Table of Contents
About Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit Cosmetics is a beauty brand known for its line of one-of-a-kind brow products. They rose to fame with a rose-tinted lip stain, but also offer mascaras, primers, bronzers, and of course, brow definers.
If you’ve ever been to Sephora, you might have come across the Benefit BrowBar, a service where trained cosmeticians use the brand’s products to transform your eyebrows.
The company has 6.2M followers on Facebook, and 10.1M on Instagram and has been featured in E! Online, WWD, Refinery29, Elle, InStyle, New York Post, The Guardian, Glossy, and many other publications.
This Benefit Cosmetics review will take a close look at the brand and its best-selling products, customer ratings, promotions, and more, to help you decide if Benefit makeup is worth the buy.
Overview of Benefit Cosmetics
Benefit Cosmetics was founded in 1976, originally called The Face Place. Twin sisters Jean and Jane Ford decided one day to start some type of business, and chose to open a cosmetics company.
Good thing they did, because Benefit is now sold at over 2,000 beauty counters in over 30 countries.
The brand put its roots down in San Francisco, where they are currently still headquartered. Their first ever product, Rose Tint, now known as Benetint was created for an exotic dancer. It’s one of their bestsellers still to this day!
Benefit Cosmetics was later bought by LVMH in September 1999 and is now spearheaded by Jean and Jane’s nieces and daughters, Maggie and Annie Ford Danielson.
Next up, this Benefit Cosmetics review will provide an overview of the brand’s pros and cons.
Pros
- A variety of cosmetics and accessories to choose from for the eyes, face, brows, and lips
- Over 40 years of expertise with cosmetics
- Offers a wide range of quick fixes to beauty dilemmas
- Does not use toxic heavy metals in its formulas
- Available in over 30 countries
- BrowBar service introduces potential customers to their brow products
- The brand also offers waxing and makeup application services at local Sephora locations (COVID-19 regulations permitting)
- Virtual brow consultations featuring brow mapping
- Virtual try-on’s included with each individual product page
- Affordable prices for high-quality products
- Get a Big Brow Love Set for $30 (a $72 value)
- Students get a 10% discount
- Great sale section
- Free U.S. ground shipping with the code: ‘FREESHIP’
- 60-day returns
Cons
- Some customers have complained about the flaking of their mascara, and the quality of products in regards to application
Whether you’ve over-plucked your brows, or your eyelashes are too blonde to be seen, Benefit Cosmetics has a beauty solution for you.
This Benefit Cosmetics review will feature the brand’s best selling beauty products; from eye-opening, long-lasting mascara, to volumizing brow gel, and their infamous cheek and lip tint.
Benefit Cosmetics Mascara Review
Mascara is one of the most basic makeup products many women can’t go without, but we all have different goals of what we want our lashes to look like.
Whether you’re after simple, natural curls, or dark and dramatic lashes, Benefit Cosmetics’ best-selling mascaras, featured below, will open your eyes to a world of possibilities.
Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Lengthening Mascara Review
Mascara has the ability to make eyes appear larger, and most makeup looks are incomplete without it.
Available in both mini and regular sizes, this They’re Real Lengthening Mascara adds dramatic length to lashes, while lifting and curling for a glamourous effect.
The domed-tip brush adds volume and flare to natural lashes without pesky clumping. Perfect for all-day wear, They’re Real Lengthening Mascara comes in Jet Black and Beyond Brown colors.
Draw more attention to your beautiful peepers with Benefit They’re Real Mascara for $13–$26.
Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara Review
These aren’t the magnetic falsies you’ve seen online. These are your own, real lashes. This mascara uses the power of magnetic force to draw your lashes outwards.
They’re Real Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara keeps lashes long and lovely for up to 36 hours without smudging or flaking.
Improving the look of lash length by 40%, this mascara uses an extender brush and an added magnetically charged coil core to pull the formula out beyond the length of your natural lashes.
You may be thinking, magnets sound hard and heavy, but They’re Real Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara is actually lightweight and flexible. Available in mini and regular sizes, this item is $13–$27.
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Curling Mascara Review
It’s all about the eyes with this Roller Lash Curling Mascara. The Hook ‘n’ Roll™ brush grabs lashes, separates and lifts them, then curls them for a subtle, but flirty look. This formula sets your lashes 12 hours, an appropriate choice for wearing to the office.
The Roller Lash Curling Mascara has a conditioning effect because of Vitamin B5 and Serin. So while the mascara makes your lashes look good, it’s actually strengthening them as well.
This mascara is available in a satin finish of Ink Black or Brown, in mini and full sizes for $13 or $26 respectively.
Benefit Cosmetics BADgal BANG! Mascara Review
This water-resistant, smudge-proof mascara uses aero-particles sourced from space technologies to lift and lengthen lashes for 36 hours.
This mascara does more than make your lashes reach for the skies, the Provitamin B5 included also helps to naturally thicken them over time, so you can still rock a flawless natural look on those days you just can’t be bothered to do makeup.
