So how else does Benefit get ready for such a glam event than a visit to a boutique for some makeup tips & tricks! We took Kathryn Ingli & Catherine Wong, co-chairs of the Black & White Ball, to show how you can get TWO ultra-glam looks for any formal event.

First, start ANY look with hello flawless oxygen wow liquid foundation in your perfect shade.

For Catherine, Jared mixed a bit of “that gal” with the liquid foundation to brighten up her skin tone. Then, moved on to the good ole’ “jelly doughnut” technique for the cheek: A circle of sun beam golden highlighter with chachatint, mango cheek & lip stain, in the center & blend.

sun beam + chachatint

Next, he contoured her cheek bones with hoola bronzer (had to play up those beauties)! Starting at the hairline and then working the bronzer below the apple of the cheek.

do the hoola!

To catch the light, always add a highlighter like watt’s up! to cheekbones.

haay, watt's up

To frame the face, Jared defined her brows with the B&W beauty brow using brow zings dark and blended in little high brow pencil under brows to perk up those arches.

high brow

To get a sultry smoky eye, start with creaseless cream shadow/liner in strut, keep it heavier at the base of the lash line and blend up to just below the brow bone. Draw a thick line with BADgal waterproof liner along the lash line and then smudge up with the hard angle brush. After that, apply they’re real! (of course). Hey, if she’s going to be wearing stilettos to her event – her lashes might as well too!

start the smoke.

finish the eye.

all done up.

Finish the look with a smooth application of full-finish lipstick in rumor, a rose quartz shade.

Okay, now this next look is all about flawless complexion, bright eyes, and irresistible dark lips…

For Kathryn, Glynis mixed a small amount of the POREfessional with her liquid foundation to create a mousse-like consistency.

creating the best foundation

Then, she popped her cheeks with bella bamba and high beam highlighter. Benetint provides a natural allday (and all night) glow & when layered with a box o’ powder on top, it gives an added pop of color & makes the blush brighter

benetint

bella bamba

On her eyes, Glynis used the cream shadow brush to apply creaseless cream shadow/liner in the award-winning shade of birthday suit, a brushed chrome shade, and then apply the shade busy signal, a venetian brown, in the creases to create a bright, golden eye.

the eyes have it.

Next, line the outer eyes with BADgal waterproof liner.

line with BADgal waterproof liner

The main attraction in this look…is the lips! Full attention was on Kathryn’s lips with silky-finish lipstick in frenched and then add a light touch up benetint lip balm for glossy coverage. Glynis used the talent brush to apply with concise precision.

lip service

finished and ready to rock.

I wish we could get this glam EVERY DAY!

party with some cupcakes & bubbly from chandon

catherine & kathryn: totally glam

the crew!

This year, Benefit is proud to support the Black & White Ball on June 2! Transforming the entire War Memorial Performing Arts Center area into one of the country’s most elegant venues, the Black & White Ball features 10 bands on five stages with live music spanning every decade since the Black & White Ball’s 1956 inception, dancing, food, drinks and a rollicking midnight surprise for one ticket and only in San Francisco.

All proceeds from the Black & White Ball will support the Symphony’s vital and multifaceted music education programs, which provide inspirational connections to music and music making to over 75,000 Bay Area children each year.

Get tickets to the Black & White Ball here.

If you’re looking to get some help from the pros for any special event, be sure to book an appointment at your local boutique or counter! Special thanks to the Chestnut & Fillmore Boutiques!

Psst…check out their new black & white fab windows!

the original bow

So to kick off this cinco de derby weekend, Alex from We See Rainbows is going to show how she crafted the perfect hair bow! Let’s get started…

Note: You’ll want to start with styled hair, straight or slightly wavy:
step 1: gather a section of hair just above each ear at the hairline, roughly 1.5′

step 1

step 2: pull the hair back and cross behind your head.

step 2

step 3: tie into a bow, wrapping the top hair counterclockwise for a perfect bow.

step 3

step 4: secure with bobbies. Voila!

you're ready to take a bow.

