Benefit Beauty Bloggers Event

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Benefit beauty bloggers event at Harvey Nichols in Manchester, and it was a wonderful way to spend my Sunday afternoon! Initially, I was a little bit apprehensive about attending. I live in a slightly rough and ready northern town and I always feel like Harvey Nichols is far too posh for me. However, I put my insecurities about my social class to one side and attended the event and I'm really pleased that I did!
During the afternoon we were introduced to a lot of the Benefit products and shown how to use and apply them. We were also given a demonstration of how to create the perfect brow, which has made me worry that my brows are little inferior and I should make an effort to get to a Benefit Brow Bar to get some amazingly defined brows! We were shown their skin care range, given a makeup demonstration that was so beautiful I really want to recreate it for my wedding makeup. We were also given a sneaky peek at the new Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation that launches at the end of March, there will be a post about this to follow. It was also a great opportunity to put a face to brand, which is  a wonderful and rare opportunity.

Catriona from Benefit demonstrating their products on Danielle
Thanks to Becca from BDP World for the photo

I have to be honest, Benefit is a brand that I haven't used since I was a student a few years ago, mainly because I don't have easy access to it where I live and I refuse to spend £15 plus on a product that I have to order online. That was why this event was so great because I didn't just see the products on a shop floor, I also got to see them being applied and got some amazing tips about the best way to wear and apply them.
After this event Benefit is a brand that I want to try and know more about. One of the reasons for this is that the lovely team who hosted this event were approachable, friendly and interested in what myself and the other bloggers had to say. In my opinion companies shouldn't underestimate the value of this. If  I feel that I have a connection to a brand, like I now do with Benefit, I'll always think of the brand first and be proud to be associated with it, even if it is in a small way. It was also a small event meaning that everyone got the chance to chat, interact and give feedback. The lovely bloggers that attended were Becca from BDP World, Danielle from Dancing through the Fire, Phoebe from Peluxe and Terri from Hello, Terri Lowe.

Ooh lots of lovely Benefit products!

The Benefit counter at Harvey Nichols is really well stocked and the staff are lovely! If like me you are little apprehensive about going and trying out some products (perhaps like me you have issues about going into somewhere 'posh' like Harvey Nics or you're slightly more normal and worry you'll be pressured in buying or whatever)  I would definitely advise you to try Harvey Nichols in Manchester. The store is pretty quiet and the Benefit staff are really approachable. My mum, aka Mrs T, is fast approaching 60 (sorry mum) and has never worn foundation! *shock horror* It was only the other day she was saying how much she wanted to go and try some but was a bit nervous, so I'm definitely going to take her to Benefit in Harvey Nichols when their  new Hello flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation launches so she can get her first foundation!

Watt's Up and Hervana

So to the products, the ones that I am most excited to try out are Watt's Up highlighter and Hervana. Both of these products were used in the demonstration and looked amazing on! The Watt's Up highlighter gave a lovely soft and dewy effect and the Hervana can be used as a blush, eye shadow and even to add a hint of matte color to the lips. I'm going to try out both of these products, along with a few others from Benefit and I'll be posting reviews in due course!!
Thanks to Michelle, Leanne and Catriona (sorry if that's spelt wrong) from Benefit for a lovely afternoon!