The BADgal BANG! Mascara uses a Slimpact! Brush that coats your lashes from root to tip for some extreme volume. Try the BADgal BANG! Mascara for $13–$26.
Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Tinted Eyelash Primer
You use a primer before you put your makeup on your cheeks, eyes, and t-zones, but why aren’t we using primer for the most essential and delicate part of our face? Our eyelashes!
The They’re Real Tinted Eyelash Primer acts as a guard for your lashes against harsh mascaras and makeup while adding a layer of tinted volume before mascara application.
Known for its water resistance, the primer can also be worn alone for a subtle nude look. Plus, the formula is confused with Provitamin B5 to support last strength and growth.
In a brief customer consensus, it appears that this is one of the brand’s most loved products. Here are some numbers to prove it:
- 91% of customers said the primer was soft and buildable with mascara for over 6 hours
- 94% of users noted lash definition
- 92% of buyers stated the primer added volume
Grab this brand’s They’re Real Tinted Eyelash Primer for the bargain price of $25.
Benefit Cosmetics Eyebrows Review
Big, bushy brows have been in style for a few years now. For some, the bushier the better. For others, simple and sleek is the way. Some want a filler to amp up the volume, while others need a gel to help control their natural shape.
Benefit Cosmetics’ best-selling eyebrow products, featured below, can help you to fill, accentuate, or define your brows.
Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel Review
You’ve got the raw materials, but you struggle with keeping your brows in place. Instead of accidentally overplucking, try the Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel.
This gel tames and tints your arches slightly, depending on the color you choose. Got super blonde brows but rich, chestnut hair? Choose the Warm Auburn Brown, which is just one of Benefit’s 10 shades of this classic brow gel.
This waterproof brow gel contains microfibres that actually create a fuller-looking brow. Of, course, penciled on brows are stunning too, it’s just about preference here.
Available in full, mini, and value sizes, the Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel ranges from $13–$48.
Benefit Cosmetics Brow Microfilling Pen Review
Pencils give you some control over defining the shape of your eyebrows, but the point is never fine enough. The Brow Microfilling Pen allows you to create precise strokes that look akin to eyebrow hair, for that ultra-natural look.
Don’t worry about scalding summer days and sweat dripping down your perfectly painted brow, this pen is waterproof and lasts all day.
With a similar look to microblading, the Brow Microfilling Pen lets you have gorgeous, thick brows without ever having to leave your home. Available in 4 shades, this brow pen comes in full size only, for $25.
Benefit Cosmetics Cheek and Lip Stain Review
Benefit Benetint, the product that started it all. Originally developed in the 1970s, this Cheek and Lip Stain gives a rosy, youthful glow to cheeks. Or a just-bitten, electric pink look on lips. It’s cute, sassy, and works on a range of skin tones.
This rose-tinted stain has a natural-looking finish and glides on with ease. Start with a little bit and build your way to a more vibrant eye-popping color. This cult-favorite Cheek and Lip Stain is available in full size for $18.
Benefit Cosmetics POREfessional Face Primer Review
This Benefit Cosmetics review believes there’s nothing worse than spending hours on your glam, only for it to disappear a couple hours into your night of fun.
Benefit’s POREfessional Face Primer sets your face up for smooth success with foundation, allowing for longer wear throughout the day or night.
Use before nights out on the town and dance to your heart’s content. Or, keep your makeup in place for hours of photos during your little brother’s graduation!
The POREfessional Face Primer minimizes shine, giving your face a matte look. Minimizing pores and deep creases, this primer is also silky and lightweight, containing Vitamin E to protect skin from free radicals.
The helpful POREfessional Face Primer comes in mini, full, and value sizes for $13–$54.
Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Matte Bronzer Review
The Hoola Matte Bronzer delivers a sun-kissed (and not orange) look to cheeks, adding depth with its natural color. Easy to apply and blend, this bronzer comes with a built-in mirror and a powder brush that makes application a breeze.
If you’d like a bronzer and blush combo to really bring your face to life, try the Benefit Cheekleaders Set. The Hoola Matte Bronzer comes in 4 shades in both mini, full, and value size, for $17–$44.
Benefit Cosmetics Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
This Benefit Cosmetics review searched the web for helpful customer testimonials on the brand’s best-selling products.
Below, you’ll find real customer reviews sourced from the brand’s website, Sephora, and Shoppers Drug Mart, which highlighted the products’ quality, application, color options, and overall effectiveness.
First up, the Hoola Matte Bronzer is rated with an average of 4.6/5 stars by 277 customers on benefitcosmetics.com. One customer with olive skin remarked on the quality of this bronzer:
“This bronzer is unmatched. I’ve tried a few different bronzers but I keep coming back to this one. It gives your face a beautiful warmth and is so easy to apply.”
Another customer, who has a lighter skin tone, loved this bronzer as well. She wrote, “Finally a bronzer that I don’t have to try to convince myself looks good on me…it actually does, phew. The lite is just a perfect shade for defining pale skin.”
A negative customer review read, “It made my face greasy, brown and rubbed off my makeup. It caked everywhere and only lasted three hrs.”
The Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil is rated at 4.6/5 stars by 4.9K customers on Sephora. One customer who was happy with the application and color options of the Benefit Cosmetics‘ brow pencil wrote:
“It’s precise like its description, so I’m able to draw individual hairs and fill in any sparse areas. What I love most is the shade range and how easily it glides on and lasts. I also love the spoolie which I use to comb my brows and my lash extensions.”
One customer who prefers the Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil to this one wrote, “Terrible, I wish I could return it but the whole thing crumbled apart and broke off while using it. I got about 4 uses out of it and it broke twice. I threw it in the garbage. Their goof proof is 100 times better.”
They’re Real Magnet Lengthening Mascara is rated 4.3/5 stars by 3,784 customers on Shoppers Drug Mart. A customer who loves the effects of this mascara wrote:
“mascara needs to be pigmented, lengthening, and volumizing. And this mascara does just that! The wand is nice and stiff so it really gets in there, and the formula is a great consistency. I LOVE how my eyes pop with this mascara.”
Another customer shared that this product does not hold true to its non-flaking claims:
“I’d check my face after a few hours and there will be black flakes all around my eyes, not the best look.” This Benefit Cosmetics review would recommend replacing your mascara every few months, as dry formulas that are close to the expiration date are more prone to flaking.
Are Benefit Cosmetics Worth It?
The company offers solutions to beauty problems and does it all with a light-hearted vibe.
This Benefit Cosmetics review likes the angle the brand is coming from and the fact that they develop products that are innovative and effective. After reading customer reviews, the majority believes so as well.
The brand has been around for over 40 years and is available in 30 countries around the world, so their expertise is one thing you can rely on.
They often have promotions and offer discounts, offer free U.S. shipping, and have an extensive Benefit Cosmetics sale section for products they are phasing out.
These luxury beauty products are quite affordable for their high quality, and many customers have been able to find at least one product that they claim to purchase again and again.
Although some have mentioned that certain products are ineffective or dry out over time. Unfortunately, this is a certainty with many beauty products after they reach their expiry dates.
If there are more considerable issues with your Benefit Cosmetics products, they do have a 60-day return policy that has your back for a full refund.
For all of these reasons, this Benefit Cosmetics review believes that the brand is worth the buy.
Benefit Cosmetics Promotions & Discounts
This Benefit Cosmetics review found the following promotions and discounts available on benefitcosmetics.com currently.
- Get a Big Brow Love Set for $30 (a $72 value)
- Free U.S. ground shipping with promo code: ‘FREESHIP’
- Students get a 10% discount
- A free weekender makeup bag with purchases over $80. Use code ‘READY2GO’
- Great sale section
Where to Buy Benefit Cosmetics
To access deals and discounts, buy Benefit products directly from BenefitCosmetics.com. The brand is available in over 30 countries, in stores including:
- Sephora
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- Beautylish
- Cosmetics NOW
- TSC
- Mode Sens
- Walmart
FAQ
Who invented Benefit Cosmetics?
Benefit Cosmetics‘ founders, Jean and Jane Ford invented the line of beauty products. They moved from Indiana to San Francisco to start the company in 1976.
What company owns Benefit Cosmetics?
Benefit is a subsidiary of the company LVMH. They were acquired by the French multinational corporation in 1999.
Is Benefit Cosmetics made in China?
This Benefit Cosmetics review found one source that said that their cosmetics are designed and manufactured in San Francisco, and another that says they are made in Europe.
Are Benefit Cosmetics natural?
Benefit is not a natural makeup brand. But, they do refrain from using heavy metals in any of their makeup products and put their customers’ safety first.
How long does Benefit Cosmetics take to ship?
Benefit Cosmetics offers a range of shipping options for their customers. U.S. shipping options are listed below.
- Standard: 3–10 business days for $6, or free on orders over $50
- 2nd Day: 3–4 business days for $10
- Overnight: 2–3 business days for $17
What is Benefit Cosmetics’ Return Policy?
If you need to return a product, you can do so within 60 days of delivery. Benefit Cosmetics will issue a refund on the purchase price, minus the following things:
- Shipping
- Handling
- Gift wrap
- Other possible charges
The brand does not accept returns on overly used products, and ones that were not bought from their website. To start a return, follow these simple steps:
- Complete the return form included in your original order, and put it inside your return package
- Pack and seal your return order securely in the original package (if possible)
- Attach the return label to the outside of your return package
- Mail your return to: Benefit Cosmetics, Attention: Online Returns, 11500 80th Avenue, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
You will receive a confirmation email once Benefit Cosmetics has processed your return. It can take 2–3 weeks for it to show up in your account.
If you purchased a product at a Benefit Brow Bar Lounge or counter, you will need to take it back to that same location.
How to Contact Benefit Cosmetics
If you need any other information that this Benefit Cosmetics review did not provide, you can get in contact with them Monday–Friday 10 AM to 6 PM EST, by using any of the following methods:
- Phone: 1-800-781-2336
- Email: [email protected]
The official Contact Form on their website.
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