Photo taken at Barneys New York in Boston, MA
Last year famed makeup artist Gucci Westman launched her luxury makeup collection Westman Atelier featuring 6 products and 3 makeup brushes. Initially launched at Barneys New York the products can also be found at Westman-Atelier.com and Violet Grey.
Photo taken at Barneys New York in Boston, MA
Gucci Westman is known for her work as a makeup artist at fashion shows, for special events and editorial sets, as well as her celebrity clients (including Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow) and ability to make your skin look naturally dewy.
I’ve read several interviews with Gucci and “consciously crafted beauty” is a message that consistently pops up. She was diagnosed with rosacea as an adult so using ingredients that soothe the skin is naturally important (no pun intended). You’ll find plenty of natural ingredients as well as a few synthetic, but only if it’s the better option for formulation. Silicones are potentially irritating so coconut oil and camellia oil are used as alternatives.
What’s Out (from the website):
• Parabens
• Sulfates
• PEGs
• Phthalates
• Formaldehyde donors
• Mineral Oil
• BHA and BHT
• Hydroquinone
• Mercury and Mercury compounds
• Retinol
• Gluten
Brand websites don’t always leave much of an impression on me, but Westman-Atelier.com captured my attention right away. As you scroll down to see each product you’ll notice they all have a uniquely designed space specific to the product. The foundation stick rests on marble while a feather delicately floats into the picture and appears to be whisked away by a breeze. The powder bronzer is balanced on a piece of similar colored stone as a ladybug climbs up and away from the compact.
Recently I was both surprised and excited to learn Westman Atelier is now at Woo Skincare & Cosmetics here in Charlotte. I popped in last week to check out the display and get swatches. The icing on the cake was running into a makeup artist friend who wanted to “play” with the products, so I sat still as she performed her magic. I’m not going to get into the details of the products (like ingredients) as I’d like to share my thoughts on the products.
The two products I’ve purchaseed are the Vital Skin Foundation Stick and Super Loaded Tinted Highlighter, the others I’ve played with in store.
This versatile blush stick can be used on the lips and cheeks. The four shades are luminous, buildable and blend with ease. They have good pigment but don’t shy away from the shades because they blend out. The packaging is a pretty tube in light gray with a magnetic lid and “Westman Atelier” delicately etched on the side. Apply directly from the tube or with fingers. I’m thinking about purchasing one of the shades as I love a good blush stick (they’re convenient for travel).
The foundation: Vital Skin Foundation Stick
This is a new line so I suspect that’s the reason for the limited shade range. There are 12 shades in all. The photo below on the right shows three of the choices: shades 0 (the lightest), II (the shade I have) and XI (the darkest).
There are a few similarities to the blush stick: the packaging is a solid tube with “Westman Atelier” written on the side, it has a magnetic lid that has a nice snap sound when it closes and it’s convenient for travel or to keep in my handbag for touch ups. The Foundation Stick is also multi-purpose as it can be used as concealer. The color of the packaging is possibly the softest pink I’ve seen, difficult to capture with the camera on my phone but oh-so-lovely.
The shades are numbered with odd numbers having a yellow undertone and even numbers are a neutral undertone. I picked up shade 2 and after wearing it for about 8 hours it still looked good. Coconut oil is included in the ingredients which gives the foundation a nice slip. After wearing Vital Skin for the day I would recommend if you have oily or combination skin try it first before making a purchase. The summers are hot and humid in my area so I anticipate I’ll have to use a different foundation during that time.
Screenshot from the Westman Atelier website
Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer in Coup de Soleil and Super Loaded Tinted Highlighter in Peau de Peche
“Butter” is a good word to describe all of the Westman Atelier products. The Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer is matte and has a soft texture because it contains plant butters. The Super Loaded Tinted Highlighter was a surprise product for me. The color looks dark, which concerned me because my skin tone is very light, but it’s a highlighter so you can use a small amount where you need some glow, or layer it on as a blush, which is how I use the product. Both compacts are solid and sleek. The Powder Bronzer is a shiny gold compact and the Tinted Highlighter is matte black.
Every Spring and Fall Barneys has a Love Yourself Beauty Bag Event so I decided that would be a good time to try something from the line. I ordered the creamy Super Loaded Tinted Highlighter (above right) and have been very happy as it’s buildable for just the right amount of color. A signature heart can be found on the powder bronzer as well as on the mirror in the compacts. If you look at the heart closely there is a “WA” design at the bottom.
I love to touch the bristles on makeup brushes, running my fingers over them to determine whether they’re soft or just okay. These are soft and feel good on my skin. Handmade in Japan, the handles are crafted with hardwood birch and the bristles are made with nylon fibers.
Overall I’m impressed with this line. The packaging and the products are luxury. The next product I’d like to pick up is the blush stick, but I’m also curious to see what Gucci Westman releases next!
♥
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Westman Atelier Last year famed makeup artist Gucci Westman launched her luxury makeup collection Westman Atelier featuring 6 products and 3 makeup brushes.