Beauty Editors Agree—This Chic Makeup Brand Is the Key to Look Elegant and Polished

As a beauty editor who critically analyses the best beauty products, one makeup brand that always seems to come up in conversation with other beauty journalists is Westman Atelier. Founded by legendary makeup artist Gucci Westman (who has painted the faces of the most notable celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow and has worked for every major magazine and designer backstage at Fashion Week), her line, which launched in 2018, has fast become one of the most sought-after luxury makeup brands among beauty lovers and editors alike.
And I'm not surprised. From the effortlessly chic packaging to the elegant, easy-to-use formulas, there is a lot to love about Westman Atelier. Since first being introduced to the brand, many of the products have become everyday staples in my makeup bag. And with the sheer amount of makeup that I test every month, it takes a lot for a beauty product to take up permanent residence in my makeup bag—it's a tight edit, and many products don't make the cut. However, Westman Atelier has joined the ranks, alongside my trusty Hourglass and Victoria Beckham Beauty favourites.
Aside from the luxe packaging (think weighty compacts, gilded accents and magnetic lids that snap closed with a satisfying click), the main appeal for me is that the formulas themselves are so easy to use. Take the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush—one of the brand's best-sellers and the best cream blusher I’ve ever tried—for example. It is a buttery blush stick that bestows the prettiest flush to cheeks and melts into the skin with your fingers or a brush. Many of Westman Atelier's products come in travel-friendly twist-up sticks with creamy, melting formulas, so you feel confident swiping these on even without a mirror.
The same goes for the rest of the line: Everything is fool-proof. You don't need to be great at makeup, because Westman has imparted her years of expertise into these products so that they can do all the heavy lifting for you. If you want to look naturally fresh-faced yet impeccably polished with a second-skin finish, Westman Atelier is the brand to try. Expensive? Absolutely. Worth the investment? You bet.
I've long been a fan of many of Westman Atelier's products (not a day passes where I don't use at least one), but over the past month I've been putting the whole makeup line to the test so you can find the best Westman Atelier products for your makeup bag. Although, I will say it now, it's exceptionally hard to pick favourites when it comes to this luxe brand. Scroll ahead for my review of every product.
The Best Westman Atelier Products, Tried Tested
1. Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick
I don't know anyone on theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK team who didn't instantly fall in love with this creamy, buttery blush stick upon first trying it. Like many of Westman Atelier's hero products, this comes in a twist-up stick with a petal-soft, radiant texture that simply melts into the skin and effortlessly blends, whether you're using a brush or your fingers. It strikes the perfect balance between matte and dewy, adds a natural-looking glow but has enough staying power that it doesn't disappear into thin air like some cream blushers can. I own a few shades (including Petal, Dou Dou and Coquette) and can honestly say I wear one every time I do my makeup. One, because they're so easy and enjoyable to use and two, because they instantly make me look healthy and glowing. They excel at creating a natural flush with just a dab on each cheek, or you can layer up for more of a statement look.
For
- Easy to use
- Naturally radiant formula
- Lasts a long time
- Chic packaging
Against
- An investment blush, but it will last you a long time
2. Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick
While I don't contour every day, when I want to look chiselled I always reach for these sticks. The cool-toned contour sticks are brilliant for sculpting without ever looking unnatural or muddy—they are by far the easiest contouring sticks I've tried. The formula blends at the lightest touch into a sheer veil of colour, so you're never at risk of overdoing it. I wear the lightest shade, Biscuit, and apply just underneath my cheekbones and a little along my jawline for a softly sculpted effect. The formula has the same creamy, buttery texture of the Baby Cheeks blush, so they melt into any other makeup you're using. There are three shades at the moment, and while they do span from deep to light, I hope the brand will bring out a few more shades for everyone to get an accurate contour match for their skin tone.
For
- Easy to apply
- Softly contours
- Easy to blend
- Cool-toned contour creates a natural-looking shadow
Against
- Shade range could be extended
3. Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick
Gucci Westman really knocked it out of the park with this one. Many of us don't want a heavy, powdery highlighter that's packed with glitter. Instead, this balmy highlighter stick bestows a dewy gleam wherever you place it—think the kind of fresh-faced, glassy glow you get post-facial. It comes in five shades, including a totally transparent shade with just a hint of iridescence. The other four are subtly tinted—I'm talking ultra-sheer—and so pretty for adding a healthy glow. I own the shade Nectar, a peachy pink with the smattering of gold shimmer that pairs so well patted on top of the Baby Cheeks blushers to add radiance and a natural-looking dimension to your skin.
