Atomic Cosmetics

Want a custom color? Think again. I’ve been saving one amazing color for years, trying to find a match. Dr. Jen does color matching!, I thought, perfect. I talked about it to everyone. And, lucky me, my wonderful girlfriend bought me a certificate to have it matched. I went in, and right off the bat, Dr. Jen was trying to talk me out of it. «I’m sure we have that color already,» she said. The nice shop girl took me over to the shadow pallets. No, she agreed, none of the colors matched. But there was one that was close. «Oh good,» said Dr. Jen, «this will be easy.» Right.
Two weeks later I still hadn’t been called. They lost my number, I thought. After all, they only wrote it down on a scrap of paper and taped it to my compact. I went back to make sure they still had my number. Dr. Jen didn’t know who I was – she had no recollection of ever speaking to me. However, her helpful shop girl remembered me, and knew exactly why I was there. After having the situation patiently explained to her by the shop girl, she said, «We’re up to six weeks out on matched colors,» Dr. Jen told me, «of course, YOURS is way ahead of EVERYONE ELSE’S. It won’t take NEARLY that long for you.» Right. I left with the distinct feeling that I was unwelcome and shouldn’t come in again until I was called for.
After she’d had my favorite shadow for three months, and I heard they were moving (high rents in Seattle, Dr. Jen claimed, shitty neighbors, Dr. Jen claimed, she can hire Ph. Ds for $ 15/​hr in LA, Dr. Jen claimed), I decided to go back and check on the status of my order. There it was, hanging on the shelf, untouched. The person behind the counter was rude. «That’s not going to happen,» he said, when I asked if my 3 month old order would be completed before the move. I balked. I’ve purchased many things at Atomic Cosmetics. Before this (long, drawn-​out) incident, I had talked the place up, brought my friends to visit and spend money, and attended (and donated to) the fund raiser the burlesque community put on for her when Dr. Jen was out of sorts (where DID those thousands of dollars go to?). I was a total Dr. Jen groupie, and now I was being ignored as a customer.
I asked to talk to Dr. Jen. She was out running errands. I could come back Tuesday through Saturday and talk to her. So, I went back the next Friday. She was out running errands, but look! My little compact is on the work bench – obviously she’s working on it! «It won’t be long,» said the helpful shop girl. Satisfied, I left again, hopeful.
A week went by, and still no call. I went back and there was my compact, taped to the shelf again. The same male told me again, «I just don’t see that happening before the move.» He did offer me my money back – ridiculous, since I had already explained to him that I’d been given a gift certificate for the service. But I took the cash because, really, the hassle and rude treatment were too much. I went to Sephora that day, found something I wanted, and was complimented by the clerk there for being so easy-​going.
That, on top of the drag eraser feeling gross on your skin, and not really working, the eye shadow primer being so full of water it won’t dry, and turns into a sticky, globby mess, and the lip stick drying out in a week, becoming a leathery, crumbly stick of gorgeous, useless color, makes me think that Dr. Jen’s products just aren’t that great. Or, maybe it’s her work ethic. Maybe it’s the fact that her space is twice the size it needs, and the shop feels empty with only one rack of goods in the center of the floor. Whatever it is, she’s failed in Seattle (despite all these sumptuous reviews – seriously, everyone else is gushing), and LA is going to eat her alive.
Edit: And then she cursed at me on twitter.
It’s not about the eye shadow. It’s about customer service.

Just got my first custom matched foundation here! It’s perfect and I feel like my skin can breath! Great experience overall. I think it was Tina and Cherry (Sorry, I’m bad with names) who were helping me and they were really fun and very helpful!
I will officially be buying as much as I can from this place. I can’t wait to try more products from them! I highly recommend stopping by.

Hand crafted, toxin-​free skin care and make up can it get any better than this? The answer is yes, because the shop has been rhinestoned from top to bottom. Dr. Jen, the owner is super friendly and extremely helpful, not to mention that she has a degree in biochemistry. You know those hand crafted, toxin-​free skin care and makeup that I mentioned earlier? Dr. Jen makes them by hand in shop. Not only that but if you are having problems finding the right foundation for your skin tone Jen will make you a custom blend foundation that perfecrly matches your skin tone. Jen also has a product called Glitter Bomb which is a lotion with glitter inside of it. You heard me right, now you can sparkle brighter than Liberace swinging on a disco ball at the discothèque.

