When entertainers, models and other glamorous ones sojourning in South Florida need makeup expertise, they don’t think of calling anyone else. Matti Domingue of Zoule Makeup! Domingue, whose handiwork is appreciated by everyone from young brides, to runway models to musical stars, says her love for makeup and beauty aesthetics started with her mom, a cosmetologist whose salon the young Domingue frequented often as a child.
Says Domingue: “I used to watch how she worked. She was the kind of woman who woke up beautified. Makeup well-done hair and nails etc. I used to love watching her when she had wedding clients when she actually did the makeup since her specialty was hair.”
It didn’t take long for little Domingue to try her hand at things: “My mom used to have to hide her makeup multiple times. She found me with lipstick all over my face,” she recalls. “I loved makeup as a child and now have a greater love for it because I can help people gain more confidence in their selves”.
Domingue agrees that there are some misconceptions about makeup. And the biggest? “When they tell you makeup makes you look fake or older,” she contends. “Makeup does not make you look fake unless you overdo it. There is nothing wrong with enhancing your beauty.”
And enhancing outer beauty is something Zoule Makeup certainly does. Domingue drew the inspiration for her company in the spiritual history of her Haitian roots. “Zoule Means Erzulie [Haiti’s version of the Virgin Mary],” she says deciphering the mystery of the significance behind her company’s name. “I wanted a meaningful name that can make a woman feel like the queen that they already are. To me Zoule means Spiritual Queen. So when I do someone’s makeup I want them to go even deeper within their selves find the inner beauty to project while I enhance their outer appearance.”
For those of us who have never experimented with makeup, Domingue offers this counsel: “There is nothing wrong with asking about makeup,” she contends. “Meaning if you are not so good at applying it on yourself you can ask an expert. For example on Twitter I welcome people [asking] me questions. Also Sephora they are good for that. But I always say this the simpler you are the better, makeup is not meant to be overdone.”
Domingue is eager to address the concerns and fears of some women on how to best take care of their skin when wearing makeup. She advocates the use of a primer, as one of the key products women should use to keep their makeup settled while protecting their skin from any damages. “The ones with SPF are even better. Also before going to sleep clean and moisturize your skin so that it can stay vibrant and healthy.”
The owner of Zoule Makeup is not stingy about sharing her experience either, and has plenty of advice or other young women who want to work in the industry. First and foremost, she says, an aspiring makeup artist must know that the art is not simply doing makeup for a client and making money. “It’s a very competitive field and requires a lot of dedication and passion,” she observes. “Before wanting to do makeup I had to test it out trying photo shoots with friends etc. Loving what you do is the key to success.” Domingue says that aspiring artists must be prepared to be away from their families, sometimes several days and weeks at at a time for assignments. “I believe its takes a lot of courage and personality to do what I do.”
And perseverance. Domingue asserts that a hardworking artist, no matter how successful should never get too comfortable, and those new to the field must be prepared to face obstacles, even daily. “From people not respecting what you do to not appreciating your work,” she observes. ‘Many times people have use the term “Its just makeup. Why do you take it so seriously?’ People have tried to bring me down on multiple occasions to give up what I do. But with my faith in God and myself. I have learned to strengthen up and keep it moving. I do it because it’s what I love. I love transforming a worm into a butterfly.”
And that has been primarily the secret ingredient to her success. Another secret to her success is definitely her ability to approach each client on a person-to-person basis. “Making a client feel comfortable to me is the best way to start,” she says. “I love getting to know them while I do there makeup. Because not everyone likes to have a unknown person invading there personal space. So with a little conversation and laughter it eases the client to fall into there comfort zone.”
Domingue works with all kinds of complexions, and ranks certain products as her favorites to work with. For every day type of makeup, she recommends the foundation to powders, blushes, and shadows in the “Makeup Forever” line, one of her favorite brands. She says that one of my favorite mascaras is DJV Fiber Wig. “It’s amazing,” she gushes. “I also like MAC shadows, concealers, blushes, and lip stick. Nars also has amazing lip glosses. For sensitive skin I recommend Korres they have amazing products that are naturally based. Just to name a few.”
Domingue has great plans for her business, including hiring and training additional makeup artists to join her staff.A woman with impressive business acumen, Domingue wants to eventually create her own line of cosmetics, and expanding her little empire beyond the state of Florida and dip nationwide and delve into the European market. Among her other plans, is to provide clothes and other essentials for underprivileged kids and babies in Haiti. Says the entrepreneur: “God has blessed me profoundly and I feel that its only right that I give back to the ones in need. Also I would like to help the women that have the same interest [with] seminars and such. Zoule Makeup to me is not about finding the outer beauty but also finding the good within yourself.”
And all who know her would agree.
