November 11, 2020 • 26 mins
You probably know Daniel Martin as the artist who did Meghan Markle’s makeup for the royal wedding. But he’s also worked with major companies like Aveda, Dior, and Honest Beauty—and is now the Global Director of Artistry and Education at the Japanese beauty brand, Tatcha. This week, Daniel joins Bobbi to talk about their signature makeup styles, how his career began at a MAC counter, and why relationships are key in the beauty industry.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Beyond the Beauty is a production of I Heart Radio.
I'm your host, Bobby Brown. So most people know me
as a makeup artist, or some might know me as
a businesswoman. I'm really lucky I've done both. But just
(00:24):
like Daniel Martin, who started as a makeup artist and
now he is a corporate businessman as well as a teacher.
I've always heard about Daniel Martin the makeup artist. What
a wonderful human being he is, and he really came
on my radar when I googled to find out who
did Megan Markle's makeup at the Royal Wedding. Now everyone
(00:47):
knows his name, but that was only one piece of
his entire career. I'm really excited to talk to him
to find out how he has really achieved these incredible
success is and now working with the Japanese beauty brand Tacha.
I'm really excited to talk to him. Hey, Daniel, h
(01:07):
I so you did the makeup for Megan Marco for
the Royal Wedding and I guess I heard about it,
saw it, you know, on social media, and I was like,
oh mg, I've always heard incredible things about you as
a person. I always knew that you were a very
(01:28):
talented makeup artist, you know, the next gen makeup artist.
But everyone just only said how you were the greatest guy.
And so I I, you know, as someone that loves
celebrating other people's successes, you know, it was like, hey,
cool job, so go ahead, now you talk story like.
(01:50):
It was really just it was overwhelming and my publicist,
I had to get a publicist to that whole situation,
and she was just like, you know, if you want,
I can filter out your d ms, just kind of
monitor because it was just a whole situation. And then
she was like, you got a d M from Bobby Brown.
(02:11):
And I was like, like Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown. And
then in my head, I'm thinking like Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown,
and she was like, no, the makeup artist. I was
like what. And that's when I realized. I was like, oh, ship,
like her wedding was something because at the time, you're
I was just thinking all I can do was I
(02:32):
just wanted to make sure that my friend looked her
best on her wedding day. And she did. By the
way she did, she look gorgeous. But it was one
of those things where it was just such an out
of body experience that when I heard from you, someone
who I respected admire for so long, I was like, oh, Ship,
like that was I understood the trajectory of that spectacle.
(02:57):
M Well, I'm I'm very honored that it stopped too
in your tracks. I was so enamored with the entire
wedding because I was lucky. I only once got to
do Megan's makeup, and she was so amazing and delightful.
I remember that because I was working on the tig
with her when that happened, and it was like the
(03:19):
backseat of her of a car, right And I remember
seeing her afterwards. I'm like, oh my god, how was she? Was?
She nice? And she was just like she was so awesome,
and just the whole experience, she said, was so much
fun for her. We were text friends for a while
and she was telling me about this boyfriend she had
in the UK, and I was like, usually I asked
a lot of questions. I didn't what is it? I
(03:40):
didn't ask, I didn't ask what he did. But anyways,
I was happy for her. And then all of a sudden,
I was like, oh, Ship, a boyfriend, Okay, I got you?
So yeah, so sent her my best when you talked
to her, she she was a doll. So how did
you even meet Megan in the first place? We um
first season and Suits got picked up, and then that's
when we met and we just bonded. And then were
(04:04):
you living in Canada? No? I was, I've always been here.
It's when she she actually reached out to my agent,
UM asking about about me and about time I have
I don't I've never asked your Actually, Magan, come on,
(04:25):
we just totally hit it off. Yeah. It was the
first season of Suits that show resonated globally on such
an interesting, like a whole other level. Yeah. But anyways,
let's I want to know more about you. Okay, I
want to know more about you. But let's talk for
a second. How are you doing now? Where you know where?
How many months into this pandemic? Like going on seven
(04:49):
six something like that. It's so wild. I mean, I'm
really lucky. I'm doing great. I was really fortunate to
have this position. Would talk to start in June. I'm
as global director of Artistry and Education for the brand exclusively,
so that's been keeping me busy. Um, and I've been
(05:10):
able to work with you know, we're sold at sepphor Us.
I'm working with the Sapphar Artists team um doing some
masterclasses with them, So I feel like I mean, I've
been looking at works picked up for me a bit
because I feel like everyone's rushing to shoot and do
things before we've possibly shut down again. So it's good.
But I'm being selective with the jobs that I do,
(05:32):
selected with the people I want to be around, and
being tested every two weeks. So it's just your everything's
a bit slower because you're being cautious. But at the
same time you kind of have to move on and
try to do that in this new way. And and personally,
how are you doing now? I mean, this was a
reset for me. I was traveling three times a month
(05:56):
for two years and it was exhausting. But when you're
in that hampstea whom you don't realize it until everything
stops and you're like, oh, I'm reconnecting with my husband.
