August 18, 2020
A ‘Second Skin’ Approach With Gucci Westman
A ‘SECOND SKIN’ APPROACH WITH GUCCI WESTMAN
Interviewed By: Nateisha Scott
Interviewed By: Nateisha Scott
As the Founder and Co-Creative Director of Westman Atelier, Gucci Westman’s signature ‘second skin’ approach has been sought after by clients and celebrities all over the world. From working with some of Hollywood’s leading stars including Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway and Gwyneth Paltrow, Gucci has established herself as a key player in understanding and enhancing the complexion. Westman Atelier is a product of Gucci’s 20+ year span in the industry and leading with safe and consciously crafted ingredients. Westman Atelier is a brand known for its innovations, high-performance actives and exquisite textures.
Nateisha: How did you get to where you are today, how did your career develop?
Gucci: It all started when I went to Christian Chauveau Make Up School in Paris, this is where I learnt to use make-up using a stick format (which really shaped my approach to make-up as an artist and my own line), following that I did all the jobs I could- literally everything! Indie movies (where I was also a stylist) to non-paid editorial jobs, anything to learn, gain experience and get to where I am now. The turning point in my career was when I met Bruce Weber and Annie Leibovitz. They introduced me to so many people and other key influential names in the industry – one of them being Grace Coddington. Meeting Grace led me to my first two VOGUE covers!
NS: That’s incredible! So, from there you have successfully launched your own brand, what was the inspiration behind Westman Atelier and how did it all develop?
GW: Thank you, well I wanted to make clean, luxurious products that would also meet my standards in terms of performance. As a makeup artist, who has worked with so many brands, I felt there was a void. I believe there’s definitely space in the market for a luxury beauty brand that also speaks to wellness and integrity.
NS: If you had to pick, what was your favourite product to create?
GW: It’s so hard to pick just one since Westman Atelier is designed as a complexion system. If I had to pick just one, it would have to be my Vital Skin Foundation Stick. In the last couple of years, I’ve had rosacea that has really flared up. I wanted a product that would help me feel confident in my skin, be easy to apply, for the end result to not feel like I was wearing tons of makeup and for it to be free of any harmful ingredients. Vital Skin is truly made from my own skin wish list! It contains so many skin care ingredients at proven efficacy levels, so that throughout the day the product is actually working on soothing and calming your skin. I also love that it functions as a concealer and foundation- you can spot-check or apply it all over. It leaves the skin with a luminous finish while still being buildable.
NS: You mention clean and luxurious products, what does clean beauty mean to you and why is it so important within the industry?
GW: Clean beauty is mindset. It’s about being conscious of the ingredients you put in your body as well as the ones you put on your body. It’s an extension of a lifestyle. We deserve more from our products- clean, safe, performing products need to be the new normal. At Westman Atelier, our mission is to create safe, skin-nourishing makeup that targets real issues with ingredients at proven efficacy levels. We’ve partnered with independent green chemistry advisors to develop a strict blacklist and are committed to using the highest amount of plant-based actives possible without disrupting a product’s performance. When we do use a synthetic, it has been thoroughly safety vetted, from a human and environmental standpoint, and transparently explained.
NS: Now that we are in the height of summer, what products would you recommend when creating a summer glow?
GW: Hydrate your skin first before makeup application. I like to use the 111SKIN Y Theorem Day Cream- it imparts a super-hydrating glow to the skin. For all over warmth, I’ll sweep Beauty Butter Bronzer in a horizontal motion under my eyes, over my T-zone and across my cheeks. Next, I’ll swirl my Blender Brush in Super Loaded Tinted Highlight in ‘Peau de Peche’ and apply it up my cheeks and across my eye lids. It leaves the skin with the most luminous peachy glow. If I have any redness, I’ll use my Foundation Brush with Vital Skin to spot-check any areas. To amplify the sun-kissed look, I’ll dab Baby Cheeks in ‘Chouchette’ in an oval shape in the middle of my cheekbones. It’s the perfect nude peach that picks up on all the bronzy tones and brightens it. For my lips, I’ll use my fingers to apply the dusty rose shade from Lip Suede to really bring out their natural colour. The final touch is a sweep of Eye Love You Mascara for super long, black and glossy lashes.
NS: All of peach, gold shades, I’m on board! What are the future plans for Westman Atelier?
GW: We’re committed to becoming part of the critical change that is needed right now in the world- expanding our shade range, celebrating all skin tones in our imagery, and truly listening to the voices that feel under- represented in the beauty world.
NS: On to your morning routine, what is skincare routine?
GW: I cleanse with Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. Next, I’ll layer the Anti Blemish Bio Cellulose Facial Mask over Sub-Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask to calm my skin and de-puff my eyes pre-makeup application. Afterwards, I’ll use a little face oil or the Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster and then apply a layer of the Y Theorem Day Cream.
NS: Your evening routine?
GW: I remove my makeup with Pai’s Rosehip Cleansing Oil and cleanse with Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. Depending on what my skin needs, I’ll pat on a face oil from Beboe Therapies or the Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster. To lock it all in, I’ll use the Nocturnal Eclipse Recovery Cream.