Thanks for sharing, Alex! We ADORE your sass & style! Okay, now who is ready to rock this look?

our limited edition rare beauty kit

Don’t want this fairy tale to end? Make sure to check out our Facebook page to enter for a chance to win a private screening of the film for you + 50 of your friends complete with Benefit goodie bags! There’s only one more week to enter so be sure to enter NOW to make your Benefit dreams come true!

I admit it, it’s It’s high brow!  Each and every time I put it on I hope to get my brow arch higher and higher! Fueling my addiction, we have now launched high brow’s new kid sister- high brow glow! High brow glow is a luminous brow lifting pencil, the champagne pink shade is a more luminous version of the original linen pink shade.

the sassy lil sis!

High brow is an iconic Benefit product, it’s a must-have makeup artist trick of the trade and we are sure the new version is going to be an isntant hit as well.  High brow glow looks really beautiful on deeper skin tones but don’t fret my fellow pasty freinds, we can wear this fabulous new shade as well!

Here are a few tips on how I love to use high brow and the newest version high brow glow:

1.) Opposites attract! When you are going with a matte shadow look incorporate the high brow glow!  Conversely, if you are going for a shimmery or glittery shadow use the original high brow. Mixing it up with both matte and shimmer achieves variety as well as definition. Both create perfectly sculpted and arched brows…who doesn’t want to look lifted?

2.) Parade your pout! Depending on your skin tone either high brow or high brow glow will work. Define your cupids bow by applying a tiny amount right in between the two peaks of your top lip. Blend out so it isn’t an obvious line.

3.) Lips look lively! Use high brow to define your bold lip look. Lightly trace the outside of your lips and blend outwards into your foundation. The pale linen pink shade of the high brow against your lipstick of choice yields a perfectly neat and defined lip. Your lips will pop making them the main attraction!

4.) That little something extra… Place a dot of high brow glow  right around your tear duct. The creamy pencil blends easily into the inner corners of your eyes and really brightens the area achieving that extra something special in your look.

5.) Brightening your baby blues! Use high brow and lightly line the water line. The subtle pink shade of either high brow pencils is much more forgiving than the 80′s style irridecsent white pencil.

6.) Taking your brows to all new heights! You know about high brow under your brow but now try it on the peak of your brow arch. Closely trace the peak of your arch with a small amount of high brow original.  I prefer using the original as the matte shade tends to blend to a more natural finish.

Frame your brow from the top & bottom!

There is room in your makeup bag for both of the high brows! How do you think you will incorporate high brow glow into your makeup routine?

I took my camera along for the day to show what a brow arch actually entails for any other newbies out there! On our walk there, Maggie told me she’s never gone to get her brows done because she never thought anyone noticed her brows. Gasp! They really are one of the first things that people notice about you & they frame your face. After her speedy & rather painless brow arch, Maggie was a true believer at the power of brows! As she said, “Why I haven’t given my brows over to the experts before now is beyond me!”

Take a look at a first-time brow arch…

mags before.

athina consults on her ideal brow shape

time to trim.

wax on

get all that wax

off it goes!

tweezing the pesky hairs

top tip: Use a damp cotton pad on the skin to soften up the hair follicle, making it easier to tweeze! We all know how pesky those stubborn little hairs can be! This totally works!

tweeze

thanks!

After Athina finished up with Maggie, the fabulous Joseph gave her a quick makeup touchup using some of the best brow tools of the trade: high brow & brow zings!

joseph for a makeup touchup

high brow to give lift

top tip: brow zings defines and sets the brows. Using a hard angle brush, start applying brow zings powder about a half-inch from the inside corner of your brow. This gives you a softer line to start with. Then blend out along the bottom of the brow.

brow zings

one size has been zinged

finished results

look at those fine brows