Oh I'm reconnecting with my cat. Like you forget about
the daily things that you took for granted and friendships, family.
(06:18):
You definitely have to create this full new normal for
yourself now. So first of all, who are you like
where were you born. I don't really know that much
about your story. I my mom's Vietnamese, my dad's um
French and English. They met in Vietnam during the War,
UM at a time when you know, there were no
(06:40):
interact you know, interracial anything happening in the seventies. So
when I was, I mean I was born in Kansas,
UM and then moved to Central America soon after. So
I was pretty much raised in Central America from five
till eleven. Came back to the States, and then moved
to Asia, and my father worked for the government, so
(07:01):
we moved around a lot. Um. But I went to
high school in college in Seattle. How did you become
a makeup artist? I mean, I have three sisters, so
I was always around makeup. Um. I got a like
a holiday job at North Shrum's, uh actually gift wrapping,
and then they saw that I could. Actually I was
(07:22):
when you. I wasn't gift wrapping. I was playing with
my friends who were at the estate counter, and We're
all just doing makeup on each other because we were
like club kids. And then Matt came to North Strums
and then I applied for that job and got it.
So that's kind of like how I got my start. Um,
but I didn't really hone in on my craft until
(07:44):
I moved to the East Coast when I worked at
in the Vedaslan in Richmond, Virginia. And then when did
you go freelance? Oh god, I didn't go freelance until
I came to New York in two thousand four. Um,
but I met um Pat McGrath in because she created
a capsule collection for a data at the time, so
(08:07):
that working Did you work for a Veta at the time. Yeah,
So you've worked with so many different people and I
had such vast experiences. So I mean, first of all,
talk a little bit about Tacha and you know, and
what the company is, and you know, you have the
most incredible skin. I don't know if that is anything
to do why you got this job or the products
(08:29):
have really really made a difference in your skin, But
you're you're beautiful, by the way, thank you. I mean,
I met Vicky ten years ago. She sent me block
papers when um that was her first product, and I
just fell in love with with them. And then I
eventually met her like a like a year and a
half afterwards, when she was starting the skincare and then, um,
(08:51):
that's kind of like how our friendship happened. Um. We
she would send me samples of things she was working on.
I had very sensitive, reactive skin, so when she sent
me her skincare, that was the only thing that kind
of helped it. And to this day, I'm very sensitive
to a lot of things. Um, so there's a you know,
(09:13):
I can use her whole line and it was never
reactive for me. What's your favorite product in the line.
It's for like xema and sensitive skin. Um, the essence
is incredible. But it was you know, that journey of
meeting her and she would send me samples to try out.
(09:35):
And then when I you know, in my freelancing career
before I was working with long Com, they gave me
an opportunity to create a lipstick with them. So how
did the land Comb? Was that your first brand that
you worked with? Yes, yeah, so Carrie Diamond, who was
the former beauty director at Harper's Bazarre, had just left
(09:58):
the magazine to head up pr for lung Coom And
I had met Carrie literally right when that was happening,
and she basically recreated my career for me. She reintroduced
me to Jack and Lazzaro at parented schooler lun Come
at the time started to UM. I think they just
started working with Fucci Westman. So basically all the stuff
(10:21):
that Gucci didn't want to do, they gave me to do.
And that was totally fine because what an incredible opportunity.
And then the opportunity came up two do this lipstick
and we did this kind of like a neon coral
and that's how it happened. And then Vicky when she
wanted to explore color, she was like, you know, I
(10:44):
wanted to do a lipstick, I'd love to do it
with you. And Chloe seven you was kind of my
use for that lipstick because we created it um for
her for the met all. But then when did you
become the brand ambassador for Door, which is what you
were when you did my Aggins makeup? How lucky was
that brand? Do you? Yeah? And I was actually working
(11:04):
with Jessica Albert at that time too, so I had
two contracts which I was really lucky to have. So
from after do your tucha right, but you are you
still working with Jessica Alba. I know you've done her
makeup for years and you guys are probably friends. Yeah, yeah, totally. So.
I basically when Vicky approached me about, you know, coming
(11:25):
on exclusively, Um, both my contracts with your and Honest
Beauty were ending in the spring, and um, I asked.
I told Jessica, and she was really gracious. UM, and
she knew I had a relationship with Toucha as well. So, UM,
it was just kind of serdifitous how this all kind
(11:45):
of came about. But you know, going back to what
you're saying, so much it is about the relationships, but
it goes back to the first thing I said that
all I've ever heard about you is what a wonderful
human you are. So your your your parents did a
really good job. Thank you. I think because we know
how fickle and how surface our industry can get, there
(12:08):
has to be and I feel like now with this
pandemic has leveled out the playing field. You know, we
got to a point where there was just so many
hair people, so many makeup artists, so many stylists, and
I feel like, you know, now it's really making the
artists look at themselves and their work differently, and you know,
(12:29):
what you have to because things don't always work out,
and you have to know when to say okay, let
me try that. Your first celebrity was Molly Ringwoll Right,
(12:51):
So how did that come about? My friend Gwen has
a salon in the East Village called Parlor, and Molly
used to live on East Town at them would go
there to get a haircut and her hair done and stuff.
