NO. 015
“I Don’t Want Many Things, I Want the Few Right Ones” — and One of Them Is Westman Atelier
About Today:
Westman Atelier, Growing Interest Podcast & About Kim Kardashian
THE ONE TO WATCH
WESTMAN ATELIER
Westman Atelier has a very Scandinavian-coded look. Effortless beauty, verging on “oh, I just woke up like this.” Then, of course, I discovered Gucci Westman spent her formative years in Sweden. Makes sense. And btw, she has rosacea too — which is why the products are made with sensitive skin in mind (very relevant for me at least!!). Anyway, here’s their story:
THE BACKSTORY
A makeup brand founded by Gucci Westman in 2018
Via Website
After 20+ years doing makeup for Hollywood names like Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, Gucci Westman launched Westman Atelier with just six products in 2018. Today? Around $100M in annual sales, 27 countries and retailers from Sephora to Selfridges.
The Luxury Face
The Essentials Edition
The range philosophy is simple: even the skin, add a little contour, bring back the flush, finish with glow. Vital Skin (foundation stick), Baby Cheeks (blush) and Face Trace (contour) became bestsellers doing exactly that. And now, skincare has entered the chat. Not a new face. Just a very good version of yours.
Why their POV matters
What are your HARD non-negotiables? For Gucci Westman, it was clean ingredients, her signature second-skin finish, and you, but make it luxury. All or nothing. A founder who sets the tone. Your values aren't just personal. They're your biggest USP.
NOTES TO SELF
IN BUSINESS Investor $$ to grow
Gucci’s husband, David Neville, co-founder of Rag & Bone, helped to set up the business, with investors like Imaginary Ventures now backing it. All in all, $36.9M raised.
IN BRANDING VIDEOS x10
Before I spend €70 on makeup, I want to actually see it. Westman Atelier does video everywhere: product pages, social, UGC and Gucci herself showing the why and how.
IN PHILOSOPHY No trade-offs, never!!
Most people will take the quicker, easier route. Your USP is what you won’t sacrifice.
TO FOLLOW
GROWING INTEREST WITH MARY HOLLAND NADER
One of my favorite podcast newcomers. I’m over the “work hard” talk — give me a peek behind the curtain. Financial literacy in business and private life. Growing Interest does just that. You should check it out!!
SELECTED
THE KIMYE ERA
Rewatching KUWTK and getting to relive the Kimye era. These outfits live rent-free in my memory. A throwback to high school, when this was definitely more interesting than whatever class I was taking.
Her latest photoshoot at 45 for The Sunday Times Style, btw!
It’s something about Libras…
ON MY MIND
ONE GOOD THING YOU CAN SAY ABOUT KIM KARDASHIAN?
It matters how we talk about others when they’re not there. Whether it’s about our friends or complete strangers. It’s easy to point out their flaws or cover gossip as “juicy, not negative.” But I do think the person all that negativity affects first is you.
The other day I was defending Kim Kardashian. Not because I had to, but because I find it weird how negatively we can talk about someone we don’t even know. What if instead we talked about how beautiful she is? Her media instinct? The businesses she’s built?
Of course we all have negative and judgmental thoughts in our heads. But maybe we don’t need to say every one of them out loud. What if we made a habit of speaking kindly about our friends, strangers, even famous people?
Other people can be mirrors of our own insecurities. But I think the opposite can be true, too. When you start noticing the beauty and strength in other people, maybe you start finding more of it in yourself.
Or at least, it would make the world a slightly nicer place. And that gives me some hope x
*Visual rights belong to the respective brands. Images are clickable to their original sources.
NEXT WEEK
Westman Atelier
Which companies inspire you? Leave a comment on Instagram below — I’d love to hear.