How Gucci Westman Makes Next-Level Makeup

Gucci Westman is sitting across from me at the corner table at Cafe Boulud inside Toronto’s Four Seasons hotel. In front of her is a piping hot almond-milk latte, a bowl of blueberries and a small tray displaying some products from her hit beauty line, Westman Atelier. The celebrity and editorial makeup artist (who boasts career-making artistic directorships at Lancôme and Revlon) is in Toronto just as her brand becomes a Sephora exclusive in Canada.

Westman is wearing makeup, but you wouldn’t know it—and that’s the entire point of Westman Atelier. It combines sophisticated skincare ingredients with gorgeous, custom and refillable packaging (not a plastic component in sight) for a makeup experience that feels elevated, smart and totally grown-up.

Westman developed her brand after personally dealing with rosacea and contact dermatitis: She even shows me selfies on her phone as proof of her once red, irritated skin. The brand’s ethos is clean ingredients (the brand’s “blacklist” includes polyethylene glycols, phthalates and silicone) and a less-is-more philosophy. “I stripped everything back, and it changed my skin,” she says.

Westman is deliberate in what she launches—and why. “Everything takes forever and a day,” she says, noting that due to the brand’s commitment to ethically sourced ingredients, launches can often be delayed by months while a suitable component is found. “How can we make each and every product the absolute best version of itself?” Westman offers, adding that she’s only interested in products that perform while meaningfully improving your skin, concluding, “I think there’s an appetite for it.” Canada included.

Skin Activator Serum with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide

Westman worked with Dr. Park, a leading global skin scientist in Korea, to develop this hydrating hero product. “I wanted something hyper moisturizing and hydrating, but also very reparative for the skin,” explains Westman. The Skin Activator features patented technology to deliver effective products at fuller levels, resulting in an improved moisture barrier and calmer skin. Westman uses it twice daily, noting that it makes a great base for makeup. It’s thin and watery on application, gliding on effortlessly.

Lip Suede Hydrating Matte Lipstick with Hyaluronic Acid

Matte lipstick finishes can be harsh and drying. But not this one, which (rather impressively) does not contain any silicone. The bullet swipes across the lips with surprising slip, and it’s refillable.

Lip Shape Defining Lip Liner

Westman is a fan of the old-school wooden pencil, as retractable options often come with plastic components. “I like the idea of shaping your lips how you want them to be. The colours are pretty neutral and you can pat it in to make it your own.”

Sun Tone Hydrating Matte Bronzing Drops

“The colours are custom. There’s no shimmer, and even if you’re very fair, you can have this natural bronzed look without the sunburn. The packaging is made from sugar-cane waste.”

Vital Pressed Skincare Blurring Talc-Free Setting Powder

“It’s not just a powder. It’s micro-milled pressed skincare with quinoa seed extract, vitamin C and pre- and probiotics.”