And she needed makeup for something last minute. And Gwen
called me up. And I was still working corporate at
the Data at the time, um, so I had my
(13:13):
got my stuff. She didn't tell me who it was.
She was just said, I have a client that needs
make up. You're the only person I can trust to
do something on her. And I came and I didn't
realize it was her until literally Gwen spun her around
in the chair and I literally like my like everything
was like a black hole. Because Pretty Thing is my
(13:36):
favorite movie ever. It was like one of those things
where I was like is this Like it was just
out of body and she was so nice, and I
was just thinking, I was like, wow, like if celebrities
are this nice, maybe that's the route I go rather
than fashion, because fashion was me. I mean, like it
(14:00):
was such a different it's so different. Well, I find
it interesting the choices that people make in their careers
and how that shifts. I mean, I remember you, You're
kind to me. Anyways, You're like the first makeup artist
brand I don't know of anybody, because you launched in
(14:20):
like at burg Doors with lipsticks. And I remember coming
to New York and going to Burg Doors. It was
my first time in New York and that was like
my first thing was to go see the Bobby Brown
lipsticks because I wasn't outside of d C. And there
was no nor you know, there was no high end.
(14:42):
I mean, I think there was a sack, but like
it was just it was different and there was there
was And also, you know, if you think about it,
back then in the nineties, you would go into a
store and see a whole range. You would never go
in and see like what a tend lipstick collection, you know,
And it wasn't it wasn't a strategic decision. It's just
that that's all I had was So can I ask
(15:03):
you was that kind of like when did you you know,
you were still working after you created the lipsticks, but
when was that moment where you were like, Okay, I
want to create a product well, it's it's very funny
because you know, as a makeup artist, I was traveling
like crazy and I was offered. I was engaged to
(15:24):
my husband, and I was offered this epic, epic trip
to go to Bally with Bruce Weber for three weeks
to do a Ralph Lauren campaign. So a you know,
how much money was involved, how exciting, And I was
panicked about missing my my fiance and we needed that.
We needed the money at the time, and I'll never
(15:44):
forget My husband said, you could turn it down, you
don't have to go. I was so anxiety written about
leaving him, and I turned it down. And that's when
I had this idea to make a lipstick. And I
made it with just the concept that you know, I
hated lipsticks on the market. I had to fix every
single lipstick I bought because they were gross. And I
(16:06):
made a lipstick and then I thought about a collection
of ten and I said, wow, I guess people would
probably like to buy this. You know, there was no
Etsy back then, you know there was there was There
was no Instagram or social media or YouTube. There was
not even freaking Google like I had the Yellow Pages.
I mean, I sound like someone's grandma and I don't
(16:28):
want to, but you know, you figured it out and
now it's a very different thing. But I feel like
that going back to those basics is what's going to
kind of I kind of feel like, if I can
be completely honest, I feel like the market is so
saturated with color right now, and all these brands that
(16:51):
are popping up being bought, there's you you know, you
see them go away three years after the purchase. There's
no sustainability, there's no bigger vision of heritage, and you've
created this heritage brand. I feel like I'm I'm out
of I've been gone from the company for four years,
(17:12):
but your name lives on my name. I sold, I
sold my name and you know, and that's fine. I've
accepted that. You know, it still is my name. So
when you're working as a makeup artist, like what what
excites you? What terrifies you? Oh gosh, that's such a
great question. Um, someone who don't their skin, YEA excited
(17:37):
just because then I don't have to do so much
covering up. Yeah, because people don't realize. I mean, I've
been doing makeup for so long, and you know, sometimes
you get asked to do these shoots and it's out
of your comfort zone. And yes, you you know you
want to do a good job, but it's terrifying. Yeah, yeah,
I think now, um we I was listening to your
(18:00):
podcast with Mario and you were sharing a story where
you back in the back when you were doing shoots,
you didn't know who you're going to get, Like, I'm
sure you just got the call shoot with the photographer
and the stylists, but you didn't know who the talent was.
And I feel like, gosh, nowadays, you know, I'm always asking.
(18:21):
I'm a virgo like that. I just like, you have
to lay it all out for me so I can
keep understanding. Yeah, but that goes back to you know,
that's why I always made sure my kid that things
were multi use and and that's so funny. Yeah, that's
so funny. You say that because I'd love to see
a picture of your kid, because I used to obsess
(18:43):
about my kid because I'm you know, I'm five foot tall,
I'm a little thing, and you know, they're heavy. So
I used to constantly take my makeup, put it on
the floor, reorganizing it, and I'm like, oh, you really
need are things that you could kind of mix and blend.