Highly pigmented, chemically safe makeup that looks good and lasts. It’s way more exciting than that bland «natural» stuff! What more could you possibly want?
Oh, a business owner who knows her chemistry and cares deeply about the product? Enter Dr. Jen, highly educated, savvy, and all-​around awesome wonder woman. She even keeps a «dirty dozen» list of chemicals to avoid in your daily routine, so you can shop a little smarter if you buy elsewhere (but seriously, why would you?). And Cherry Sur Bete and Tina Tokyo are just as incredible and ready to help also. Is that good enough for you?
No? Okay, how about the ability to try almost any product in the store? She has palettes and palettes of eyeshadows and lipsticks ready for you to find your perfect shade (s – seriously, I dare you to walk out of there not wanting more than one color). I could spend (and have spent) hours trying on lipsticks, including colors I never thought I’d put on my face and yet somehow magically work.
Is that still not good enough for you? Gosh, you’re picky. Okay, well, how about the ability to see everything Dr. Jen is concocting right there in the store? She’s got an immaculate lab sitting right in the middle of her retail space. I’ve even been invited over to watch lipsticks being poured and made. And if you pay for a foundation consultation, she will mix as many samples as she needs in order to make your perfect shade. If you have a lip color you love but isn’t available in her arsenal, she’ll make it for you as a custom color. She also has a skincare line which I know less about but is worth perusing. And while you’re browsing, enjoy the giant, fuzzy pink wall and the frames and frames of queens sporting bold amounts of color.
More? Oh, you’re not local. That’s okay, Atomic Cosmetics has a website and they ship! Shipping isn’t free, but it is fast: I placed an order on Monday evening and it was in my mailbox in Los Angeles on Thursday! Color me impressed. (I don’t know what color that is, but I bet you Dr. Jen could figure it out.)
If that’s still not enough, I don’t know what to tell you. You must be impossible to please. Dr. Jen makes amazing cosmetics that aren’t shy about color and are safe for even very sensitive skin. On top of that, those cosmetics won’t break the bank. So if that doesn’t make you happy, I don’t know what will.
For the rest of you, run, don’t walk over to Atomic Cosmetics and support this awesome business! Just save some for me, please.

I could not be more impressed! It was my first time in her shop today. Dr. Jen greeted me herself and was such an absolute treat to speak with! She was so inviting, knowledgable and FUNNY! I had been thinking of going in to check the store out for some time based off the toxin free makeup and skin care. Maybe it seemed intimidating on some level. I don’t know… I’m glad I finally went in because I’m sure I’ll be replacing all my skin care/​makep with her products.

My gender: lazy femme. I coast on my long, wavy hair, which is actual bed head, not styled that way. In the past year I have conceded to wearing makeup and perfume, egads! I’ve had a hard time finding foundation pale enough for me. After meaning to go there for a long time, I went to Dr. Jen’s lab (smart girl crush, omg — she has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics) and have met my match. I guess I’m one of the five palest people to ever come into the store, including Dr. Jen herself. First bottle of foundation (where they figure out your formula) is $ 60 and refills are a reasonable $ 30.
I stopped myself from buying ALL THE THINGS, reasoning that the store will be here next week, but I’m going back tomorrow because I need a blush. The color she suggested is «Rose Before Hoes.» Don’t be intimidated by the neon colors and sparkle if that’s not your thing — we’re all in drag as someone and Atomic has a varied selection for everybody on the spectrum (oh god, the puns). I’m in drag as someone a bit more boring. I think they’re going to help me be a better semi-​fancy femme lady.

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
See also: yes I said yes I will Yes.
The store is beautiful, the makeup is quality, Dr. Jen is a genius. Please buy all the things.
You too can look like anything you’ve ever wanted, even yourself, with the help of Atomic.
Her concealer is hands-​down the best.

I was in the market for some makeup work, and boy, did I hit the motherloving jackpot. On the recommendation of a friend, I made an appointment w/​Cherry. Not only is he a true artist, but the in-​house products used are incredibly high in quality. The entire night people believed that I was a girl, although I am not. I had to show them my license just to calm them down. People kept stopping me and asking me where I got my makeup done. Check them out!

