Gucci Westman’s new, next-level lip shades are transparent and sexy

Westman Atelier drops are a big deal here: everything founder and makeup artist Gucci Westman makes right away is necessary, cool, original and luxurious and desirable. Her new Squeaky Clean Lip Balm – a beautiful texture, a beautifully pigmented transparent lip treatment that doesn’t require a mirror, a stunning look on all skin tones and a pleasure to apply – comes in six shades, and we want them all.

“It’s not your typical gloss or balm,” Westman says. The finish is different, on the one hand: “I had to feel weightless and super nutritious at the same time, and then I wanted it to be clean and shiny.” It took her years to perfect herself, and the result is a hybrid of dream lip color. “Think of it as a natural tone enhancer that doesn’t give a ‘lipstick’ effect – just smooth, enhanced lips that look healthy,” she says.

Soft, supple textures and ultrahydrating formulas (containing jojoba, almond and argan oils, so no balm should be applied underneath) are continued with a custom spatula-shaped applicator that spreads slightly at the top. “The applicator makes application easier and provides the perfect amount of cushion saturation,” says Westman. It is also worth calling the impossibly elegant tube – a mixture of matte and glossy black with a window that reveals the shadow inside and, if you look closely, the brand name in tiny transparent letters.

There are six colors, from beautiful delicate pinks and nudes to deeper reds and berries. While each looks especially fresh for itself, Westman has created two looks for us here – one bright and natural, the other with a little more light – along with simple tips on how to do it yourself.