So I still use things off you know, off what
(19:04):
is it called? You know for not what what therefore?
Like Yeah, so I want to hear some of the
things you use. I think for me, like I always
have your Bbu palette that's always in my kit because palette.
But yes, I I designed it, by the way, for
for people like you, for my artists, so you'd always
(19:27):
have a color. I mean, I think there's always a color,
but I can always make other colors from that as well. Um.
I think if you just have a like an idea
or an understanding of color to theory and just take
out of consideration the form, whether it's in a blush
or an eyeshadow, and just break it down to pigment
(19:49):
and texture emollient versus you know, non, then you can
really get creative and get in the kitchen to create
all these different things. So like I have um a
palette of I bought this. Uh. I think it's a
plaint part I got in Paris, and it's just petroleum
and pigment, but I'm constantly mixing it with a gloss,
(20:10):
or mixing it with a moisturizer or transforming in such
a way adding powder to it to change the consistency.
So I have like a little bag of that that
I know that I can turn that into whatever color
I need, rather than have like a bag full of
glitter or a bag full of this because it's just
too much. And and your current gig with Touchau have makeup,
(20:36):
they don't. So that's part of the reason why I
onboard is you know, moving forward, we're going to be
playing around um and looking into that space, but it's
not going to be for a while. And to be honest,
I feel like I want to find innovation first rather
than turn out a twelve palette I shadowed kid or
(20:57):
do you know what I mean? Like there, it's always
to be a hybrid of skincare and which makes sense,
Which makes sense, and I think that's the way people
want makeup now anyway. Yeah, I mean skincare has always
been important to me. And just working with a brand
that I use personally and that I only using my kids,
(21:18):
I mean, that's I mean, going back to what you're
saying earlier about authenticity, It's like that's what it's about
right now, you know what I mean. It's like Instagram
has completely changed perception of things and beauty and just performance,
and you know you want to work with a brand
or use a brand that you trust. I could go
(21:55):
on forever asking you all these questions, but you know,
since this podcast is called Beyond the Beauty, I just
want to know what does beauty mean to you? Oh gosh,
it's funny because I think of beauty not externally but internally,
Like beauty is confidence because even whether it's just having
(22:18):
good skin or just throwing on that one lipstick, it
gives you that confidence. It gives you that strength to
just kind of go through your day. So I would say, yeah,
beauty is confidence. That's what I like that a lot.
So what's your own personal skincare routine? Oh gosh, I'm
very because I have some such sensitive skin. I used
(22:40):
to touch us since the indigo cream I have this
um malanie gets. It's like a spot treatment situation if
I because now with all the masks, my face is
breaking out like crazy. So um, even the slightest redness
I'll see, I'll just pop it on. But um, an SPF,
(23:03):
I have to be really dozier about SPF. What's your
favorite SPF? Um? The Tacha one is really great on
my skin. I also like this k beauty one by
Cicky Skin. Um. I got it when I was in
Singapore and it's it's incredible because it works really well
under makeup too. And what about your health routine, Like,
(23:24):
what are some of the things you do that you
find really help. Um, I'm pretty good about I'm lactose intolerance,
so I don't do dairy. I'm right now doing no sugar,
no flour, no. Um. I don't drink so no booze.
But um, I didn't realize how much sugar I ate
(23:46):
and and just in my daily and it's been a
week and a half and I've seen it completely in
my skin, just how much sugar I consumed and how
dehydrated and just dull my skin. God, I think it's
just too and my gut like I do it um
(24:08):
and digest events on when I eat. But for the
most time, I'm pretty clean. Do you cook at home? Yeah? Yeah,
that was the one like silver lining out of this
whole thing was like getting into the kitchen and just
learning how to cook. So what's next for Daniel Martin?
Oh what's next? Oh gosh, Um, I'm learning how to
(24:32):
make a spreadsheet. I'm really excited about this my day
job because it's so different, but it's still in the
realm of beauty. So it's been fun. Um we're part
of Room to Read. I don't know if you're familiar
with the organization. We funded four point five million UM
(24:54):
days of School and UM, So I'm really excited to
get involved with them, UM because they help out orphanages
around the world with girls and education and equality. So
I'm really excited to be a part of that with them.
That's wonderful. Yeah, that's wonderful. You know, just how this
(25:14):
pandemic pans out, just you know, just reconnecting on such
a personal level with everybody is kind of my goal
really because I don't want to be cooped up again
from other forms. Yeah, you and me, both, you and
me both. But um, I would love nothing more than
to meet you in person, to have a tea, bring
(25:37):
you out to Montclair, show you that you know, that
would be That would be really great. And beauty just
brings people together in such a way that you can't
help but be respectful and admire. Because then we will
that then it's ugly, Yeah, we will. We will continue
this conversation also online soon, so um, I'm really excited.