NS: Any signature products you can’t live without?
GW: Every product in the Westman Atelier line. It’s a complexion system so I have to have them all.
NS: That’s a great list of options then, do you have any wellness habits you are into?
GW: I love adding skin-boosting ingredients like Probiotics and Collagen to my morning smoothie. Daily exercise and meditation are so important for resetting my energy. I love Taryn Toomey’s The Class and I practice TM Meditation. Taking time to turn off and spending meaningful time with my family is also incredibly important. Whether we cook together or spend time outdoors, finding that time to connect is so special.
NS: What are your on the go essentials?
GW: My phone, Intelligent Nutrients Sanitizer, Oliver People’s reading glasses, an Odile Gilbert hair pin for a quick easy knot and my Vital Skin Foundation.
NS: How do you wind down in the evening?
GW: A good book and a hot bath is always relaxing. Sometimes I really just need to make a cozy fire and watch something good on TV with a glass of wine or a cup of tea.
NS: Do you have a favourite travel destination?
GW: I’m dying to go anywhere right now but I love visiting our labs in Italy and our family in England and Sweden.
NS: Where do you see the beauty industry heading?
GW: It’s hard to say exactly where everything will shift but I do believe, as more and more consumers demand it from brands, that formulating products with clean, responsible ingredients will become the norm.
NS: Finally, the best advice you have ever received?
GW: From my husband David, “the process is the reward”.
Shop mask
As the Founder and Co-Creative Director of Westman Atelier, Gucci Westman’s signature ‘second skin’ approach has been sought after by clients and celebrities all over the world. From working with some of Hollywood’s leading stars including Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway and Gwyneth Paltrow, Gucci has established herself as a key player in understanding and enhancing the complexion. Westman Atelier is a product of Gucci’s 20+ year span in the industry and leading with safe and consciously crafted ingredients. Westman Atelier is a brand known for its innovations, high-performance actives and exquisite textures.
Nateisha: How did you get to where you are today, how did your career develop?
Gucci: It all started when I went to Christian Chauveau Make Up School in Paris, this is where I learnt to use make-up using a stick format (which really shaped my approach to make-up as an artist and my own line), following that I did all the jobs I could- literally everything! Indie movies (where I was also a stylist) to non-paid editorial jobs, anything to learn, gain experience and get to where I am now. The turning point in my career was when I met Bruce Weber and Annie Leibovitz. They introduced me to so many people and other key influential names in the industry – one of them being Grace Coddington. Meeting Grace led me to my first two VOGUE covers!
NS: That’s incredible! So, from there you have successfully launched your own brand, what was the inspiration behind Westman Atelier and how did it all develop?
GW: Thank you, well I wanted to make clean, luxurious products that would also meet my standards in terms of performance. As a makeup artist, who has worked with so many brands, I felt there was a void. I believe there’s definitely space in the market for a luxury beauty brand that also speaks to wellness and integrity.
NS: If you had to pick, what was your favourite product to create?
GW: It’s so hard to pick just one since Westman Atelier is designed as a complexion system. If I had to pick just one, it would have to be my Vital Skin Foundation Stick. In the last couple of years, I’ve had rosacea that has really flared up. I wanted a product that would help me feel confident in my skin, be easy to apply, for the end result to not feel like I was wearing tons of makeup and for it to be free of any harmful ingredients. Vital Skin is truly made from my own skin wish list! It contains so many skin care ingredients at proven efficacy levels, so that throughout the day the product is actually working on soothing and calming your skin. I also love that it functions as a concealer and foundation- you can spot-check or apply it all over. It leaves the skin with a luminous finish while still being buildable.
NS: You mention clean and luxurious products, what does clean beauty mean to you and why is it so important within the industry?
GW: Clean beauty is mindset. It’s about being conscious of the ingredients you put in your body as well as the ones you put on your body. It’s an extension of a lifestyle. We deserve more from our products- clean, safe, performing products need to be the new normal. At Westman Atelier, our mission is to create safe, skin-nourishing makeup that targets real issues with ingredients at proven efficacy levels. We’ve partnered with independent green chemistry advisors to develop a strict blacklist and are committed to using the highest amount of plant-based actives possible without disrupting a product’s performance. When we do use a synthetic, it has been thoroughly safety vetted, from a human and environmental standpoint, and transparently explained.
NS: Now that we are in the height of summer, what products would you recommend when creating a summer glow?
GW: Hydrate your skin first before makeup application. I like to use the 111SKIN Y Theorem Day Cream- it imparts a super-hydrating glow to the skin. For all over warmth, I’ll sweep Beauty Butter Bronzer in a horizontal motion under my eyes, over my T-zone and across my cheeks. Next, I’ll swirl my Blender Brush in Super Loaded Tinted Highlight in ‘Peau de Peche’ and apply it up my cheeks and across my eye lids. It leaves the skin with the most luminous peachy glow. If I have any redness, I’ll use my Foundation Brush with Vital Skin to spot-check any areas. To amplify the sun-kissed look, I’ll dab Baby Cheeks in ‘Chouchette’ in an oval shape in the middle of my cheekbones. It’s the perfect nude peach that picks up on all the bronzy tones and brightens it. For my lips, I’ll use my fingers to apply the dusty rose shade from Lip Suede to really bring out their natural colour. The final touch is a sweep of Eye Love You Mascara for super long, black and glossy lashes.
