Daniel Martin: From Runway to Royal Wedding
Celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin believes that makeup is not about what you use but how you use it. He candidly ditches the rulebook and uses products at his will to create a masterpiece.
Daniel is bi-racial; his father is French, and his mother is Vietnamese. Before moving to the United States at the age of 15, he was raised in four different countries. Daniel’s first encounter with makeup came from observing his French grandmother methodically put on makeup daily. This routine fascinated and inspired him to experiment with makeup. Daniel’s exposure to different cultures and communities has allowed him to appreciate the power of natural beauty and harness this power by helping his clients embrace their natural features. For Daniel, natural beauty is something to be embraced, not disregarded.
Starting at the Nordstrom beauty department, Daniel worked at the MAC counter. After moving to the East Coast in 1995, he started working at Aveda in Virginia, where he got to work with the British beauty legend Pat McGrath. Simultaneously, he worked on her team at the New York Fashion Week. Over the years, Daniel gradually worked his way up to be represented by The Wall Group, an esteemed talent agency, and work with celebrity clients.
Daniel made headlines when he booked Meghan Markle for her royal wedding. The criticism for her minimalist makeup that followed did not faze him. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he explained that he wanted to minimize Markle’s makeup to inspire young women to embrace their natural beauty. Despite getting overwhelming attention in the beauty industry, Daniel continues to make his clients feel comfortable in their skin.
Dior Beauty has made Daniel a brand ambassador. Honest Beauty has named him as its creative color consultant. Prestigious magazines, such as Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar, have constantly featured Daniel’s work. Vogue Italia recently released an “All Black” issue in which Daniel was one of the two makeup artists. He receives makeup daily from several beauty brands across the globe, so much so that he keeps it in a storage unit in Manhattan.
Currently, Daniel works with many celebrities, including Elisabeth Moss, Jessica Alba, and Priyanka Chopra, for noteworthy events. He values ethnicity and strives to help women accept their skin color. He has partnered with Elle magazine to create a series of masterclass videos called “No Filter” to help women find their sun-kissed look on a budget. In partnership with US magazine, Daniel collaborated with Cuyana, a premium handbag brand, to launch an exclusive makeup bag with his selection of products for women on the go.
Daniel has booked the New York Fashion Show for Dior until Spring/Summer 2020. He is constantly flying around the globe to work with his clients and loves it. His humble personality and enthusiasm for his profession have helped him become one of the most known makeup artists in the world.
For queries, contact Naina Anand, naina@allure.com.
