Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Schoser Davis.
Michelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Atomic Beauty Cosmetics really started as an experiment. A long-time friend from Las Vegas and I knew we wanted to do something together in the beauty space. Collectively, we had many years working in the entertainment and cosmetics industries. We decided to launch our own indie beauty brand with a mission to make the perfect red lipstick. Having a love of vintage, mid-century, and the atomic era, we were inspired by old Hollywood glam and PinUp culture. That was how our PinUp Red Sateen Lipstick was born. We started Atomic Beauty Cosmetics literally by launching one product. It was called the PinUp Pout Red Lip Trio and came with PinUp Red Lipstick, a red gloss called Showgirl and a micro-fine glitter called Ruby Slippers. We sold out in three weeks! After the success of that experiment, we decided to keep going! We launched a more expanded collection of 10 Liquid Lipsticks and 5 Highlighters in April 2018 at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend and our online shop opened in May of that same year and have been building ever since.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Ha! Would it be as fun if the road was smooth? Kind of like the difference between driving on a freshly paved freeway vs. off-roading in the desert. Although the freeway probably gets you from point A to point B faster, off-roading in the desert is a bit more fun!
One of the biggest struggles and also something to be most proud of is that we are truly an independent beauty brand. By industry standards, a brand only has to have 51% stake ownership to be considered an “indie brand”. It has not been an easy path at all, but we are self-funded and I am now the sole owner. I don’t know how long that will realistically last because as we grow, we will need additional funding to scale, but to revel in it for a while is a pretty special thing.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Atomic Beauty Cosmetics story. Tell us more about the business.
What sets us apart is not only the quality of the product, I have also been a professional working makeup artist in the industry for over two decades. I know what works for makeup artists, pinups and everyday people of all ages and I personally try and test every formulation in a variety of settings to ensure it is going to perform. I should also mention that I had the pleasure of working at MAC Cosmetics for 20 years in a variety of different roles and that experience has truly helped so much, especially on the leadership and business side of things.
We offer a personalized touch to shopping too. People can get in touch with us to ask questions through social media, our chat feature, text message and email. We try to make ourselves available and even have a personal shopping feature which allows people to not even have to bypass the traditional steps of online shopping.
It is fun to show people how simple makeup can be. We host a series of events called Beauty Playshops and Style Soirees in different cities. They are intimate and fun! At the Playshops, people get to come to an upbeat environment, get their very own Atomic Beauty Cosmetics brush set and learn how to use the tools. The purpose of these is really to empower the attendees on how to use their tools and to show them how simple makeup can be! The Style Soirees are more of a collaborative effort between a local clothing boutique, hairstylist and us for a head to toe look! We have a Beauty Playshop coming up at Presley & Co. Fine Jewelers.
It makes me proud and happy to say we are a San Diego based company! I grew up here in San Diego. I love love love this city, the people in it, the beach and having our neighbor to the south so close. I try as much as possible to work with local businesses for things we need to support our brand.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck is a funny thing! I don’t know so much about luck playing a role, but it has to at times, right? I do think it is very interesting how timing has a way of allowing things to happen when they are meant to. I am a firm believer in going after what you want in life, but please for heaven’s sake don’t be that annoying person about it either. I live my life pretty balanced so that translates into my work style. I work out and I eat tacos. I practice yoga and go to rock ‘n roll shows. I do think the energy we put out to the world is important to the energy we oftentimes get back and who and what we attract in life. I am usually smiling, genuinely helpful, excited to get up and get the day started and a little bit of a business badass at the same time. Think Joan Jett, a little Bettie Page and a whole lot of Jackie O. She is my spirit animal. Haha
Pricing:
- PinUp Red Sateen Lipstick $18.00
- Liquid Eyeshadow Quad $50.00
- Liquid Lipsticks – $21.00 (what many people know us for)
- Brush Set – special release for holiday 2019 – $65 – launches Black Friday
- Atomic Beauty Cosmetics Beauty Playshop – message us at hello@atomicbeautycosmetics.com to find out when the next one is!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.atomicbeautycosmetics.com
- Email: hello@atomicbeautycosmetics.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/atomicbeautycosmetics
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/atomicbeautycosmetics
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/atomicbeautyco1
Image Credit:
@catalinaneal, @micaelamalmi_photography
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