For
- Adds a dewy glow
- Comes in multiple shades, including a clear transparent shade
- Subtle, sheer shimmer
Against
- May not be for you if you prefer a powder highlighter
4. Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick
I've always been a tad wary of foundation sticks for fear of them looking too heavy. This one, however, really surprised me. It is a creamy take that glides onto the skin to deliver a suede-like finish that retains the glow that you find across all of Westman Atelier's products. I have combination skin and find this ideal around my T-zone to help prevent shine. However, if you have dry skin or prefer a dewy glow, you may favour the Complexion Drops instead. I'm currently using tretinoin and find this occasionally clings to the drier areas of my skin. That being said, the coverage is very buildable so you can easily add more coverage where you want it, and it contains an array of skincare ingredients, including nourishing squalene and camellia seed oil that makes this foundation simply melt into the skin.
For
- Easy to apply
- 20 shades
- Natural radiant-matte finish
- Buildable coverage
- Contains noruishing skincare ingredients, including squalane
Against
- Expensive
- May not be suitable for dry skin types
5. Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops
The Vital Skincare Complexion Drops are pure makeup magic. This serum-like skin tint melds with your skin to delivers a dewy finish with lightweight coverage that can be layered on the places you need it. Because I'm more on the oily side, I definitely need to apply a powder afterwards, but if you're all about the glow or have a dry complexion, your skin will lap these drops up. Just a couple of drops are all you need for natural-looking coverage, and the addition of tsubaki oil, ginseng and pomegranate extract make it a treat for your skin too.
For
- Lightweight coverage
- Dewy finish
- Infused with skin-loving ingredients
- Great for dry or mature skin types
Against
- Not for those who like a matte finish
- May be too sheer if you like full coverage
- Not the best for oily skin types
6. Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm
I believe this to be the Rolls-Royce of lip balms. It's luxuriously silky to apply and cushions the lips with just a hint of sheer colour. To me, it has more of a lip oil consistency than a traditional lip balm, but it manages to leave my lips luxuriously supple and plump whenever I use it. I use the shade Petal, which is now permanently in my handbag at all times—I can't bear to be without it. Yes, it is on the expensive side for a lip balm, but it easily doubles up as an everyday lip tint and a lip balm without any hint of stickiness.
For
- Hydrating, nourishing formula
- Sheer colours are very wearable
- Lightly tints lips
- Non-sticky
Against
- Has a luxurious price tag to match
7. Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
I've long been waiting for Westman Atelier to launch bronzing drops, and they're finally here. These bronzing drops are so versatile. You can apply them directly onto your skin or use them over makeup to add a gentle sun-kissed warmth wherever you apply it. I like to do the latter with a fluffy brush, and I'm always amazed at how the formula melts so beautifully into the skin. There isn't a hint or sparkle or glitter, but they add an ever so slight dewy glow in tandem with a sheer veil of colour that makes them foolproof for even bronzing beginners.
For
- Adds a subtle bronze to the skin
- Can be worn alone or over makeup
- Non-glittery, radiant-matte finish
Against
- A little goes a long way, so it takes a while to find the right amount to use
8. Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Concealer Atelier
I'm putting it out there: this is one of the best concealers I've tried. It's surprisingly full coverage, which feels slightly out of step with the rest of the complexion products, but it's actually the perfect accompaniment to the complexion drops if you're requiring some targeted coverage. I use a tiny dot around my nose, chin and underneath my eyes, and it effortlessly blurs and conceals redness, blemishes and dark circles. A little goes a long, long way, so this concealer will last for ages. It has a radiant, satiny finish that glides over pores and doesn't settle into fine lines either. I just got my friend onto this concealer, too and it's converted her from the one she's been loyal to for years.
For
- Medium-to-full coverage
- Satin finish
- Conceals dark circles, redness and blemishes
- Doesn't crease
- A little goes a long way
Against
- May be too dewy for those who like a matte concealer
9. Westman Atelier Eye Love You Mascara
I'm a little on the fence with this mascara. It's a brilliant formula, but it might not be for everybody. The large, oversized brush works overtime to give you a fanned-out, volumised finish. After curling my lashes, I find I only have to gently graze my lashes with the brush and it instantly lengthens and volumises my lashes to dramatic effect. It has tiny fibres that thicken and lengthen the lashes, but I find it looks a little too much on my smaller, hooded eyes. It might not be for you if you prefer a natural-looking mascara. That being said, if you love a doe-eyed look with lashings of length and volume, this will guarantee a full-flutter in just one coat.
