The Benefits of Benefit

I have been wanting to write about a line I have always loved named Benefit and a foundation they recently launched—called Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow. No, really, that's the name of the product.

Benefit was started by twin sisters in San Francisco. Their philosophy is that simple makeup should be fun and not take itself too seriously, and products should solve beauty dilemmas. In other words, their product shows you a good time by helping you fake it until you make it. As for Benefits irreverent humor, their first product was a nipple stain they created for an exotic dancer. Benetint, as it was later named, remains the company's best-selling product, with something like 10 million bottles sold. (Most women use it as a blush.)

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I am a fan of quite a few of the Benefit products. In my professional kit right now I have Benetint lip and cheek stain, Creaseless Cream Eye Shadows (I use these alone or as a base for powder shadows), Dr. Feelgood (a mattifying balm I use for touch-ups on set), and Highbeam highlighter.

I've recently been testing a sample of Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation. It gives a light-to-medium coverage, is oil free, SPF 25, contains antioxidants, and claims to help boost cellular respiration. I am not exactly sure what cellular respiration is, but I can tell you it feels light on the skin and does give a flawless natural finish.

Today I went to Sephora to take a look at the shade range of the Hello Flawless foundation and remembered the other thing I LOVE about Benefit cosmetics: The Beauty Kits!

The latest from Benefit is called How To Look The Best At Everything.

The kit comes in three shades: light, medium, and dark. Included in the kit are the following products in slightly smaller sizes, which make them great for a touch-up bag or travel: The POREfessional, a pore and fine line minimizing balm that can be worn alone or under foundation; Hello Flawless foundation; Boi-ing industrial strength concealer, with two shades in each kit; Hello Flawless! Pressed powder; and a cute brush. All that, plus cue cards with tips and tricks for application. At $30, it's a great way to try some new product, learn some easy tips, and not break the piggy bank.

Then there's the Sugarlicious Lip & Cheek Kit (pictured upper right), which includes two iconic products: Benetint lip and cheek stain and Highbeam highlighter. The kit also includes Sugarbomb blush, in which you swirl four complimentary shades together to create a natural radiance on the cheeks, and Ultra Plush Sugarbomb gloss, an extremely wearable pinky nude. Total price: $28. (There are also two other versions of this kit with different colors.)

There are at least 15 other kits to chose from, concealers (Confessions of a Concealaholic) to brows (Brows a Go Go) to eyes (Primpcess)—something for everyone. The names alone will give you a chuckle, so even if you don't buy any of the products, you are sure to leave the store looking better since the twins believe "laughter is the best cosmetic."