This time I was treated to first-​class service by Dr. Jen herself in selecting some skincare for my oily, but sensitive, but stubborn skin. She was funny and helpful in helping me navigate her different skincare options. She was adamant that no product go into disuse because it didn’t work and to keep in touch if any of the regimen wasn’t holding up its end.
Grabbed another palette because I couldn’t resist a color called «sea bitch». And there is a future for me and F* you, I’m pink.
A little sad I noticed some of the blush colors I liked last year have moved on, but that’s probably better than colors never changing at all.

This place is a gem in capital hill! Once you walk inside you are transformed to a gorgeous, glittery, pretty store!
The staff was beyond great!!! So helpful in informing me where everything was, how everything was sanitized and ready to be tried on! They made me feel so comfortable!
The lipstick colors are what was captured my eye! Love all the different shades! The purples were perfect giving fun color without making you look goth! And at $ 20 a tube for great, locally made products that is a steal!
Everything was priced well for high quality beauty products!
Have everything from makeup to skin regiment to lotions and applicators!
The grapefruit body butter smelled beyond delicious!
If you are in need of new make up or just thinking of switching up your color pallet this is the place for you!!!

On the recommendation of a friend, I’d first popped into Atomic Cosmetics just before the opening of the original location above retail therapy. I was intrigued by what I heard about the natural ingredients as well as the *amazing* color & quality, even though I’m not the biggest makeup wearer out there. It took me two years to get back to it, even though during those two years I’d heard many great testimonials from other friends.
I wanted to do it right — throw out all the makeup I own & start over to pick product & learn about application so stopped in to see what to do. I ended up scheduling an appointment for makeup application with Cherry. Together we tried lipstick colors & I was instructed on a simple eye as well as blush application. I had so much fun, couldn’t help but oooh & aaah in the mirror as we worked. I was surprised at how simple my purchases ended up being — very basic & straightforward. I would have bought anything, but now I have half the amount of makeup I used to. And I know how to use it.
I came back in later in the day for facial waxing with Ruby, who was great & made the point to be sure to tell me that if I get waxed elsewhere, what hygienic practices to be sure are emphasized.
Thank you Dr. Jen, Cherry, Ruby & all. I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt so pretty.

This is my new favorite makeup store. A little on the expensive side, but the quality of everything is so good that it makes it absolutely worth it. Very friendly and helpful staff, and a gorgeous store. The skin products are great, but the main reason I’m so happy to have found this store is that it is so hard to find high quality makeup in such loud colors elsewhere without spending a fortune. I’m also really excited to look for an excuse to wear Glitter Bomb. Just… so much glitter. I am in love.

Heres the 411: I brought my dear mother here this past Mothers Day for a few reasons. 1): the Madre is a big fan of supporting local companies whenever possible, and even more so when they’re woman owned. 2): Whats not to love about Dr. Jen and Cherry Sûr Béte? Their combined knowledge of cosmetics and picking out colors and products for any and all skin types and colors is second to none, and theres absolutely zero pressure to try anything you’re not absolutely comfortable trying. Which will dissipate as soon as you walk in. 3): The service is awesome! We showed up a little after they opened, and had some solid, uninterrupted attention from both Dr. Jen and Cherry for a good 20 minutes. Dr. Jen immediately picked out a lipstick shade my Mon fell in love with, and while she was helping another customer, Cherry got my Mom to wear an eyeshadow shade Ive never seen her in– green!- and applied it in a way which my Mom loved, and made her feel much less worrisome about wrinkles and general application.
Seriously, readers of Unilocal,do not feel apprehensive about coming here and worrying you wont find anything or be turned away for «having a stupid question.» What I love about this business is the genuine attitudes and love of all things glittery and rhinestone encrusted this shop exudes.
PS: two days after wearing Dr. Jens BB cream, my skin has already started calming down. Two days!

