We recently had the chance to connect with Donaldo Taylor and have shared our conversation below.
Donaldo , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
You know, there’s something really powerful about just… being.
Not performing, not trying to look like I have it all figured out — just being myself.
For a long time, I walked around with these masks on.
The mask of perfection.
The mask of ‘I’m fine.’
The mask that hides anything that feels messy or uncomfortable.
But when I finally allowed myself to be vulnerable with myself everything started to change.
I stepped into a space where I didn’t have to pretend anymore.
Where shame loses its hold.
Where every feeling, even the conflicting ones, is allowed to show up.
And honestly? That’s where real joy began with me.
Not in being perfect, but in being real.
In giving myself permission to simply be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Absolutely, my name is Donaldo Taylor, and I bring over 22 years of professional experience in the beauty industry, having worked across retail, fashion, and film and television. My career has allowed me to refine not only my artistry, but also my understanding of how beauty impacts confidence and identity.
I am now the co-founder of Just Makeup Cosmetics and Skincare, created alongside my partner, Dr. Carissa Hines~ Moore. Our brand combines the worlds of makeup artistry and clinical skincare, offering products designed to enhance natural beauty while supporting and nurturing the skin.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The person who saw me clearly before I could ever see myself was my mommy.
She didn’t just see what I could do, she saw who I was, even when I was still trying to figure it out. She saw my gifts before I believed in them, my strength before I could stand in it, and my beauty on days when I couldn’t recognize it in the mirror.
My mommy held a vision of me that felt safer and softer than anything I saw in myself. She spoke life into me when I doubted everything, and she kept reminding me of who I was meant to be. The foundation I stand on today, my confidence, my courage, my voice. All of it started with the way she loved me and the way she saw me, long before I learned to see myself.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me things success never could.
It taught me how to sit with myself , without the career, without the roles, without the mask. It showed me what resilience actually feels like, not the pretty version people applaud, but the quiet kind that grows in the dark when no one is watching.
Suffering taught me compassion, for others, yes, but especially for myself. It softened me in places I didn’t even know had hardened. It made me pay attention to the small, honest moments… the ones that don’t make it to the highlight reel but end up shaping who I truly am.
Success has given me confidence, opportunities, visibility and I’m grateful for all of it. But suffering gave me depth.
It gave me purpose.
It taught me to create from a place that is real, human, and vulnerable.
And honestly, that’s the part of me that pours into my work, into my artistry, and now into Just Makeup Cosmetics and Skincare. The strength I have today didn’t come from the wins, it came from the moments I had to rebuild myself.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is part of who I am, but it’s not all of me. What people see, the makeup artist, the entrepreneur, the polished exterior is just the surface. The real me is vulnerable, messy, and constantly growing. It’s the part shaped by challenges, love, and lessons, and it’s what truly drives my work and my life.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Honestly, I feel like I’m doing what I was born to do. Makeup has always been my way of connecting with people and celebrating their stories, whether I’m on a film or TV set, working in fashion, or just sitting one-on-one with a client. It’s never been about following what others expected of me; it’s about helping people feel confident, seen, and like the best version of themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.experiencedonaldo.com/
- Instagram: ExperienceDonaldo
- Facebook: ExperienceDonaldo
Image Credits
Leslie Andrews
Augustine Claramunt
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