The queen of clean beauty
Luminous skin, a good red lip and highlighter that pops ‘just so’ are all hallmarks of celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman, the woman behind the Westman Atelier beauty empire and with a clientele that reads like the who’s who of Hollywood. What are her golden rules for mastering her signature dewy skin and red-carpet eyes? Westman reveals her insider tips and beauty know-how
How does Westman Atelier differ from other makeup-artist-led brands?
“I wanted to create consciously clean and considerate, high-performing, luxury products that women and men could rely on and feel good about using. I’m not a straight up fashion and editorial makeup artist. I’m truly a lifestyle and wellness junkie. I grew up on an ashram and my parents were very focused on clean eating. That way of eating always makes me feel good – what you put in and on your body all correlates. The makeup artist in me knew that I needed to combine a clean ingredient list with products that I knew would perform – or even outperform – the products I used in my kit.”
What would you say is your signature ‘Westman look’?
“It’s all about amplification. I like to enhance a person’s beautiful, natural features. I don’t want customers to feel like they have to hide behind a lot of makeup. You should feel like yourself!”
You’re the queen of dewy skin. What are your fail-safe tips?
“Layering is key – that’s always been my go-to. I like to exfoliate the skin first – it really does help to make the skin luminous from the start. After moisturizing, and before foundation, I’ll use my Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick to really give the skin a beautiful, ethereal glow. For foundation, I’ll spot check areas that need it with my Blender Brush and then use my fingers to pat it into the skin for a soft, natural look. Afterwards, I’ll go in with Super Loaded Tinted Highlight across the cheeks and eyelids. The layering of different highlighters is what really creates luminous, dewy skin. I always like to have different dimensional moments on the skin that feel dewy and natural, and never too done up.”
“I think it’s really empowering to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Until you try, you never know if something could be your new favorite thing
”Gucci Westman
If you only had the choice of three Westman Atelier products, what would you choose and why?
“Impossible! I’m too connected to all of them. Can I have five? I’m obsessed with the Eye Love You Mascara, Beauty Butter Bronzer, Vital Skin Foundation, Face Trace and Super Loaded Tinted Highlight. But, if I had to choose, Eye Love You Mascara, because it gives you the longest, blackest, shiniest lashes; Beauty Butter Bronzer, because I always want to look sun-kissed; and Vital Skin Foundation – I have rosacea and Vital Skin has truly helped the health of my skin. It contains this amazing ingredient, phytosphingosine, which provides moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties.”
Can you share the backstory to your exciting new additions to the Westman Atelier range – the Eye Pods?
“The Eye Pods are so special. It’s truly an innovative product in the clean makeup world. I fell in love with the formula almost two years ago now, and it took almost a year for the lab to make it free of PEGs [polyethylene glycols] and silicone. I love how the creamy, powder texture feels – it’s almost like Play Doh. The shadows have such beautiful staying power and a rich color. I created each Eye Pod palette with one classic ‘core’ shade that’s a seamless base or smudgy liner; one ‘accent’ shade for an amplified pop of color; and one ‘highlight’ shade to brighten lids and tear ducts. That formula, coupled with the innovative magnetic pods that ‘snap’ together or apart for easy portability, make them fool-proof.”
What is the best beauty advice that you give to your clients?
“Never wash your face with soap. My mom never let me do that, which I’m grateful for. But when giving advice, it really varies on the person and their needs. However, I think it’s really empowering to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Until you try, you never know if something could be your new favorite thing.”
Discover Westman Atelier
3 items