The Tamesis
Whether in work or in life, Gucci Westman never settles. Eight years after launching her eponymous cosmetics brand, Westman Atelier, the makeup artist feels more confident than ever. “I don’t doubt myself when it comes to makeup and skincare—I don’t second-guess myself,” she says. Her vision is supported by her business partner and husband David Neville and a team who share her passion for growing the brand.
“I really felt strongly that this was an offer that would be of interest because I know there are a lot of women like me who want to look like a better version of themselves without any effort. And they also want to experience some form of joy while doing it. Hey, how about creating better skin along the way?” The more you learn about Westman, the more you’ll understand why the brand resonates with so many women around the world.
Kate Weizman, chief marketing officer of Atelier, calls Gucci the brand’s secret weapon. “You want to be friends with her, you want to be like her” and follow her beauty advice religiously, by osmosis. Although Westerman is ambitious about her success and expertise, she maintains a certain passion that allows her to truly connect with her audience. “I love making people feel happy and confident,” she said. “I love interacting with people and seeing the look on their faces when they look in the mirror [after a makeup consultation]. It never gets old. “
from her early work Fashion Shot in partnership with legendary stylist Grace Coddington, Westman is known for creating vibrant skin; a beauty that feels regal, enhanced, radiant, and fresh—the opposite of the matte, lackluster glamor of her early days. “Instead of piling a new face on her face, she let my skin breathe, blending and then dotting a different color on each blemish,” Cameron Diaz previously said. “To this day, no one has skin like Gucci.”
She attributes her growth to her unique approach to skin care. “I grew up in a monastery in California as a child,” she said, citing the spirituality present in her family, including Hinduism and Buddhism, which emphasize the link between lifestyle and happiness. “So I’ve always been interested in ingredients.” So when she needed to do something herself, she knew it had to be performance-oriented. Her parameters are clear: No phthalates, parabens, polyethylene glycols, mineral oils or synthetics. During the formulation process, she stood her ground when contract manufacturers tried to fight back. “Thank God I’m so stubborn,” she joked.
Westerman’s high standards and expectations are no surprise. “I’m not going to let myself down as it relates to our product,” she said. “Nothing is perfect, but it’s outstanding.” That’s her goal at Westman Atelier: to pursue excellence, always be nimble, and listen to the audience. She hopes to create a space for women to share valuable information and improve each other through her brand. Community is a top priority when it comes to expanding your beauty brand and your life. “A lot of my inspiration comes from my upbringing and traveling a lot.” Today, she commutes between her base in upstate New York, Milan (near where Westman Atelier makes many of its products), Paris, Asia, London, Gothenburg, Stockholm and Rome, where she works and relaxes.
Her love of learning more about other cultures isn’t the only part of her childhood that she still embraces; This also affects how she takes care of herself. She explains that health is an inherent part of her family’s life. “It’s just part of our lifestyle — being outside a lot, meditating, exercising and eating really good food,” she continued. “Even though I didn’t necessarily love it at the time, you learn to appreciate it. I thought ‘Oh my gosh, I’m so lucky to have grown up the way I did.'” Today, that means focusing on strength rather than beauty: “I’m very consistent about my workouts, my diet, the way I take care of myself, and I know what I need,” she says.