(26:01):
And can you tell everyone where they could learn more
about you. I'm only on Instagram, so you can learn
more about me on my Instagram page and your Instagram
is just Daniel Martin. Have a wonderful day and thank
you so much. Seriously, we'll be in touch all right,
big kiss. For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit
(26:24):
the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you
listen to your favorite shows.
Beyond the Beauty is a production of I Heart Radio.
I'm your host, Bobby Brown. So most people know me
as a makeup artist, or some might know me as
a businesswoman. I'm really lucky I've done both. But just
(00:24):
like Daniel Martin, who started as a makeup artist and
now he is a corporate businessman as well as a teacher.
I've always heard about Daniel Martin the makeup artist. What
a wonderful human being he is, and he really came
on my radar when I googled to find out who
did Megan Markle's makeup at the Royal Wedding. Now everyone
(00:47):
knows his name, but that was only one piece of
his entire career. I'm really excited to talk to him
to find out how he has really achieved these incredible
success is and now working with the Japanese beauty brand Tacha.
I'm really excited to talk to him. Hey, Daniel, h
(01:07):
I so you did the makeup for Megan Marco for
the Royal Wedding and I guess I heard about it,
saw it, you know, on social media, and I was like,
oh mg, I've always heard incredible things about you as
a person. I always knew that you were a very
(01:28):
talented makeup artist, you know, the next gen makeup artist.
But everyone just only said how you were the greatest guy.
And so I I, you know, as someone that loves
celebrating other people's successes, you know, it was like, hey,
cool job, so go ahead, now you talk story like.
(01:50):
It was really just it was overwhelming and my publicist,
I had to get a publicist to that whole situation,
and she was just like, you know, if you want,
I can filter out your d ms, just kind of
monitor because it was just a whole situation. And then
she was like, you got a d M from Bobby Brown.
(02:11):
And I was like, like Bobby Brown, Bobby Brown. And
then in my head, I'm thinking like Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown,
and she was like, no, the makeup artist. I was
like what. And that's when I realized. I was like, oh, ship,
like her wedding was something because at the time, you're
I was just thinking all I can do was I
(02:32):
just wanted to make sure that my friend looked her
best on her wedding day. And she did. By the
way she did, she look gorgeous. But it was one
of those things where it was just such an out
of body experience that when I heard from you, someone
who I respected admire for so long, I was like, oh, Ship,
like that was I understood the trajectory of that spectacle.
(02:57):
M Well, I'm I'm very honored that it stopped too
in your tracks. I was so enamored with the entire
wedding because I was lucky. I only once got to
do Megan's makeup, and she was so amazing and delightful.
I remember that because I was working on the tig
with her when that happened, and it was like the
(03:19):
backseat of her of a car, right And I remember
seeing her afterwards. I'm like, oh my god, how was she? Was?
She nice? And she was just like she was so awesome,
and just the whole experience, she said, was so much
fun for her. We were text friends for a while
and she was telling me about this boyfriend she had
in the UK, and I was like, usually I asked
a lot of questions. I didn't what is it? I
(03:40):
didn't ask, I didn't ask what he did. But anyways,
I was happy for her. And then all of a sudden,
I was like, oh, Ship, a boyfriend, Okay, I got you?
So yeah, so sent her my best when you talked
to her, she she was a doll. So how did
you even meet Megan in the first place? We um
first season and Suits got picked up, and then that's
when we met and we just bonded. And then were
(04:04):
you living in Canada? No? I was, I've always been here.
It's when she she actually reached out to my agent,
UM asking about about me and about time I have
I don't I've never asked your Actually, Magan, come on,
(04:25):
we just totally hit it off. Yeah. It was the
first season of Suits that show resonated globally on such
an interesting, like a whole other level. Yeah. But anyways,
let's I want to know more about you. Okay, I
want to know more about you. But let's talk for
a second. How are you doing now? Where you know where?
How many months into this pandemic? Like going on seven
(04:49):
six something like that. It's so wild. I mean, I'm
really lucky. I'm doing great. I was really fortunate to
have this position. Would talk to start in June. I'm
as global director of Artistry and Education for the brand exclusively,
so that's been keeping me busy. Um, and I've been
(05:10):
able to work with you know, we're sold at sepphor Us.
I'm working with the Sapphar Artists team um doing some
masterclasses with them, So I feel like I mean, I've
been looking at works picked up for me a bit
because I feel like everyone's rushing to shoot and do
things before we've possibly shut down again. So it's good.
But I'm being selective with the jobs that I do,
(05:32):
selected with the people I want to be around, and
being tested every two weeks. So it's just your everything's
a bit slower because you're being cautious. But at the
same time you kind of have to move on and
try to do that in this new way. And and personally,
how are you doing now? I mean, this was a
reset for me. I was traveling three times a month
(05:56):
for two years and it was exhausting. But when you're
in that hampstea whom you don't realize it until everything
stops and you're like, oh, I'm reconnecting with my husband.
Oh I'm reconnecting with my cat. Like you forget about
the daily things that you took for granted and friendships, family.