NS: All of peach, gold shades, I’m on board! What are the future plans for Westman Atelier?
GW: We’re committed to becoming part of the critical change that is needed right now in the world- expanding our shade range, celebrating all skin tones in our imagery, and truly listening to the voices that feel under- represented in the beauty world.
NS: On to your morning routine, what is skincare routine?
GW: I cleanse with Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. Next, I’ll layer the Anti Blemish Bio Cellulose Facial Mask over Sub-Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask to calm my skin and de-puff my eyes pre-makeup application. Afterwards, I’ll use a little face oil or the Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster and then apply a layer of the Y Theorem Day Cream.
NS: Your evening routine?
GW: I remove my makeup with Pai’s Rosehip Cleansing Oil and cleanse with Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. Depending on what my skin needs, I’ll pat on a face oil from Beboe Therapies or the Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster. To lock it all in, I’ll use the Nocturnal Eclipse Recovery Cream.
NS: Any signature products you can’t live without?
GW: Every product in the Westman Atelier line. It’s a complexion system so I have to have them all.
NS: That’s a great list of options then, do you have any wellness habits you are into?
GW: I love adding skin-boosting ingredients like Probiotics and Collagen to my morning smoothie. Daily exercise and meditation are so important for resetting my energy. I love Taryn Toomey’s The Class and I practice TM Meditation. Taking time to turn off and spending meaningful time with my family is also incredibly important. Whether we cook together or spend time outdoors, finding that time to connect is so special.
NS: What are your on the go essentials?
GW: My phone, Intelligent Nutrients Sanitizer, Oliver People’s reading glasses, an Odile Gilbert hair pin for a quick easy knot and my Vital Skin Foundation.
NS: How do you wind down in the evening?
GW: A good book and a hot bath is always relaxing. Sometimes I really just need to make a cozy fire and watch something good on TV with a glass of wine or a cup of tea.
NS: Do you have a favourite travel destination?
GW: I’m dying to go anywhere right now but I love visiting our labs in Italy and our family in England and Sweden.
NS: Where do you see the beauty industry heading?
GW: It’s hard to say exactly where everything will shift but I do believe, as more and more consumers demand it from brands, that formulating products with clean, responsible ingredients will become the norm.
NS: Finally, the best advice you have ever received?
GW: From my husband David, “the process is the reward”.
SHOP MAsKs
If you were to advise a London guide, what would be on your list?
Well, As I grew up in Notting Hill, it will always have my heart and if I was recommending spots in London, a wander around Notting Hill would be high up on my list. From there it would be all the best shopping destinations, the iconic private members club, Annabels, Harrods and Liberty’s for any cute and unique gifts. I would always pop into 111CRYO at Harrods for the Cryo Facial and treatment for the ultimate recharge. Sometimes the city is great, but the beautiful secrets of the English countryside is something that should be experienced.
Your In-Flight Essentials?
I don’t have a routine per say and I am certainly not as thorough as Naomi Campbell but I would apply the Meso Infusion Lip Duo and I would always wipe my phone down with anti-bacterial wipes, in fact I do this every day, the bacteria build up is no good for the skin.
In terms of Industry, where do you see the hair industry going?
Well Instagram has changed so much and has impacted the way we consume and learn within the industry, especially with so many creatives, but I still find that a massive amount of people come to the professionals to share the knowledge on how to carry out or complete a desired look, more than ever there is power behind ‘how-to’ videos.
A very valid point and in terms of 2020?
In terms of what we are to see in 2020, things are going to be super creative and we will see a wider awareness for people doing their own thing and it will be expressive and artistic. People will move away from the overtly glamorous looks and will create looks they can tailor to their everyday. As it’s currently Award Season which is the busiest time of the year leading up to the Met Ball, hairstyles are certainly more elaborate, and everyone loves an up do. I would say the most timeless look has to be the blunt bob, it comes around year on year, but it is effortless and timeless.
Outside of hair, what other industries are you into?
I am hugely into Interiors and I would describe my style as 60s/70s glamour, think elaborate and dramatic but I often fantasise about 80s Dallas and Joan Collins and I have to reign myself in. I also love Baking; it is the ultimate way to relax and I find that it is my meditation and therapy. If I’m in the USA I would bake a lot of cookies as everyone is obsessed with then over here and in the UK, I would bake more traditional styles like a lemon tart or an apple tart – it allows for me to be creative outside of my job.
Finally, the best advice you have ever received?
It would have to be from my grandfather, he would often say to me “it’s not how well you’re doing but how well people think you’re doing”. I haven’t successfully implemented it however you can look to Instagram today and people see our work and are blown away by it, but we can be so hard on ourselves and not appreciate our own work ourselves.