i-D Magazine

Mar 2026

In a vivid exploration of contemporary beauty, the FACE VALUE project for i-D Magazine elevates the traditional portrait into a high-octane canvas of graphic experimentation. Photographer Zhong Lin masterfully navigates the intersection of cosmetics and fine art, utilizing a mix of studio strobe lighting and macro photography to isolate the intricate textures of modern makeup application. The editorial campaign leans into a hyper-saturated palette, where Ana Takahashi’s boundary-pushing makeup artistry—ranging from delicate cross-stitch embroidery on eyelids to sharp, patent-finish black lips with yellow accents—demands the viewer’s undivided attention. Each frame operates as a masterclass in detail, reinforced by the structural precision of Ryo Narushima’s hair styling and the refined, editorial-forward fashion curation by Clare Byrne. Lora de Sousa’s contribution through subtle manicured accents further anchors the series in a polished, cohesive aesthetic. By eschewing conventional beauty tropes in favor of anonymous, anonymous-leaning compositions and high-contrast color theory, the series functions as a bold statement on the identity of the face as a modular construct. Through tight, claustrophobic framing and technical rigor, this beauty series captures the ephemeral nature of fashion photography, cementing its status as a seminal work in modern cosmetic editorial storytelling that feels both clinical and brilliantly imaginative.

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