For someone so interested in make-up I am surprisingly rigid with the products I use - I love Max Factor Pan Stick foundation, will only contemplate Rimmel eye-liner and love my Besame lipstick but I never really try new products as they come out.
So I was really thrilled to be invited to the Benefit Boutique in Debenhams, Norwich, and have the opportunity to attend one of their master-classes and to try lots of their products.
Benefit is one of those companies that visually has always attracted me and I love their packaging. And being a good Glamourologist I diligently went away and researched the history of the company - surprising myself with how old it actually is - 1976!
Looking through my files the earliest advert I could find was this one - from June 1998 - for their fabulous Benetint and another one from a year later for the same product.
The masterclass was to help familiarise attendees with two new products - the Hervana face powder - and the b.right range.
The Hervana face powder is instantly recognisable as part of the range that includes that staple of my 20s - Dandelion face powder - and is a fantastic blend of shades. Although really sold to give you a beautiful flush on your cheeks I actually preferred the colour as an eye-shadow.
We also tried the
b.right range and Retro Chick has
blogged about the terrifying moment when we all took our make-up off in public.
Once we had stripped back to basics and applied our moisturiser we were then given free run of an amazing selection of products - priming, adding foundation, concealing and highlighting to our hearts content. All under the watchful eye of the Benefit experts.
I particularly loved their
POREfessional which gave a lovely silky feeling to my skin. The real stand out product of the day however was the
they're real! mascara which has some sort of magic power - leaving your eyelashes unbelievably long, separated and curled all at the same time. I will definitely be getting my hands on some of this.
The masterclass itself was carried out in a beautiful room which is the first of its kind in the country. Tucked away to the side of the Benefit counter it gives just the right amount of privacy to allow you to feel comfortable taking off your make-up and playing around.
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| photograph courtesy of Retro Chick |
Included in the £50 workshop price, which is redeemable against products bought on the day, was a notebook, some sweeties as well as cakes and drinks (non-alcoholic).
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| photograph courtesy of Retro Chick |
We each had our own workstation, brushes and products which meant there was plenty of opportunity to try things out and experiment. Although the hope is obviously that you will buy products on the day there is no pushy sales pitch and you get the sense that the team at Benefit just love their products and will take every chance to wax lyrical - and who can blame them!
More details on the next Masterclasses are available from the lovely ladies in Benefit Norwich or why not join their
Facebook page?
