Welcome to Take the Edge Off, a monthly series where we break down the beauty and self-care routines of influencers, CEOs, experts, and celebrities to discover how they unwind and decompress, while taking a closer look at the holy grail beauty essentials they're currently raving about.

If your favorite star were to name one of their favorite beauty experts of all time, chances are you'd find celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman at the top of the list. The makeup icon has more than 20 years of experience crafting looks for magazine covers (including Harper's BAZAAR), red carpets, and runways. After shaping her expertise by working closely with top photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Patrick Demarchelier, Westman became known for her signature dew and radiance found on the faces of celebrity clients like Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon, and Gwyneth Paltrow. She also previously worked as the international artistic director of Lancôme and global artistic director at Revlon before pivoting to launch her own brand, Westman Atelier, in 2018.

Westman Atelier is a curated range of plant-based highlighters, eye shadows, lip products, and more that have helped shape and redefine the clean beauty space. The products are powered by clean ingredients (which meet both United States and European Union standards) like organic jojoba oil and grape and caper extracts, creating ultra-luxe formulas with glowy yet natural "second-skin" payoff.

For an exclusive look at the expert-approved staples that round out her list of beauty favorites, as well as some sage self-care advice, BAZAAR.com catches up with Westman to learn more about what keeps her glowing from the inside out. In addition to frequent facial massages and daily dry brushing, the artist and founder swears by the positive impact of energy clearing, as well as the power of microcurrents and the scent of lavender for ultimate calm.

What are you reading these days?

Right now, I'm reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I also love to read a good cookbook, especially when I'm gearing up for lots of food prep, so I've currently been diving into Jessica Seinfeld's Vegan, at Times.

Glennon Doyle Untamed

Now 41% Off

Jessica Seinfeld Vegan, at Times: 120+ Recipes for Every Day or Every So Often

Now 50% Off

What are some of your go-to bath and/or shower products?

A good bath is the ultimate self-care treat for me. I use it to de-stress while multitasking with my skin care routine. I start by dry brushing, which is a great and easy ritual. Then, I fill the tub with Herbivore's Coconut Milk Bath Soak. It smells heavenly and makes my skin feel so soft. While soaking, I'll either do a little facial exfoliation with Goldfaden's Doctor's Scrub, or double up with an eye and face mask. When I step out, I'll use Tammy Fender's Lavender Body Oil before reaching for my moisturizer. Lavender is truly one of the most relaxing scents. To mimic that same relaxing experience for my daily showers, I've started using eucalyptus shower steamers.

Herbivore Coconut Milk Bath Soak

Goldfaden M.D. Doctor's Scrub Exfoliator

Tammy Fender Bulgarian Lavender Body Oil

What beauty or self-care products do you use on a regular basis to help combat Zoom fatigue?

Facial massage is one of my favorite tools to help combat Zoom fatigue, and I can really notice a difference immediately. To revitalize my skin, I'll reach for my Joanna Czech Facial Massager. I also like wearing 111Skin's De-Puffing Eye Masks while I use the massager. And for all-over toning, I'll use the NuFACE Trinity device—the microcurrents are super stimulating!

Joanna Czech Facial Massager

111Skin Sub-Zero De-Puffing Eye Mask Box

NuFACE Trinity Facial Toning Device

Do you have a favorite hand sanitizer, soap, and/or cream right now?

I love using Blueland's hand soap most often. Grown Alchemist's creams have also been a long-time favorite of mine, since their formulas just sink in and keep my hands hydrated.

Hand Soap Starter Set

Now 11% Off

Grown Alchemist Soothing Hand Cream

Do you ever light a candle or stick of incense to decompress? If so, what are some of your favorites?

I keep a candle from Cire Trudon in every room; I especially love their Manon scent. It's light and fresh, but has hints of orange and lavender that makes our home smell clean yet warm. And to really quiet my mind, I'll burn Costa Brazil's Resina de Breu.

Cire Trudon Manon Scented Candle

Now 14% Off

Costa Brazil Breu Resin and Ceramic Tray

What was the last beauty product you put on today?

A mix of the shades Suede and Port from our Westman Atelier Lip Suede Palette in Bordeaux. I dabbed it onto my lips, and then added the same mixture to the apples of my cheeks.

Westman Atelier Lip Suede Palette

Westman Atelier Lip Suede Palette

Are you into bold makeup, no makeup, or no-makeup makeup right now, and why?

I'm always for no-makeup makeup, but for special occasions, I tend to give it a little boost with some extra glamour. A deep lip with really fresh, glowing skin is always chic to me. If I want the focus on my eyes, I'll switch up my usual earthy browns for a khaki green, and then layer mascara on my top and bottom lashes.

What's the last fitness class you streamed or attended in person?

Taryn Toomey's The Class. It completely resets my energy and flushes away the bad vibes every time.

What's one piece of self-care advice you'd recommend to our readers?

There's so much out of our control right now that you have to release the expectation and pressure to do it all. Remind yourself that you're doing your best, and that is enough.

What's the last event you attended or hosted?

I was honored to host two special events at the Nordstrom flagship last month for my brand, Westman Atelier. Launching with such an iconic American retailer is really a pinch-me moment. There's so much love and thought that goes into everything we do, so it's incredibly rewarding to be able to share that with our community in such a personal way.

Tiffany Dodson is currently the associate beauty commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she specializes in trend forecasting, building relationships with major and emerging brands, and crafting shopping stories—from holiday gift guides to product road tests. Tiffany's work has previously been featured in outlets like SELF, Bustle, and Teen Vogue, and she's been quoted as a commerce and beauty expert in publications and platforms like The Business of Fashion and NPR’s Life Kit podcast.