Ok boys and girls… this is it. This is hands down the best place to find makeup in the Greater Seattle Area. And it’s a great spot to buy gifts as well!
I came in the other day after hearing fantastic things for months about Atomic Cosmetics. In fact, it sounded so cool I was almost intimidated as I walked through the door because I don’t quite feel cool enough to shop here. But that’s what makes this place so awesome… They MADE me feel cool!
The door was open and there were a few folks actually making products, other people arranging things, and one super friendly gal who greeted me and asked if I had questions. I browsed the store in awe and because I was shopping for a friend, decided on just inquiring about a gift card. The transaction was fast, easy, and crazy friendly.
Still not ready to leave, I walked around a bit, had my eye on various other products, and decided that when I come back, I should bring my whole paycheck. Not because prices are high, but because I want it all!
The quality of the products is great, the space is clean and pretty, the customer service is killer, and the company caters to anyone and everyone. Whether you’re after loud, bold, glittery looks, whether you’re wanting more modest makeup, and whether you’re a boy or a girl, there’s something here for you. So, so, so damn awesome.

I’m in love.
Not only is this natural makeup in colors that don’t suck– it’s natural makeup in absolutely amazing colors.
I was hesitant to try this brand, because natural usually means semi-​functional and bland, and locally-​made is rarely a good sign where cosmetics are concerned either.
A friend actually invited me to join her on a lipstick-​shopping trip to Atomic Cosmetics, and after reading the reviews on Unilocal I went in on my own when she couldn’t make our date (and then returned with her– and somehow new Atomic dates keep popping up in my calendar).
I was floored. The lipsticks are amazing.
I owned about 40 high-​end lipsticks when I went in (Dior, Urban Decay, ModelCo., Tarte, Buxom, Makeup Forever, Bite, Clinique, YSL, MAC– I’ve dabbled in a little of everything), and upon trying a few Atomic lipsticks I lost all interest in the ones I had at home. Their lipstick feels like a conditioning balm but is as pigmented as MAC or Urban Decay. There isn’t a weird chemical odor or fragrance– it’s actually scentless, which I love. I bought a neutral lipstick and a couple fun colors for night, and a couple eyeshadows– and returned a week later for their primer and more lipstick (after which I threw away 20 lipsticks, because I’m totally sold on Atomic’s formulation). The finish seems to consistently be semi-​matte with the six shades I own, and the wear time is super long, but still easy to remove.
The eyeshadow is lovely as well. It’s highly-​pigmented, easy to blend, and doesn’t have a lot of color-​destroying fillers. I do find it needs a primer, and does better with wet application, but I definitely prefer it to MAC or Stila (or most of my other less-​safe high-​end products).
The eye primer is good, but I have very oily eyelids, and I do find that I still get serious creasing after about 8 hours– so not as good as my Urban Decay Primer Potion. However, it’s also non-​toxic, and also just white enough to provide a good blank canvas for lids (it’s perfect to prime for under-​eye concealer too). A little goes a long way, so the pump can be tricky to work with, because it does seem to want to dispense more than I need. I also need to kind of ‘mix’ it between my fingers before applicaition– but I have three Primer Potions and I still reach for this every day.
The customer service is also super friendly and helpful here. They have people on the floor who really know makeup and color (mostly people who use it for stage performance, it seems). Dr. Jen is obviously really passionate about making makeup and will do some show-​and-​tell if there’s time. And no one’s an asshole. That’s unheard of with high-​end makeup service.
My skin is very oily and very sensitive, and while I love Sephora/​Nordstrom/​Birchbox/​etc. for makeup, I often have minor (or worse) reactions to silicones, fragrances, and fillers in the formulations of conventional products. None of this stuff irritates my skin. It’s a miracle. I’ve even put the eyeshadows on my cheeks and the lipstick on my cheeks and brows and not had any kind of reaction to it.
So, to recap– great products, fun colors, fun people, lots of glitter, no toxins, no assholes and very reasonable prices.
Thanks, Atomic Cosmetics. My girlfriend is now counting my unbridled spending in $ 20 metallic pink lipstick tubes.

