... sometimes I love the way I look, sometimes I hate the way I look. But I can't change it, so fuck it."
PRADA shirt.
Beauty notes – YSL Beauty Touche Éclat blur primer; YSL Beauty All Hours Liquid Foundation; YSL beauty Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Pen; YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture The Bold Lipstick in shade 21.
Appearances aside, it's a craft that lights her up. "My creativity makes me feel powerful. Whether that's acting or writing, producing, dancing, singing... whatever it is, in that moment I always feel like I'm supposed to be there, like my ideas are worth something," she shares. "You can't have power over an art form so to speak, but you can be powerful through an art form. When I'm creating something and in my flow, it feels like everything is right in the world."
Despite this, Sisi's ever-evolving beauty aesthetic is a source of inspiration for so many, the RUSSH team included. She's not intimidated by colour, loves a graphic eye (Edie Sedgwick inspired, of course) and knows her way around a braid, a wig or her natural texture. "Makeup is amazing. It's a tool for human expression and identity. It's a tool for communication. It's in our nature as humans to decorate for no reason other than beauty, which I think is so cool."
She describes her approach as moody, messy and fun. We agree. It's the no-holds-barred approach that makes it special. Cool. "Truthfully I didn't start wearing much makeup until I was in my early 20s, mostly because I couldn't find my shade in drugstore foundations. But I also was lucky enough to have healthy skin, and my mother never wore makeup! But magazines, the internet, work... that's how I learned. I loved everything Edie, I just put my 2000s spin on it. Big liner, long eyebrows, tracing in freckles, pale lips with lots of liner. She'll forever be my makeup icon. I love a lip, as well. The red Zoë wears in the YSL campaign, YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture, is literally perfect. And of course, I learnt everything there is to know about hair from black women on YouTube!"
PRADA jacket, pants and belt.
Beauty notes – YSL Beauty Touche Éclat blur primer; YSL Beauty All Hours Liquid Foundation; YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Pen; YSL Beauty Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette in shade 200; YSL Beauty Crushliner Longwearing Eyeliner Pencil in shade 1; YSL Beauty Couture Long Lasting Liquid Eyeliner in shade 1; YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Velvet Radical Lipstick in shade 302 and 309.
With Elodie’s razored brows and icy blonde hair, she's become a fixture in the luxury fashion sphere. Her portfolio is – unsurprisingly – beyond impressive, her look marrying luxury, grunge and coquette-ish sensibilities with ease.
“I love beauty and I love the experience of putting on makeup,” she explains. “Through modelling, I’ve come to learn what works for me, what I’m drawn to — but despite this, my look is constantly evolving. For instance, I love a bare face during the day, no mascara, maybe a little lip gloss. But at night, I adore matching my look to my outfit. A red lip leaves me feeling sexy and confident, YSL Beauty Volupté Shine is my current favourite. It’s like an entirely new persona, the way it can transform you is insane. A bold lip is my thing, but I love a fierce wing as well with a few coats of YSL Beauty Lash Clash Mascara… the goal is always to elongate my eyes. And the YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Highlighter is unmatched, the coverage is flawless but really fresh.”
BURBERRY dress.
Beauty notes – YSL Beauty Touche Éclat blur primer; YSL Beauty All Hours Liquid Foundation; YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Pen; YSL Beauty Couture Mini Clutch Eyeshadow Palette in shade 900; YSL Beauty Crushliner Longwearing Eyeliner Pencil in shade 1; YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Velvet Radical Lipstick in shade 302 and 309.
When asked if beauty and makeup are a source of power, her answer is a resounding yes. As a model, this is double-edged. It’s a look that books you a job, bags you a client. But exercising agency, being your own person, having a point of view or look that’s uniquely your own is rare. It’s a huge reason why Elodie’s social media is such a coveted platform (it’s a body of work curated solely by her).
“I’m powerful when I feel my best, when I look my best. Self-expression through beauty affects my confidence and my energy. I love dressing up, wearing a fierce makeup look, going out – and not for the male gaze, but for myself. It’s important to feel good in your own skin, it’s a huge part of my work. When I look and feel like my most confident self, I find I attract goodness into my life.”
Left: PRADA shirt and vest; model's own earrings (worn throughout). Right: BOTTEGA VENETA shirt and pants.
Beauty notes – YSL Beauty Touche Éclat blur primer; YSL Beauty All Hours Liquid Foundation; YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Pen; YSL Beauty Lash Clash Mascara; YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Velvet Radical Lipstick in shade 306.
For Jarvis, beauty instils a similar kind of confidence, despite coming from a different place. "For me, looking good translates into feeling good," he explains.
A social media juggernaut, Jarvis' unique take on fashion has cemented him as a leading content creator and creative force. His rise to fame was fast and furious. The content creation started mid 2020, while he was still a student and not working due to the pandemic. Now, he’s working internationally, aligning with international luxuriates and fronting campaigns for brands like BOSS.
Jarvis is open to the discomfort that comes with social media. It’s his quirks and off-beat style that’s earned him millions of followers. "Modelling has made me more confident in my own skin. Before, I never thought of myself as beautiful... I still don’t, actually. I've always thought of myself as having a unique look, but not a beautiful look. However, modelling and social media have accepted me with open arms. I've been blessed to work with some incredibly supportive people in this space."
While his beauty aesthetic is more pared-back, it still plays a leading role in the distillation of his confidence and creativity. "I'm a makeup minimalist but a hair maximalist; it was only when I grew out my hair during the pandemic and subsequently had it shaped that I found my confidence."
SAINT LAURENT shirt.
Beauty notes – YSL Beauty Touche Éclat blur primer; YSL Beauty All Hours Liquid Foundation; YSL Beauty Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Pen; YSL Beauty Lash Clash Mascara; YSL Beauty Couture Colour Clutch Eyeshadow Palette in Saharienne; YSL Beauty Rouge Volupté Candy Glaze Lipstick in shade 7.
There is a historical link between hair and our sense of power and gender. It's a long-standing beauty trope that women chop their hair after a major life event (like a breakup, a baby). It can symbolise renewal, rebirth or in Jarvis' case, the subversion of masculinity.
"My hair makes me feel powerful. I love playing around with my look, changing my style and having fun with it. It enables me to experience a different stream of confidence. I actually take a lot of inspiration from other men in beauty, and those who aren't afraid to be open about their relationship and use of makeup."
His best tip to take home? "To add a bit more definition, I'll add a cool undertone beneath my cheeks and down the side of my face to give it a sharper appearance. That, and YSL shades. There's nothing cooler."
The best thing about beauty is that it's adaptive, flexible and remains at your disposal. You can do the most or the least on any given day. You can define your favourite features, blur the look of your complexion, or boost your mood in seconds via a bold red lip. YSL Beauty knows that makeup is about expression, creativity and a sense of self. It's boundless, fearless and yours to play with.
Cover image: Jarvis wears SAINT LAURENT shirt. Elodie wears SAINT LAURENT bodysuit. Sisi wears SAINT LAURENT dress.
PHOTOGRAPHY Joshua Bentley
FASHION Hannah Cooper
TALENT Jarvis Aivali, Elodie Russell and Sisi Stringer at KULT Australia
HAIR Madison Voloshin at Assembly using Davroe
MAKEUP Bianca Downward using YSL Beauty
DIGITAL OPERATOR Seok-Ho Yoon
PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT Nick Garcia
STYLIST’S ASSISTANT Mia Kidis
