SA’s beauty content queen joins the ClubX team this month to fill us in on all the tea – something tells us this is only the beginning!

PUSHING PIGMENTS 
Rushana’s love and passion for beauty developed from a young age. She’s come a long way from being an introverted school girl at Bergvliet High School and watching her mom’s everyday beauty routine. What started out as just ‘playing around’ with products, eventually turned into a fully fledged career path. ‘After perfecting my own make-up, and then testing my skills on someone else, I fell in love with their reaction to my work and how I could boost their confidence,’ she expresses. ‘That’s when I realised that I wanted to pursue a career in beauty.’After high school, back in 2013, Rushana went on to study make-up artistry at The Makeup Issue in Cape Town. However, she believes that self-teaching and pure talent also goes a long way in honing your skills as an artist. ‘I learned more and improved my signature make-up application by watching other make-up artists around me. However, I do strongly believe that tertiary education is important. If you have the opportunity to further your education, consider useful subjects that will benefit your career growth in the long run,’ she advises. 

THE GLOW UP
At the start of her career, Rushana was a Calvin Klein make-up artist, which she pursued for about two years. She does admit that things were a bit of a struggle in the beginning, but is so grateful for the love and support of her family. ‘I am so blessed to have grown up in such a loving and supportive family,’ she says. ‘My father is the owner of Isaacs Construction. He has taught me so much when it comes to being an entrepreneur. And the strongest woman I know is my mother, who is a breast cancer survivor. She raised me to be a strong independent woman.’ Today, this go-getter is a local beauty icon who has an Instagram following of more than 121K, as well as a loyal YouTube audience.

She’s been in multiple beauty campaigns for top brands, modelled for fashion labels, been a brand ambassador for Flormar South Africa, and continues to create relevant, eye-catching, educational video content across social media. In fact, her Back To Basics and Pre-Checkout video series have been massive hits thus far. ‘I think I have a knack for teaching. So, I focus on educating my audience on how to perfect their make-up with simple tips and tricks,’ she explains. ‘I won’t deny that social media – and this industry – has knocked me down a few times, but I’m appreciative of those experiences because I’ve learned that it’s important to not let the opinion of others affect you,’ she continues. ‘I feel the responsibility to keep growing and creating content that is inspiring and valuable to my audience. This is just a small way in which I can say thank you to my followers.’

BEAUTY LEGACY 
On an upward trajectory, Rushana continues to build her personal brand, with a long-standing dream to launch her own make-up line someday. ‘I have so many ideas and unique concepts for beauty products, but will only put that plan into action when my first product launch is completely “Rushana-approved”,’ she says. ‘I also hope to set a good example and be seen as an inspiration to my generation.
I would like my message to be as simple as being unapologetically yourself while staying humble, and, most importantly, kind.’ In parting, the humble beauty boss leaves some inspiring words of wisdom for young hopefuls aspiring to make it in the beauty world and beyond: ‘Be yourself and stay humble. Once you have found what you’re most passionate about, turn it into a career, share it with the world, and then you’ll find it becomes effortless and you’ll never work a day in your life. At the same time it is still work, so put your all into it. I always say it’s okay to feel demotivated, lazy and sad some days, but it’s what you do and how you push through on those days that matters.’ 

Words by Charndré Emma Kipppie
Styling: Mia Smith
Photography: Callen Jefferson/hmimages.co.za
Hair: Amy Steenkamp
Make-up: Rushana Isaacs Makeup Artistry