(06:18):
You definitely have to create this full new normal for
yourself now. So first of all, who are you like
where were you born. I don't really know that much
about your story. I my mom's Vietnamese, my dad's um
French and English. They met in Vietnam during the War,
UM at a time when you know, there were no
(06:40):
interact you know, interracial anything happening in the seventies. So
when I was, I mean I was born in Kansas,
UM and then moved to Central America soon after. So
I was pretty much raised in Central America from five
till eleven. Came back to the States, and then moved
to Asia, and my father worked for the government, so
(07:01):
we moved around a lot. Um. But I went to
high school in college in Seattle. How did you become
a makeup artist? I mean, I have three sisters, so
I was always around makeup. Um. I got a like
a holiday job at North Shrum's, uh actually gift wrapping,
and then they saw that I could. Actually I was
(07:22):
when you. I wasn't gift wrapping. I was playing with
my friends who were at the estate counter, and We're
all just doing makeup on each other because we were
like club kids. And then Matt came to North Strums
and then I applied for that job and got it.
So that's kind of like how I got my start. Um,
but I didn't really hone in on my craft until
(07:44):
I moved to the East Coast when I worked at
in the Vedaslan in Richmond, Virginia. And then when did
you go freelance? Oh god, I didn't go freelance until
I came to New York in two thousand four. Um,
but I met um Pat McGrath in because she created
a capsule collection for a data at the time, so
(08:07):
that working Did you work for a Veta at the time. Yeah,
So you've worked with so many different people and I
had such vast experiences. So I mean, first of all,
talk a little bit about Tacha and you know, and
what the company is, and you know, you have the
most incredible skin. I don't know if that is anything
to do why you got this job or the products
(08:29):
have really really made a difference in your skin, But
you're you're beautiful, by the way, thank you. I mean,
I met Vicky ten years ago. She sent me block
papers when um that was her first product, and I
just fell in love with with them. And then I
eventually met her like a like a year and a
half afterwards, when she was starting the skincare and then, um,
(08:51):
that's kind of like how our friendship happened. Um. We
she would send me samples of things she was working on.
I had very sensitive, reactive skin, so when she sent
me her skincare, that was the only thing that kind
of helped it. And to this day, I'm very sensitive
to a lot of things. Um, so there's a you know,
(09:13):
I can use her whole line and it was never
reactive for me. What's your favorite product in the line.
It's for like xema and sensitive skin. Um, the essence
is incredible. But it was you know, that journey of
meeting her and she would send me samples to try out.
(09:35):
And then when I you know, in my freelancing career
before I was working with long Com, they gave me
an opportunity to create a lipstick with them. So how
did the land Comb? Was that your first brand that
you worked with? Yes, yeah, so Carrie Diamond, who was
the former beauty director at Harper's Bazarre, had just left
(09:58):
the magazine to head up pr for lung Coom And
I had met Carrie literally right when that was happening,
and she basically recreated my career for me. She reintroduced
me to Jack and Lazzaro at parented schooler lun Come
at the time started to UM. I think they just
started working with Fucci Westman. So basically all the stuff
(10:21):
that Gucci didn't want to do, they gave me to do.
And that was totally fine because what an incredible opportunity.
And then the opportunity came up two do this lipstick
and we did this kind of like a neon coral
and that's how it happened. And then Vicky when she
wanted to explore color, she was like, you know, I
(10:44):
wanted to do a lipstick, I'd love to do it
with you. And Chloe seven you was kind of my
use for that lipstick because we created it um for
her for the met all. But then when did you
become the brand ambassador for Door, which is what you
were when you did my Aggins makeup? How lucky was
that brand? Do you? Yeah? And I was actually working
(11:04):
with Jessica Albert at that time too, so I had
two contracts which I was really lucky to have. So
from after do your tucha right, but you are you
still working with Jessica Alba. I know you've done her
makeup for years and you guys are probably friends. Yeah, yeah, totally. So.
I basically when Vicky approached me about, you know, coming
(11:25):
on exclusively, Um, both my contracts with your and Honest
Beauty were ending in the spring, and um, I asked.
I told Jessica, and she was really gracious. UM, and
she knew I had a relationship with Toucha as well. So, UM,
it was just kind of serdifitous how this all kind
(11:45):
of came about. But you know, going back to what
you're saying, so much it is about the relationships, but
it goes back to the first thing I said that
all I've ever heard about you is what a wonderful
human you are. So your your your parents did a
really good job. Thank you. I think because we know
how fickle and how surface our industry can get, there
(12:08):
has to be and I feel like now with this
pandemic has leveled out the playing field. You know, we
got to a point where there was just so many
hair people, so many makeup artists, so many stylists, and
I feel like, you know, now it's really making the
artists look at themselves and their work differently, and you know,
(12:29):
what you have to because things don't always work out,
and you have to know when to say okay, let
me try that. Your first celebrity was Molly Ringwoll Right,
(12:51):
So how did that come about? My friend Gwen has
a salon in the East Village called Parlor, and Molly
used to live on East Town at them would go
there to get a haircut and her hair done and stuff.
