Dina Desiree Kotze is a local businesswoman who uses her talents to help people look their best through a variety of techniques. Her business is Beauty Ink and Beyond.
Tell me a little bit about Beauty Ink And Beyond, Inc. How long has it been open, and where is it located?
Beauty Ink and Beyond is located at 6000A Sawgrass Village Circle in Ponte Vedra Beach. It is inside the building next to the First Coast Cultural Center. People sometimes seem to get confused because there is also a 6000 Sawgrass Village Center. However, that is a tall glass building, and my building is gray with a black canopy that says 6000A on it.
Tell me about the services you offer your clients. I checked your website, so I know you have quite a range of offerings, most of which I’d never even realized existed!
Yes, I provide services that most people, unfortunately, are unaware of. It may be very good for those reading this article to visit my website, whether or not they want or need a service. It is very informative, and the knowledge they will gain may be life-changing for themselves or others they know. My website is https://beautyinkandbeyond.com.
Some of my services are covered by all medical insurance providers.
I literally take care of people from head to toe.
My medical permanent pigmentation services include mastectomy areola re-creation, cosmetic areola color correction, all types of scar revision, stretchmark revision and scar camouflage (such as self-harm scars from cutting, surgery scars, burning and scars from cleft lip operations).
I also offer scalp pigmentation. Many people experience traction alopecia, or as they age, their hair thins. Some even go completely bald. I can fill those gaps by performing scalp pigmentation. This technique gives them the illusion of hair growth. I also help men who had failed hair transplants.
Among my most popular services with the ladies in Ponte Vedra are cosmetic micropigmentation services, commonly known as permanent and semi-permanent makeup. My oldest client was 91 years of age and the youngest 18. These cosmetic services would include microblading the eyebrows, nano hairstrokes for the eyebrows and also powder brows.
I also do permanent eyeliner and lash line enhancement. As ladies age it becomes increasingly difficult for them to apply eyeliner without poking their eyes. So, these cosmetic services truly enhance their quality of life. Even our local ophthalmologists prefer permanent eyeliner to makeup eyeliner. Makeup truly is very dirty and can infect the eyes. Most ophthalmologists are supportive of permanent eyeliner. I have had doctors send ladies to me before or after cataract operations to perform eyeliner services.
I also perform permanent and semi-permanent lipliner and lip blush services. This is a wonderful service and one of my favorites to do, in addition to all the medical services. I also use permanent lip liner and lip blush to address cleft lip.
Then, I also help vitiligo patients with vitiligo camouflage. This is a long and tedious service and people need to be patient because the color needs to be built up very slowly so the skin can keep the translucent quality. If you have vitiligo, I can camouflage it, but be prepared for an eight- or nine-visit service where results are only visible after the fourth or fifth service.
One of my most popular services is color correction of brows. So many people are walking around with blue or grey or red brows. I can correct the color with pigment removal (tattoo removal) or with color correction.
Do you offer some sort of consultation with clients as part of the process? How can people set up appointments?
Yes! Thank you for asking. Clients can book a consultation online or call my office at 904-338-8011. Leave a message; I will return all calls within 12 hours. My consultations are only $36 and that goes toward your service should you book the procedure and go ahead with treatment, which essentially makes the consultation free. All my services require a consultation because there are — as with any medical or cosmetic procedure — before- and after-care instructions.
In addition, not every person is a candidate for all the services. For instance, a client or patient cannot drink caffeinated or alcoholic drinks or even take vitamins 24 hours prior to any of these procedures.
What is your background? Tell me a little about your professional journey.
I have lost track of how many diplomas and certificates I have in my line of work. I originally obtained a bachelor’s degree in fine arts at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. And I double majored in biology.
I have worn many hats over the years. After I arrived in the United States in 1996, I was a stay-at-home mom for one year and then went into recruitment for a short while. When we moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1997, a friend from church asked me to substitute for her at school. It was the Episcopal preschool. The director, Mrs. Blacker, asked whether I would stay on as an assistant teacher, which I did, and eventually I became a teacher there.
I loved the children very much, but the financial reward was very small. So, I decided to become a Realtor after being there for several years. Well, I then found out that real estate was not for me and went back to being a substitute teacher at both Bolles and Episcopal at the Beaches.
In 2020, after COVID my brother, who is a podiatrist, suggested I become a micropigmentation specialist. He informed me that podiatrists use micropigmentation specialists to tattoo toenails for people who were born without nails. I then went to study at the Nouveau Contour Academy in Orlando and never looked back.
What do you like best about what you do?
The joy of my clients and patients! Oh my gosh, I would do this for free if I did not have overhead costs. The joy on a lady’s face when she gets an areola where there was only a mastectomy scar. The joy and amazement on a person’s face when they see scars disappear or when they see eyebrows where, before, they had nothing. The joy of a senior citizen restricted by severe arthritis in her hands who no longer needs to apply eyeliner. The joy on a client’s face when his or her bald spot “disappears.”
I feel like the fairy godmother who grants wishes. My needle is my wand and my pigment the fairy dust! I love what I do because of how it makes people feel. I thank God that I am artistic because, though I will never be a Van Gogh, I will be eternally grateful for the joy my clients give me. It is a win-win!
Are you from this area originally, or did you move here from somewhere else?
My family has lived in Ponte Vedra for 30 years now. I was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and moved here when my husband, who is in I.T., was offered a position in Georgia. The company then moved us to Pennsylvania for nine months, only to move us to Florida because I cried so much, missing the sunshine. They suggested we buy in Ponte Vedra Beach. That is how we ended up here.
So, I have been a Ponte Vedra resident for 30 years now. I have been here so long I was even on the founding PTO of Ponte Vedra High School when it opened. I was also on the IB PTO as a volunteer coordinator before that. Ponte Vedra is home.
What do you like about living in this area?
The people and the feeling of community. I used to love how quiet it was and how everyone knew everyone. How my children could run barefoot on the beach and how friendly everyone is.
Now with Nocatee, I love that it is slowly becoming a little more diverse, and that truly helps our economy. There are always pros and cons, though Ponte Vedra with the new Concert Hall and the TPC Headquarters will always be very special, offering sports, nature, culture and entertainment.
And people here are truly kind and friendly. I travel often, and this is home.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I belong to a ladies’ international group, and we often travel to each other’s home countries. Recently after my mom’s passing, I took 16 of them to Cape Town, South Africa.
Actually, I just returned from Africa, where I also sometimes go to teach or volunteer my services. I would love to do this free teaching in places like Mexico, too, but I do not know anyone there.
I also joined the Ponte Vedra Woman’s Club but have not been able to attend many of their events yet.
My husband used to play in a band in South Africa; he was a bass guitarist. So, we are always looking for places with music and good dinners where we can move our legs and enjoy ourselves. When my children were small, I loved to volunteer at school and at our church.
I also do my YouTube channel, @Beauty Ink and Beyond by Desiree, and then I am an Amazon influencer and have an Amazon storefront to help people buy the correct products for health and beauty.
I just love life, and I hope I can continue doing this until I am 70. I want to thank everyone reading this article, and I want to wish you the best holiday season and a prosperous 2026. Much love from Desiree at Beauty Ink and Beyond. God bless you all!
