Let’s talk about two products you may have been seeing all across socials lately: Baby Cheeks Blush and Face Trace Contour by Westman Atelier.

With the rise of the “clean girl” aesthetic, Westman Atelier has everything to gain. Founded in 2018 by longtime MUA Gucci Westman, this brand champions the clean girl look on two fronts. First, their products are meant to achieve the dewy, glowing from within finish that characterizes the popular no makeup makeup look. Second, the brand adheres to strict European Union (EU) product guidelines to create formulas that are actually safe for your skin.

If barely there foundation, flushed cheeks, subtly sculpted cheekbones, and a radiant highlight are pre-requisites for this trend, transforming oneself into the epitomized clean girl should be easily achieved using Westman’s line.

So, with the hundreds of products available to recreate this look and Westman Atelier’s relatively high price point, are these blush and contour sticks actually worth it? Let’s find out.

I selected the blush shade Chouchette, which is described on the Westman Atelier website as a “nude peach.” As someone with fair skin, neutral/cool undertones, and some rosacea, I often have a difficult time selecting blushes that can create a natural flush without exacerbating preexisting redness. While many of the other Baby Cheeks shades were quite warm, Chouchette stayed true to its description – I had hoped to test out Petal (Westman Atelier’s best-selling shade), but I could immediately tell during swatching that it would be too warm for my complexion.

For the Contour Stick, I selected Biscuit, described as a “cool beige coffee.” I had seen several MUAs and beauty lovers rave about a truly cool professional-grade contour stick, so this product had been on my wishlist for quite some time.

Baby Cheeks Blush and Face Trace Contour both retail for $48.

I was immediately drawn to the packaging, which sports a matte, minimalist design. Both products felt heavy in my hand (a small but noticeable detail that adds to the luxuriousness of one’s overall experience) and I do adore the magnetic closure, which reminds me of my own favorite perfume (shoutout Lucky by Christian Dior). The bullets themselves are decently sized at 0.21 grams each and Westman continued to impress with sleek detailing on the underside of the caps.

Now, for the wear test…

I’ve tried many a blush and I have to say that as a makeup lover with rosacea and sensitive/acne-prone skin, this formula is hands-down one of the best I have ever tried. It’s buttery, it’s soft, and it blends like a dream. After trying with a sponge, a brush, and fingers (the latter being my go-to for everyday looks), the pigment remained smooth and created a natural flush/finish on my cheeks that somehow managed to conceal my rosacea.

Gucci has been open about her own journey with rosacea (see more on Gucci’s Guide via Westman’s website) and I can imagine that this was a priority during Baby Cheeks formula creation. In terms of ingredients, I was happy to see non-comedogenic jojoba seed oil, which helps hydrate without clogging pores, and Vitamins C+E, which act as refreshing antioxidants for the skin.

I’m pleased to say that the Face Trace also exceeded expectations. Unlike many other contours, it did not pull orange (!), which is one of my top concerns when testing new contour products. The formula was creamy, easy to blend, and sculpted my nose/cheekbones without muddying my skin. As a bonus, the buildability of this stick allowed me to create nice definition in the eye area without having to reach for several shadows and brushes.

After a full day of meetings, a quick lunch break, and some dog-walking, the vibrancy of both products had diminished slightly but I could still see flush and definition! With slightly oily skin, I’m accustomed to the occasional touch-up (especially for super creamy beauty products), but I was very happy with the wear and the fact that my active acne was not irritated.  

The only drawbacks to these products that come to mind are the price point and the relative warmness of their shade ranges.

To the first point: I wish that such a quality product was slightly more affordable. $100 for a cheek duo (despite their multi-purpose benefits) may just be too large an obstacle for some consumers to overcome.

To the second point: I fear lots of cool-toned makeup lovers may have to pass on several of these shades. As I said before, Petal was simply too warm for me and even Biscuit may pull orange on someone with even cooler undertones. It seems that some of the cool shades in the Baby Cheeks collection have shimmer in them, which may or may not be a deterrent to cool-toned customers in search of a true clean girl look.

Overall, however, these products are some of the best I’ve ever had in my makeup kit. I can’t stress enough the importance of regulated ingredient lists in cosmetics (especially those that adhere to more stringent cosmetic guidelines) and that spending the extra cash can really save your skin.

As it turns out, Westman Atelier really is that good. Baby Cheeks and Face Trace are Rum Pum Approved!

Vital Skin Foundation Stick and Vital Pressed Powder in Bubble, I’m coming for ya!