For
- Lengthens
- Volumises
- Fans out lashes
Against
- Brush is on the larger side, so may not be suitable for smaller or hooded eyes
- Not for you if you like a natural-looking result
10. Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder
I generally don't like any face powder that I try, but this one has impressed me. I have oily skin and find most powders cake and congeal after a couple of hours, but not this one. I opted for the translucent shade, however, it also comes in a brightening pink shade (great underneath the eyes) as well as deep, medium and fair shades that, thanks to the sheer formula, stretch across a breadth of skin tones. This gently mattifies and sets my makeup without dulling down the radiance that I love from my makeup. It is finely milled, so it doesn't highlight areas of dryness and magically blurs upon application to reduce the look of pores and fine lines too. And I can't leave this review without talking about the compact, which is beautifully weighty and golden—such a luxe experience to pull out of your handbag. But to be honest, when you're spending £69, that's what you expect. Plus, it contains a mirror, making it perfect for on-the-go touch-ups.
For
- Sets makeup
- Blurs pores and fine lines
- Mattifies and prevents shine
Against
- Eye-watering price tag
- Compact is very weighty, so could be heavy in a bag
11. Westman Atelier Eye Pod
Westman Atelier's eyeshadow offering comes by way of these beautiful Eye Pod sets, which contain three curated shades in each edit. I went for Toujours, a matte selection of neutral beiges and browns. They are cream to powder eyeshadows that apply buttery soft and set into a smooth, suede-like finish that lasts all day long. At £80 for three shadows, they feel outrageously expensive, but so much detail has gone into the packaging. These individual eyeshadows are magnetic, so they can be neatly stacked on your dressing table or kept together in your makeup bag. The pots themselves are a thing of beauty, too, and it makes me want to collect all of them and try the luminous satin shades too.
For
- Cream-to-powder finish
- Long-wearing
- Wearable, curated shades
- Come in both matte and luminous edits
- Magnetic, stackable packaging
Against
- Very expensive for only three eyshadows
12. Westman Atelier Lip Suede
I'll admit, this isn't exactly what I thought it was going to be, but I still love it. I was expecting a cream-to-powder matte effect but when you swipe into the pan, you're met with a creamy colour that imparts a naturally radiant sheen to your lips. This beautiful lip palette contains four shades (it also comes in a red version), allowing you to wear each one alone of mix and match for a bespoke shade. It's also refillable.
For
- Wearable shades
- Lets you mix and match colours
- Chic compact
Against
- You have to use your fingers to apply it if you don't have a lip brush, so may be inconvenient on-the-go
13. Westman Atelier Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer
Despite this bronzer being a powder, it is true to its name with its buttery soft texture that just melts into the skin. Enriched with cocoa seed butter and mango seed butter, this is far from the drying powder bronzers I've come across. Dusted over the skin, it lends a healthy sun-kissed glow, and thanks to the matte finish, there isn't a hint of shimmer here. It looks like you genuinely went away and caught the most natural-looking glow.
For
- Beautiful golden packaging
- Natural-looking bronze
- Matte finish
Against
- On the expensive side
14. Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte Lipstick
Anything with "matte" in the product description makes me feel nervous when it comes to lipsticks. But that's not the case with this one—it's the most comfortable matte lipstick I've tried. They are velvety soft and have a beautiful slip to them that you don't get with traditional matte lipsticks. The formula cushions your lips in hydration, and is miles away from the drying matte lipstick formulas I grew up with. I love the shade Piqué, a taupe pink that adds just enough pigment to my lips without looking OTT. The inside cap of the lipstick is mirrored, so it's useful for applying while out and about too.
For
- Hydrating matte finish
- Lightweight
- Chic range of colours
- Mirror on the inside cap
- Refillable
Against
- Not for you if you prefer a glossy finish
15. Westman Atelier Liquid Super Loaded
Last but not least, this is my final favourite of the products I've tried. A word of warning: you'll need to generously shake before trying, as on the first try the pigment had separated and came out quite oily—but it's nothing a quick shake can't fix. This illuminating liquid is hugely versatile. Described as a "sheer complexion enhancer", it can be worn alone on the skin for an ethereal glow, underneath foundation for a lit-from-within radiance or gently tapped into the high points of the face to add lustre. I personally love to use a couple of drops on my décolletage or shins to extend the glow to my body too. It comes in three shades, including a rosy pink, a peach hue and deep bronze shade to add warmth and glow to your complexion.
For
- Adds a dewy glow
Against
- Can be quite oily
Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman Home and junior beauty editor at Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections.With a degree in fashion journalism from the London College of Fashion, she has 10 years of industry experience and has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is providing readers with honest and helpful beauty content. She has interviewed celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson.
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