And she needed makeup for something last minute. And Gwen
called me up. And I was still working corporate at
the Data at the time, um, so I had my
(13:13):
got my stuff. She didn't tell me who it was.
She was just said, I have a client that needs
make up. You're the only person I can trust to
do something on her. And I came and I didn't
realize it was her until literally Gwen spun her around
in the chair and I literally like my like everything
was like a black hole. Because Pretty Thing is my
(13:36):
favorite movie ever. It was like one of those things
where I was like is this Like it was just
out of body and she was so nice, and I
was just thinking, I was like, wow, like if celebrities
are this nice, maybe that's the route I go rather
than fashion, because fashion was me. I mean, like it
(14:00):
was such a different it's so different. Well, I find
it interesting the choices that people make in their careers
and how that shifts. I mean, I remember you, You're
kind to me. Anyways, You're like the first makeup artist
brand I don't know of anybody, because you launched in
(14:20):
like at burg Doors with lipsticks. And I remember coming
to New York and going to Burg Doors. It was
my first time in New York and that was like
my first thing was to go see the Bobby Brown
lipsticks because I wasn't outside of d C. And there
was no nor you know, there was no high end.
(14:42):
I mean, I think there was a sack, but like
it was just it was different and there was there
was And also, you know, if you think about it,
back then in the nineties, you would go into a
store and see a whole range. You would never go
in and see like what a tend lipstick collection, you know,
And it wasn't it wasn't a strategic decision. It's just
that that's all I had was So can I ask
(15:03):
you was that kind of like when did you you know,
you were still working after you created the lipsticks, but
when was that moment where you were like, Okay, I
want to create a product well, it's it's very funny
because you know, as a makeup artist, I was traveling
like crazy and I was offered. I was engaged to
(15:24):
my husband, and I was offered this epic, epic trip
to go to Bally with Bruce Weber for three weeks
to do a Ralph Lauren campaign. So a you know,
how much money was involved, how exciting, And I was
panicked about missing my my fiance and we needed that.
We needed the money at the time, and I'll never
(15:44):
forget My husband said, you could turn it down, you
don't have to go. I was so anxiety written about
leaving him, and I turned it down. And that's when
I had this idea to make a lipstick. And I
made it with just the concept that you know, I
hated lipsticks on the market. I had to fix every
single lipstick I bought because they were gross. And I
(16:06):
made a lipstick and then I thought about a collection
of ten and I said, wow, I guess people would
probably like to buy this. You know, there was no
Etsy back then, you know there was there was There
was no Instagram or social media or YouTube. There was
not even freaking Google like I had the Yellow Pages.
I mean, I sound like someone's grandma and I don't
(16:28):
want to, but you know, you figured it out and
now it's a very different thing. But I feel like
that going back to those basics is what's going to
kind of I kind of feel like, if I can
be completely honest, I feel like the market is so
saturated with color right now, and all these brands that
(16:51):
are popping up being bought, there's you you know, you
see them go away three years after the purchase. There's
no sustainability, there's no bigger vision of heritage, and you've
created this heritage brand. I feel like I'm I'm out
of I've been gone from the company for four years,
(17:12):
but your name lives on my name. I sold, I
sold my name and you know, and that's fine. I've
accepted that. You know, it still is my name. So
when you're working as a makeup artist, like what what
excites you? What terrifies you? Oh gosh, that's such a
great question. Um, someone who don't their skin, YEA excited
(17:37):
just because then I don't have to do so much
covering up. Yeah, because people don't realize. I mean, I've
been doing makeup for so long, and you know, sometimes
you get asked to do these shoots and it's out
of your comfort zone. And yes, you you know you
want to do a good job, but it's terrifying. Yeah, yeah,
I think now, um we I was listening to your
(18:00):
podcast with Mario and you were sharing a story where
you back in the back when you were doing shoots,
you didn't know who you're going to get, Like, I'm
sure you just got the call shoot with the photographer
and the stylists, but you didn't know who the talent was.
And I feel like, gosh, nowadays, you know, I'm always asking.
(18:21):
I'm a virgo like that. I just like, you have
to lay it all out for me so I can
keep understanding. Yeah, but that goes back to you know,
that's why I always made sure my kid that things
were multi use and and that's so funny. Yeah, that's
so funny. You say that because I'd love to see
a picture of your kid, because I used to obsess
(18:43):
about my kid because I'm you know, I'm five foot tall,
I'm a little thing, and you know, they're heavy. So
I used to constantly take my makeup, put it on
the floor, reorganizing it, and I'm like, oh, you really
need are things that you could kind of mix and blend.
So I still use things off you know, off what
(19:04):
is it called? You know for not what what therefore?
Like Yeah, so I want to hear some of the
things you use. I think for me, like I always
have your Bbu palette that's always in my kit because palette.
