Meet the Founder — Travis Pates
With almost 30 years in the industry, my work lives at the intersection of discipline, artistry, and rebellion. Trained at the Joe Blasco Makeup Center West, I built my foundation on classical technique — then spent years expanding it as an international educator, while simultaneously working as an industry professional across film, television, print, stage, and as a cosmetic representative for multiple brands. My career has never lived in one lane — it has demanded fluency across every dimension of beauty.
As Creative Director of Destroy By Color Cosmetics, I translate that philosophy into a brand that challenges the expected. This is not about perfection — it’s about presence. Not about trends — it’s about identity. Every shade, every texture, every finish is designed to evoke power, individuality, and unapologetic self-expression.
I curated this collection with two things in mind: artistry and performance. Color should do more than define character — it should perform beautifully from the first brush stroke to the final toast. These products hold their own under studio lights, through long work days, in front of cameras, across the dance floor. Professional enough for the artist. Effortless enough for everyone. Makeup should not ask you to compromise between performance and beauty. This is beauty with power. This is color with purpose.