Stepping into this pink and rhinestoned monument to all things queeny, drag or bio, was a little intimidating. I’ve been known to beat my face on occasion, and to rock the biggest false lashes known to drag-​kind, but on an every day basis I’m low maintenance. Would I rather sleep than wake up a few minutes earlier to fix my hair and put on makeup? You bet. But Dr. Jen immediately put me at ease when we discovered our mutual scientific background, and we may have had an extended OMG SCIENCE bonding moment involving lots of acronyms and lamenting the current state of funding.
Bond established, she asked me if I was willing to try on a few different lipsticks. For science. Which of course I did — two hues of a deep, lovely plum shade that I would normally never think to pick out for myself, and I was so taken with the darker one (Belladonna) that I ended up walking out of there with it in my purse. She also has an amazing shelf of all different glitters, so of course I couldn’t resist getting a little pot of what looked like crushed disco ball. My inner magpie demanded it. I can’t wait to come back when I’ve got some extra cash kicking around so I can get some custom formulated foundation (and MOAR GLITTER) from my science kin.

Decided to walk in on the encouragement of a friend that I try on the Jinkx Monsoon red lipstick they make. I was greeted warmly by a lovely man with red glitter eyebrows, and he listened to my request, then did me one better: He looked at my bright red glasses frames and said that the Jinkx Monsoon color was a really lovely one, but that with my glasses I should try a couple of others.
He was so right on. I left with the most perfect shade of red for my skin and to wear with or without my very bright glasses (it’s called Femme Fatale). And the lipstick feels AMAZING on my lips. No scent, no taste, just pure highly pigmented awesomeness.
Great experience, great product, non-​toxic and locally made? YES.

It was the first snow of the year and I needed some va va voom to shake off the grey. I walked into Atomic Cosmetics and was blown away from all the fabulousness. Rhinestone walls, pink boas, and a fantastic makeup/​skin care line that is made without harmful chemicals. Dr. Jen is the brain of the operation who has a PhD in something really science-​y and makes all of the products. She also gives skin treatments.
The staff was very friendly and gave suggestions without being too pushy. I spent a little more than I wanted to, but I felt good about supporting a local business. The makeup colors are amazing and I bought a lipstick called «Lolita» that is one of the prettiest pinks I’ve ever seen. I wish I could have had one of everything in the store. They had this golden lotion that looked amazing on my caramel skin and it’s definitely a must have for the summer. One of my favorites I bought was the sugar lip balm. It exfoliates and moisturizers the lips at the same time with little bits of sugar.
So glad we have a store like this in Seattle. Come in and support this amazing place.

While I can’t say I’ve been disappointed with the service at Sephora (those working the counter are DESPERATELY EXCITED to provide makeovers to people who want to look glam and not just drab highschool reunions or prom) at Atomic I found a lovely staff, product lines from my favorite local burlesque/​boi-​lesque acts, and Dr. Jen worked with me on a custom foundation for my skintone (I have no theatre in my blood, but she offered «stage» options as well ;p).
The colors are awesome, and I’m very happy to support local industry (at very non-​boutique prices!)
Agreed with KS, I’ll go here first from now on and recommend my friends do the same.

My color palette will never be the same again.
I’ve been hearing about Atomic Cosmetics for a while. Jinkx Monsoon loves them. Kitten La Rue and basically the entire troupe of the Atomic Bombshells use them. They are big in the drag/​glam scene — and my curiousity finally piqued when it came time to get my Pridefest get-​up in gear.
We stopped in primarily to find CW a foundation that would work with his skin tone, and I seriously don’t know how we didn’t end up leaving with half the store in tow.
Dr. Jen is amazing. Her products are killer — and she spent the time custom blending my sometimes glamorous guy a foundation that looks/​works PERFECTLY for his skin tone. It’s amazing. And only costs $ 30!!! While Jen and Chris were busy mixing shades, I occupied myself by slathering every color of lipstick available I could on my puckers. They have your basic reds, corals, pinks and nudes… but keep looking and you’ll see purples, blues, blacks, greens and metallics. I ended up with a sickening shade of metallic green called «corvette» mostly because the super friendly counter help (the one and only Cherry Sur Bete!) told me it made my eyes looks amazing.
Glitter pots, pressed powders, in-​house pressed eye shadows, lip gloss, and sparkly accessories galore. Atomic Cosmetics is tops. Plus, they are free of toxic chemicals that are found in pretty much the majority of your everyday cosmetics. So they look great, don’t break the bank, and they are healthy to boot! Seriously, screw Sephora — when I need more product Atomic Cosmetics has ~all~ of my business.