But yes, I I designed it, by the way, for
for people like you, for my artists, so you'd always
(19:27):
have a color. I mean, I think there's always a color,
but I can always make other colors from that as well. Um.
I think if you just have a like an idea
or an understanding of color to theory and just take
out of consideration the form, whether it's in a blush
or an eyeshadow, and just break it down to pigment
(19:49):
and texture emollient versus you know, non, then you can
really get creative and get in the kitchen to create
all these different things. So like I have um a
palette of I bought this. Uh. I think it's a
plaint part I got in Paris, and it's just petroleum
and pigment, but I'm constantly mixing it with a gloss,
(20:10):
or mixing it with a moisturizer or transforming in such
a way adding powder to it to change the consistency.
So I have like a little bag of that that
I know that I can turn that into whatever color
I need, rather than have like a bag full of
glitter or a bag full of this because it's just
too much. And and your current gig with Touchau have makeup,
(20:36):
they don't. So that's part of the reason why I
onboard is you know, moving forward, we're going to be
playing around um and looking into that space, but it's
not going to be for a while. And to be honest,
I feel like I want to find innovation first rather
than turn out a twelve palette I shadowed kid or
(20:57):
do you know what I mean? Like there, it's always
to be a hybrid of skincare and which makes sense,
Which makes sense, and I think that's the way people
want makeup now anyway. Yeah, I mean skincare has always
been important to me. And just working with a brand
that I use personally and that I only using my kids,
(21:18):
I mean, that's I mean, going back to what you're
saying earlier about authenticity, It's like that's what it's about
right now, you know what I mean. It's like Instagram
has completely changed perception of things and beauty and just performance,
and you know you want to work with a brand
or use a brand that you trust. I could go
(21:55):
on forever asking you all these questions, but you know,
since this podcast is called Beyond the Beauty, I just
want to know what does beauty mean to you? Oh gosh,
it's funny because I think of beauty not externally but internally,
Like beauty is confidence because even whether it's just having
(22:18):
good skin or just throwing on that one lipstick, it
gives you that confidence. It gives you that strength to
just kind of go through your day. So I would say, yeah,
beauty is confidence. That's what I like that a lot.
So what's your own personal skincare routine? Oh gosh, I'm
very because I have some such sensitive skin. I used
(22:40):
to touch us since the indigo cream I have this
um malanie gets. It's like a spot treatment situation if
I because now with all the masks, my face is
breaking out like crazy. So um, even the slightest redness
I'll see, I'll just pop it on. But um, an SPF,
(23:03):
I have to be really dozier about SPF. What's your
favorite SPF? Um? The Tacha one is really great on
my skin. I also like this k beauty one by
Cicky Skin. Um. I got it when I was in
Singapore and it's it's incredible because it works really well
under makeup too. And what about your health routine, Like,
(23:24):
what are some of the things you do that you
find really help. Um, I'm pretty good about I'm lactose intolerance,
so I don't do dairy. I'm right now doing no sugar,
no flour, no. Um. I don't drink so no booze.
But um, I didn't realize how much sugar I ate
(23:46):
and and just in my daily and it's been a
week and a half and I've seen it completely in
my skin, just how much sugar I consumed and how
dehydrated and just dull my skin. God, I think it's
just too and my gut like I do it um
(24:08):
and digest events on when I eat. But for the
most time, I'm pretty clean. Do you cook at home? Yeah? Yeah,
that was the one like silver lining out of this
whole thing was like getting into the kitchen and just
learning how to cook. So what's next for Daniel Martin?
Oh what's next? Oh gosh, Um, I'm learning how to
(24:32):
make a spreadsheet. I'm really excited about this my day
job because it's so different, but it's still in the
realm of beauty. So it's been fun. Um we're part
of Room to Read. I don't know if you're familiar
with the organization. We funded four point five million UM
(24:54):
days of School and UM, So I'm really excited to
get involved with them, UM because they help out orphanages
around the world with girls and education and equality. So
I'm really excited to be a part of that with them.
That's wonderful. Yeah, that's wonderful. You know, just how this
(25:14):
pandemic pans out, just you know, just reconnecting on such
a personal level with everybody is kind of my goal
really because I don't want to be cooped up again
from other forms. Yeah, you and me, both, you and
me both. But um, I would love nothing more than
to meet you in person, to have a tea, bring
(25:37):
you out to Montclair, show you that you know, that
would be That would be really great. And beauty just
brings people together in such a way that you can't
help but be respectful and admire. Because then we will
that then it's ugly, Yeah, we will. We will continue
this conversation also online soon, so um, I'm really excited.
(26:01):
And can you tell everyone where they could learn more
about you. I'm only on Instagram, so you can learn
more about me on my Instagram page and your Instagram
is just Daniel Martin. Have a wonderful day and thank
you so much. Seriously, we'll be in touch all right,
big kiss. For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit
(26:24):
the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you
listen to your favorite shows.
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