Benefit Cosmetics and the Older Woman

We like to try a many different lines of cosmetics.  Over our years of testing comesmetics, we have been impressed with some Benfit products.

Cosmetics advertising often seems to be targetted on young women, as are many parts of the beauty and fashion industry.

When we visited the Clothes Show London there were times when we thought we were the oldest women there! Certainly we were in the minority, but that didn't stop us from enjoying our day.

It was interesting that certain displays had an almost magnetic effect on the younger women, while others drew the full age-range of attendees.

Benefit cosmetics had a large demonstration area, and every time we looked there was a flock of young women gathered round.

It helped that they were giving make-up demonstrations, and a substantial reduction on products purchased at the Clothes Show.

However, we think that the Benefit marketing department is missing a trick! Many of their products are great for older women, or at least one older woman.

Pat says: I am that older woman! And she goes on to describe her introduction to Benefit:

I had often glanced towards the Benefit display while walking through the cosmetics department of stores, and thought it looked like a product range for the teenagers. At the end of 2007 Beautiful Daughter introduced me to the Benefit product Eyecon.

Eyecon is an under eye cream formulated to reduce puffiness and dark shadows. After a few weeks, I was impressed. The result is cumulative and the area under my eyes really was smoother.

So I decided to try a few more products, and stopped by the Benefit counter at Boots in Eastbourne. I was not wearing any make-up at the time, and Anabel, the helpful sales advisor, asked if I would like her to ‘do my face.’

She began by offering to turn down the volume on the tape player on the counter, and explained that all Benefit display areas include music as part of their public image.

The Benefit image has a slightly ironic edge, with product names that are often puns, retro illustrations, and a jokey product brochure. It seems that we are being invited to laugh at ourselves. This strikes me as a breath of fresh air in a serious world.

Anabel started by applying a primer called ‘dr. feelgood’ to smooth pores and fine lines. She covered that with ‘some kind-a gorgeous’, and oil-free skin finish. This was translucent and I liked it, whereas I normally dislike the appearance of foundation on my skin.

She asked what eye shadow colours I like before applying two shades of ‘creaseless cream shadow/liner’. Although she used slightly more than I would have done, I was happy to keep it on when I went out that evening, and it did stay creaseless.

Anabel used a product called ‘brow zings’ to fill in the colour on my sparse eyebrows. In the past, I have tried eyebrow pencil, but found the result too startling. My best experience has been having my brows professionally dyed, but can seldom find the time, money or patience to have them done. I was so impressed that I purchased a brow zings compact.

Anabel told me that if I was going somewhere special and wanted her to apply my make-up, I could telephone to make an appointment. Providing I agreed to purchase just one product, there would be no charge for the service. When I told Beautiful Daughter about my Benefit experiment, she asked if I had liked the result. When I said ‘yes’ she sounded surprised. It transpired that she had tried the service at another shop, and had not been impressed. As usual, the result is very dependent on the individual sales consultant.

Sample prices from my day in the summer of 2008:

Dr. Feelgood primer £19.50

Brow Zings £21.50

Throb (blusher) £ 22.50

Bad Girl Mascara £14.50

Lip Pencil £12.50

Lipstick £ 12.00

Creaseless eye shadow £13.00

 The first product that I actually bought was Eyecon.  I think that I bought it in an airport duty free shop, so it cost less than it would have done normally.

The full name of the product is Eyecon brightening eye cream.

It has a consistency similar to mayonnaise, and is intended for  application under eyes.  The effect is to reduce dark circles and tiny lines, while acting as a moisturiser.  It feels good on the skin and is easier to apply then creams that are meant to blend with skin tone (in my opinion).

The 14 gram jar has lasted me more than a year, using it every day.  I might buy it again, but I feel tempted to buy something that might hide my under eye shadows.

As I mentioned above, I purchased a Brow Zings compact when I had my consultation with Anabel.

I have now been using this for a year and think it is simply brilliant.

My eyebrows are pale; i have them professionally shaped because little sparse eyebrow hairs seem to grow at random around my brow bones. At least by having them plucked I end up with a straight line of eyebrow. However, it is a very pale straight line and in photos it looks as if I have no eyebrows.

I have tried using eye pencil, but the result is always rather alarming. Beautiful Daughter has accused me of looking like a character on an Australian soap opera. (She says it in a tone that implies this is not a compliment.)

If you have pale brows, or your brows are being infiltrated by white hair, this is a helpful product.  In my opinion, easier to use than an eyebrow pencil.  A very small compact containing a waxy substance, a coloured powder, two brushes and tiny tweezers.  Use the slanted brush to apply the wax to your brows; this gives a hint of colour.  Fill in any gaps with the powder using the flat-ended brush.  I’ve found the tiny tweezers are useless.

I estimate that one compact will last at least 2 years, used daily.

 I am currently using a little pot of cream eye shadow that I purchased 3 months ago; I estimate it will last another 3 months.  As I am rather heavy handed with eye make-up, it might last a normal person about 7, maybe 8 months.

The name really does describe the product.  In addition, it stays on, but then is easy to remove at the end of the day.  I use this as an eye make-up base to anchor powder eye shadows.  You could use a combination of the 15 Benefit colours (the one in the photo is RSVP) to achieve your desired effect.

My only complaint is that the little pot of eye shadow is over-packaged.  The cute cardboard box in which it is sold is twice the size of the pot.  Why add to the world’s rubbish mountain?

I would probably buy this product again, but might be tempted to unwrap it at the beauty counter and give the packaging to the sales assistant as a sort of protest.