If you haven’t heard of Gucci Westman and her lightness of touch when it comes to make-up application technique, which helps create countless stunning editorials, then you most definitely will be intrigued by her debut make-up range Westman Atelier. And if you are familiar with her work with the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon & Julianne Moore and cosmetic giants like Revlon & Lancome, where she was global artistic director, then you will be as eager to get your hands your her products, as I was.
‘I’ve taken a ‘skincare’ approach to make-up, combining beautiful, melting textures with the best plant-based active ingredients’ Gucci Westman
Launched towards the end of 2018, a line of blushers (in a creamy stick & powdered compact formats), brushes, bronzers, tinted highlighter and foundations, Gucci wanted to incorporate skincare benefits into the make-up products bearing her name and create something unique and not readily available in the already over-saturated beauty marketplace. Together with her husband, David Neville, who was the co-founder of fashion brand Rag & Bone, Gucci decided to focus on ‘conscious luxury’ and the price point of her products certainly fits into that category (my recent order from Niche Beauty, a German luxury beauty retailer which is currently Westman Atelier only European retailer), came just over 200 euros for four products at the till.
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick, 11 shades, 72 euros
Luxurious cream foundation rich in antioxidants and formulated with active ingredients to combat redness, calm irritation, even out complexion and boost moisture.
With the very creamy texture that skin gratefully responds to when its cold outside, the foundation is easily blended with the tips of the fingers or with the brush, creating a natural finish & making the skin feel well-moisturised. It also boasts antioxidant & anti-inflammatory (as Gucci herself suffers from rosacea, this was a very important aspect that she wanted to tackle with the help of the formulator) benefits and comes in a practical ‘stick’. In the image below the shade is ‘Atelier III’ and it works perfectly, blending seamlessly into my slightly olive, but currently winter-pale skin.
For the best way to apply the foundation, either check Gucci’s videos on brand’s website or via her personal Instagram, where she posts practical tips and mini videos to help guide you, as you get to know the products. She recommends that you apply it sparingly around the nose, lips and under the eyes, dabbing it in with the fingers. Having used it for about a week now, I can say that it works well both on top of serum, moisturiser or face oil, makes the skin look luminous, hides imperfections (I use the foundation as under eye concealer with good effect) & stays ‘put’ for a good few hours, without creasing.
Key Ingredients:
Vegetable Derived Squalane restores suppleness and flexibility to the skin with enhanced luminosity and radiance.
Phytosphingosine, a potent skin-identical compound, helps skin conserve moisture and provides anti-inflammatory support, reducing the appearance of fine lines and targeting redness and inflammation specifically.
Berry flux Vita, an active ingredient extracted from raspberry cells, was selected for its deep moisturising and youth-preserving properties.
Camellia Seed Oil helps protect skin from environmental pollutants.
Coconut Oil assists in rejuvenation of dehydrated skin.
Full List of Ingredients: Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Isononyl isononanoate, Isodecyl neopentanoate, Dicalcium phosphate, Microcrystalline wax (cera microcristallina), Squalane, Polyethylene, VP/hexadecene copolymer, Synthetic wax, Disteardimonium hectorite, Hydrogenated polyisobutene, Silica, Nylon-12, Camellia oleifera seed oil, Hydrogenated coconut oil, Phytosphingosine, Butyl stearate, Isostearyl alcohol, Alcohol, Water (aqua), Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer, Ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer, Mica, Dibutyl lauroyl glutamide, Rubus idaeus leaf cell culture, Tin oxide
May Contain: Titanium dioxide CI 77891, Iron oxides CI 77491, Iron oxides CI 77492, Iron oxides CI 77499
Westman Atelier ‘Lit Up’ Highlight Stick, 52 euros
This silky, translucent gel-like highlighter imparts skin with radiance and even encourages collagen production. The iridescent undertone enhances skin’s own natural appearance and flatters all complexions, making it an very helpful tool in your make-up arsenal, when you need to perk up dull or tired skin in seconds.
Gucci is a big fan of facials and likes how the skin looks straight after (when in London she sees gorgeous Anastasia Achilleas at The Lanesborough Club Spa) and when developing this particular product, she wanted it to help create the ”fresh-from-the-facial”, clear skin complexion. Have a look at her recent Instagram video, when she demonstrates it in action, after feeling unwell – the effect is indeed quite impressive when I use it too.
Gucci’s Tips:
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Glide it onto tops of cheeks, cheekbones, cupid’s bow and tear ducts for subtle iridescence and clarity.
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Use this highlighter to refresh the skin when it feels dull or parched.
Key Ingredients
A triple botanical blend of Light Ayurvedic Oils to soothe and nourish the skin
Vitis Vita Grape Extract to detoxify skin cells, promote the production of the skin’s own collagen and hyaluronic acid
A triple botanical blend of light ayurvedic oils to soothe and nourish
Vitis Vita Grape Extract that helps detoxify skin cells, while promoting the production of the skin’s own collagen and hyaluronic acid.
According to Gucci, blush is like an accessory, which can be perfectly ‘matched’ to your mood and or the statement you want to make each day. And the choice of the shade also depends on how much color you want to see.
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Dab Baby Cheeks onto fingers and begin by applying to the middle of your cheekbone.
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Work around in an oval circumference, blending outward as you go.
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Pop onto lips for extra fullness and juiciness.
I bought the ‘Minette’, a luminescent peach shade and it turned out to be a perfect one for my skin right now (I am not a huge fan of rose blushers, which only tends to ‘enhance’ redness which often makes an appearance during colder months of the year, when the skin becomes red and inflamed). Added organic jojoba oil helps to tone the skin, which is an added bonus and another is that the blush stays ‘put’, instead of melting or disappearing in oblivion within an hour of application, which many blushers tend to do.
May Contain: Titanium dioxide CI 77891, Iron oxides CI 77491, Iron oxides CI 77492, Iron oxides CI 77499, Red 30 lake CI 73360, Blue 1 lake CI 42090, Red 7 lake CI 15850, Yellow 5 lake CI 19140
Organic Jojoba Oil, a natural antioxidant, will help tone and restore skin, while China Clay will absorb excess oil.
Berryflux Vita, a potent active ingredient extracted from raspberry cells, was chosen for its deep moisturizing and youth-preserving properties.
Interesting Fact: synthetic pigments that Gucci chose together with her formulator are encapsulated using cosmetic innovation called Biomimicry Technology, an antipollution skin shield, inspired by nature, that locks in hydration and guards against environmental impurities, while Biomimicry pigments mimic elements of the skin & help achieve vibrant colour.
Gucci’s tips:
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I start by sweeping it under cheekbones.
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Then, depending on the look I want to achieve, I build from subtle to dramatic.
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Dab on eyelids for depth and the sides of the nose to define. The cool undertones are perfect for sculpting.
