101 GUIDE TO WESTMAN ATELIER
A QUICK HISTORY OF WESTMAN ATELIER
Brand founder Gucci — born in California and raised in Sweden — has more than two decades experience as an editorial make up artist. She has worked with publications including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and major fashion houses including Louis Vuitton. And that’s not all, Gucci has rubbed shoulders with many an A-Lister over the years, creating iconic make up looks for celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon — through this, she became known for her highly coveted ‘second-skin’ approach to make up.
Inspired by her 20-year career, Gucci went on to launch her eponymous beauty line, designed to make “naturally beautiful, radiantly amplified skin available to everyone” with products that “work together as a make up wardrobe”.
GUCCI WESTMAN IN CONVERSATION
Gucci Westman: I first discovered make up because my mom didn’t allow me to wear any, so obviously I rebelled! I would do my friends’ make up on the bus to school, loving that form of creative expression and how it could boost self-confidence. After graduating in Sweden, I decided to go abroad for a year and became an au pair for a fashion critic and journalist. I loved it because she would take me to shows in Paris and gave me the make up that brands sent her. I was hooked on exploring the beauty world and attended a make up school in Paris shortly after.
GW: I always dreamed of creating my own line ever since I was the Global Artistic Director for another make up retailer. Product development has always been so enjoyable and fulfilling for me, especially when you create products that resonate strongly with your community. For Westman Atelier, I noticed a blank space in the market for products that included skin care ingredients at efficacy levels and could also perform at the high levels I was used to as a working make up artist. It felt like you could find something 'natural' or something innovative but not necessarily both. We're bridging that gap, delivering make up that can do more than just enhance out of a passionate belief that we all deserve more from our beauty products.
GW: We want to continue to push boundaries on what is possible in the beauty world, exceeding our own expectations and hopefully those of others in the process. Our dream is to continue to deliver extraordinary products that are always rooted in skin care and are performance driven.
GW: I feel equally passionate about every product, so this is a tough one! However, our first skin care product, Skin Activator, has had such a major impact on improving the quality of my skin that I won't go a day without applying it! I use this serum morning and night.
GW: The first step is finding skin care that's right for you because everything starts with the quality of the skin. Once you have a hydrated and prepped canvas, make up application becomes so much easier.
Skin preparation is really the foundation of your look and where the most time should be spent. I like to work with products like our Vital Skin Foundation that correct — not just conceal — and often use two shades to mimic the skin's natural tonality. Use a lighter shade at the centre of the face for added brightness and a darker shade for extra coverage while evening out the skin tone. Then, you can have fun with your lip colour or eyes, but your skin is a true representation of you!
GW: I think it's everyone's responsibility to do their part to care for our planet. Little steps will amount to big positive change if we all can take them.
GW: As you can tell, skin care is a big obsession of mine so that's been a rewarding expansion for the brand. In the near future, I hope to explore even more categories!
WESTMAN ATELIER MAKE UP BESTSELLERS
Want to master the art of effortless glam à la Gucci? You’re in the right place! Start off with Gucci’s go-to, the Westman Atelier Skin Activator Serum, packed with skin-loving ingredients (see: hyaluronic acid, prickly pear cactus extract, ceramides and more) to hydrate and plump the complexion before make up application.
Next up, apply the Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops, a skin care-make up hybrid formulated to enhance your complexion with a hydrating tint. Once that’s settled in, sculpt your face with the fan-favourite Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick followed by a flush of blush using the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick — both boasting a creamy, buildable and blendable formula that glides onto skin.
We’re almost done, but not quite yet. Adorn your complexion with lit-from-within radiance using the Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick (hint: our favourite shade is ‘Nectar’) or dab on the Westman Atelier Liquid Super Loaded Illuminator. Turning to eyes, swipe on the Westman Atelier Eye Pods followed by the Westman Atelier Eye Want You Mascara. Finish the look with a statement lip using the Westman Atelier Suede Matte Lipstick, or if you’re more Team Gloss, opt for the Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm for a plump and pillowy pout.
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Having spent much of her career in the world of glossy magazines, Jade is one of Cult Beauty's Senior Copywriters. As well as a passion for all-things-words (she can — and will, if asked — write a dissertation on fake tan), she has heaps of skin care and beauty know-how (including how to achieve the perfect winged eyeliner again and again... and again). When she’s not applying fake tan or admiring her knife-sharp liner, she’s an adoring mum to four feline fur babies, hunting down inspiration for her next set of acrylic nails or watching endless episodes of reality TV.
