Westman Atelier Foundation & Mascara – Honest Reviews

Hi! I’ve chatted more about Westman Atelier on Instagram but wanted to give a full review of her product line. I had a hunch this lovely – but the expensive line – could work well for my sensitive skin. And luckily I was able to get color matched at Cosbar before the California lock-downs. I actually went back twice and now use 2 different colors.

I had first heard about Westman Atelier after watching her YouTube channel and after Gwyneth Paltrow raved about her favorite mascara. (more on that below). To see Gucci in action check out this video of her applying makeup to Julianne Moore .

Here is my honest review of all the Westman Atelier products I’ve tried – hope this helps you learn more about which of these luxury makeup buys are worth it 🙂

Update June 2020: Per their Instagram Westman Atelier supports Black Lives Matter and they also shared their info for the #pulluporshutup challenge.

Westman Atelier Eye Pods

Update June 2020: Westman Atelier just released their new Eye Pods eyeshadow. I’ll likely try them out within the next year, but honestly, the colors aren’t my favorite. And I’m too obsessed working with my Aether Beauty palettes to venture beyond that. And finally to be more sustainable and a better human, I’m trying to only buy beauty that I know I can use mostly within the next 3 months.

And of course I’m still loving my decadent Victoria Beckham lid lustre shadow as well.

Westman Atelier Foundation Review – Vital Skin Foundation Stick

Ok so at first when you try this foundation you might think: this is just ok, how long could it last? And then you bring this home and you think: is this really worth the price? And then you pass yourself in the mirror a few hours later and you realize your skin looks like your skin but better!

Honestly, I want to use this every day but I’m trying to save it up and only use it when I think I’m going to see people. It gives you that effortless French style look (Ok even more effortless than Camille Charriere’s look here as she teaches Alexa Chung how to be French). This natural foundation lasts longer than I expected throughout the day, although on my remaining dark spots and parts of my upper lip melasma I still need some foundation.

And most importantly for me as someone with sensitive eyes and skin, this feels so breathable and it doesn’t irritate my eyes! This foundation features a veggie based squalane, phytosphingosine (never heard of it) and Berrflux Vita?

The price on this natural-finish vegan foundation stick is steep, however, especially considering I mix 2 shades, “0” and “1”. Because of my ingredient preference and skin sensitivity and the performance I’ve seen with this foundation, I do love and will buy it again. Even at this $68 price point. But over time by hyperpigmentation continues to improve and I’m finding I’m wearing less makeup.

Besides the price, I do have an issue with the Vital Skin Foundation stick packaging as well. It’s very delicate and too thick to fit into my purses. In addition, this foundation only comes in 14 days. And since I’m so pale I’m not an expert, but it does look like there are hardly any shades for BIPOC .

It would be totally unethical for me to recommend such an expensive foundation without an alternative. It’s hard to truly compare, but my favorite less expensive foundation is Ere Perez Oat Milk foundation.

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick Review

I have been searching high and low for a replacement cream contour option for my oval face that isn’t too warm or cool-toned. My ultimate favorite used to be from an Hourlgass palette but it seems to be discontinued 🙁 . My next favorite is my Gressa bronzing serum, but the color seems to fade too quickly.

This “Biscuit” color (also the name of my sweet old Golden Retriever that just passed away) is a great neutral contour color for my pale skin. However, I do hope the company develops more inclusive shades. Overall I think this contour stick is $48 worth it, but I’m curious how long it will last. I tend to blend it in with Sephora brush #90 (now discontinued apparently) or a Beauty Blender.

I also learned some amazing tips for applying cheek products from the makeup artists at Cosbar. Apparently I’ve been applying them too low on my face for years!

Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick Review

This $48 wonder is so worth it. This moisturizing highlighting stick provides the most gorgeous lavender ethereal glow. I actually like to use it best underneath my foundation. Sometimes if I apply it on top it is too glossy.

I can get pretty pale and have neutral to yellow undertones, so the slight purple iridescence balances my skin out and gives me a healthy glow. It’s very subtle though, as you can see in the pictures below.

Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tinted Highlight Review

For both my friend and I, the Westman Atelier makeup artists at two Southern California CosBar’s recommended the Peau de Peche Super Loaded Tinted Highlight as a great option for a bronzer: and they were right! This is the most natural bronzer I’ve used. It’s shimmery like my previous favorite RMS Luminizing bronzer but the color is less deep. I don’t think the color is as peachy as the Westman Atelier site shoes. I use a flat Marc Jacobs contour brush to apply this soft bronzer.

I was so excited recently with the Peau de Rose came out! This gorgeous pale pink highlighter is less concentrated and more subtle. I was hoping I could use this as more of a blush, but really it just produced a light flush across my cheeks. I’m still trying to decide the best way to apply this color – I think my ring finger is best.

Both of these super loaded highlights have the most interesting texture – somewhere between powder and cream!

Westman Atelier Lip Suede Review

This lip palette is aesthetically gorgeous and I would love my life to be easy enough that a slightly-heavy lip palette could fit easily in my very small purse, along with a lip brush that I’d easily be able to find and never use. But with the rate 2020 is going, my life won’t be that simple. I’m a toddler-mom so I need quick lip application. I really only trust myself with lipstick or lipgloss right now.

The lip colors int he lip suede are intense – may be too bold for me. It would be nice if there was a nice demure neutral color. I do think these ranges can look good on many skin tones, however.

I also felt $85 was too much to spend on vegan lipstick that didn’t last very long. It didn’t even leave enough of a stain after most of the color had washed out. I just need long staying power if I’m going to invest this much in lip color.

I want to be the type of person who buys this lip suede, but I don’t think I’m there yet.

Westman Atelier Eye Love You Mascara Review

I’m impressed they have the chutzpah (I’ll need my mother-in-law to confirm my usage of Yiddish here) to price a mascara at $62. When it goes on it is gorgeous and eye-popping if you like that individualized lash look – which I do. The first 2 times I sampled it I was not impressed and it hardly lasted. I will say however that I had a better experience when I got a free mini with my Westman Ateliera purchases at CosBar. So I think the fresh tube matters. I test the mascara in depth in my Westman Atelier YouTube video (also embedded below). I like it but I don’t think its $62 worth it. It’s just not as good as my Ilia or Lily Lolo mascara.

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