Makeup Artist Daniel Martin

did Megan Markle's makeup at the Royal Wedding. Now everyone 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 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 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. 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.

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 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. 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 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

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 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, 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 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 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, 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 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. 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

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 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 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 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 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 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, 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, 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 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, 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,

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 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 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

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 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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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 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, 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, 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

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, 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 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 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 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, 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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.