tarte tatin

We love you, too, Benefit.

When someone told me that Benefit was going to finally open here in Manila, I was beyond thrilled.

Like a typical Benefit fan, my first product was Benetint (from reseller Mimi Cosmetics at Power Plant before). The prices were through the roof, but there was no other alternative then.

And then I bought Bathina from Bangkok, one for my kit and one for myself, then Lipscription (I’m so bummed they discontinued this!), 10 (the pink and bronzer powder combo), Posie Tint, Lemon Aid (Hong Kong), and Garden of Good & Eva (Macau). It became one of my souvenirs from countries I’d visit. Benefit would always be one of my must-visit makeup counters abroad, but now that it’s here, I have to look for another hard-to-get beauty obsession (it’s a never-ending cycle, LOL)!

I had the chance to meet Aubrey, Benefit Philippines’s “Chief Fun Officer” (that’s what it really says on her business card! I’d love to have that job description, next to Chief Cute Stuff Officer or Chief iDevice Officer). We had a great time gushing over favorite products, her experiences meeting the Benefit team in other countries and which products are best-sellers.

Erase Paste is amazing. It really erases what you want erased! It comes with a little spatula that I use to scoop up product (I use the back part), then use that to pat and spread the product on my skin as well.

Sweet! I love handwritten notes (how pretty is her penmanship??). It’s tacked up on my cork board along with other notes.

She invited me to go to the store’s opening last December 15, and I was so excited to attend because I wanted to buy Cha Cha Tint (Aubrey says this orange-y tint looks pretty on Asian skin tones) and Watt’s Up (I’m a highlighter addict). Pam was also excited to go because she’s a Benetint fan, too. How funny that one of her favorite non-polish beauty products would come packaged in a bottle and brush that still looks like nail polish. ^^

The opening was a smashing success, the crowd was insane (there was dancing in the middle of the mall!) and despite my claustrophobia, I squeezed myself into the crowd because I was afraid they’d run out of stocks of the stuff I wanted to buy!

I was surprised to learn that Benefit has been around since the 70s. And that Benetint was born in 1977 (older than me!).

Their cheeky ads and adorable packaging always made me think they were a young brand because of the fun approach to makeup.

Benetint’s back story is funny (watch the video). Apparently, an exotic dancer commissioned ex-models, now beauty boutique owners, twins (twins!) Jean & Jane Ford to make a rosy tint that she could use on her nipples! Lolll, why had I never used Benetint on my nipples?? I should try it (you know you want to, too! Lol).

Here’s a short vid about the Benefit story.

Now a rundown of my Benefit stash from the opening. This is why I can’t do a what’s in my kit post. They always change depending on my mood! But I will try.

I love the information binder. It’s pretty so I think I’ll hold onto this one.

I used to think Dandelion was too pale, but now I realize it’s not really meant for a flushed effect, but for a brightening effect. I like layering this on top of cheek tint. It really brightens your face and makes you glow. Dandelion is one shade from their box o’ powders series.

According to Benefit, this is your face without Dandelion. LOL.

Watt’s Up! is a dual-ended stick highlighter with a sponge at the end for blending. It’s gold-tinged so it’s ideal for yellowish undertones. I love the sponge at the end. I also use it to blend cheek tint and cream blush.

Cha Cha Tint IS pretty! It’s described as mango tinted, but we don’t have reddish-orange mangoes here, so that’s not applicable. It’s more like a pastel orange that goes apricot/coral on cheeks when applied. Posie Tint & Cha Cha Tint’s textures are different from Benetint which is very liquid, the two are more gel-like.

Stay, Don’t Stray. I’ve been on a primer kick lately, and I’ve been looking for a great one for my lids. It’s no exaggeration but I have the oiliest lids in the world. Nothing lasts longer than two hours on them. Nothing. I’ll road-test this and let you know in a week. I tried this yesterday as a primer under Boi-ing 02 but the tint of the primer lightened the concealer so I’ll try it again with Erase Paste since that has a hint of orange to it.

This is Boi-ing. “Industrial-strength concealer”. With my late-night TV habits, I do need my concealer industrial-strength. It’s much thicker than Erase Paste, but I love Erase Paste’s shade better.

Boi-ing’s advice on the box’s inside lid.

This made me LOL. Bombenstarker.

The best thing about their stuff? It’s priced just the same as Hong Kong! Aubrey says that they really wanted to price the products competitively (none of that hoard abroad ‘cause it’s still cheaper mentality).

Compare Hong Kong’s Benetint price (from their Winter 2011 catalog): HK$320 (=PhP1,800.77). Benefit PHL’s price? P1,800! Sweet!

So, there you go. If you want to stock up on your Benefit stuff, just go to Greenbelt 5 (it’s right next to Shiseido). Or if you want your brows fixed, Benefit has a brow bar. They’re actually known more for their brow-grooming prowess in Australia!

They use wax for brow hair removal, for threading-phobes.

Check out their Facebook page here.

Benefit Cosmetics is located at Greenbelt 5.