Along with my sister Annie, we caught the beauty bug early with benetint running through our veins! We’re the daughters of Jean Ford & the nieces of Jane Ford, co-founders of Benefit. In 1976, my mom & aunt opened up their unique San Francisco beauty boutique. My sister & I grew up watching our mom & aunt with a “double” dose of wackiness mixed with know-how, deliver quick fixes for every gal’s peskiest beauty dilemma. Today, we’re the global beauty authorities at Benefit…and while I’m based out in New York, I always know where home is.
Jean & Jane open a tiny makeup shop, The Face Place, in San Francisco’s Mission District. Their initial business plan called for the twins to sell $33/day to break even.
The first bottle of “Rose Tint” is sold to a San Franciscan dancer who requested... ahem, a nipple stain. Years later this product is renamed benetint.
Legendary makeup artist Kevin Aucoin telephones Jean & Jane to request 10 bottles of benetint for his makeup kit.
The second Face Place opens on Kearny St. in downtown San Francisco.
The Face Place is renamed Benefit Cosmetics. Jean & Jane set their sites on departments store distribution. A new name is needed for their brand that isn't a destination. They have 24 hours to come up with one... Jane, fresh off a plane from Italy, proclaims... "I wish i could find a word that would fit with Bene!"
BENE = good in Italian
BENE = good in Italian
Benefit takes the Big Apple by storm, opening in its first US department store - Henri Bendel, NYC.
Benefit goes international…jumps the pond and open at Harrods in London. Jean & Jane are upstaged at the Benefit counter opening when Her Royal Highness Princess Diana makes a surprise appearance.
The catalog is born. 5,000 copies are distributed to top customers. Today, the circulation is over 10 million!
The wonder of technology means you can now get Benefit with the click of a mouse – benefitcosmetics.com launches.
Benefit is acquired by Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the world's leading luxury products group.
The Benefit boutiques opens in Chicago Jean & Jane get back to their Midwestern roots after 30 years of California dreamin'.
