Benefit began in 1976 as a boutique called The Face Place in San Francisco's Mission District, started by twin sisters Jean and Jane Ford. It was renamed Benefit Cosmetics in 1990, picked up its first US department store counter in New York in 1991, and is now owned by LVMH. That origin explains the tone, which has always been playful, pink and a little retro. The eye products here are the heart of the line. They're Real Lengthening Mascara is the classic, and the newer BADgal BANG Volumizing 36-hour longwear mascara and its waterproof mini bring more volume. Fan Fest is the other mascara in the group. For brows, Precisely, My Brow Pencil is a waterproof micro-precision eyebrow definer, and The Brow Booth trio pairs full-size and mini brow products. The Beneville Fruit Stand mini mascara and brow duo and the Glam Central Station blush and highlighter palette are the small, giftable pieces. For a lighter weekday face to wear with these, see the everyday makeup look built around mascara and a skin tint.

Benefit has always named its sets like little stories, and this group is full of them. The Brow Booth trio gathers Precisely, My Brow Pencil with a wax and a 24 Hour Brow Gel, and The Benemart pairs mascara with blush and bronzer. The BADgal Party Co. and The Lash Scoop sets are for mascara fans, while the Hoola Bronzer set and the Benetint and Bestsellers set start from two of the brand's best-known formulas. The Glam Golf Club is a mini full-face makeup set of travel-size essentials, and the Hotel Beneville 24-day beauty advent calendar is the big one. Beneville Beauty Salon and Gotta Have It's gather full-size and mini bestsellers, and the You've Got Benetint duo does lips and cheeks. If you are planning ahead, this roundup of beauty advent calendars and gift sets is worth a look. What I would skip is a travel set when you already own the full-size version of the mascara; the minis make more sense for a new formula.

Three signature products sit in this group. Hoola is the matte powder bronzer, here in full size and as a mini. Benetint is the lip and cheek stain, and Playtint is its liquid lip blush and cheek tint cousin. The Cookie and Tickle shimmer finish powder highlighters add glow, and the Goof Proof eyebrow pencil is the easy brow option. The POREfessional pore minimizing primer is the product the brand is best known for in complexion, with a matching matte blurring loose setting powder. If you wear primer, primer matched to what skin actually does is useful, and for the tint, cream or powder blush, explained can help you decide where to put it.

The POREfessional name has grown from one primer into a small skincare family. There is the Tight 'N Toned toning foam, the Hydro Pop essence, the Degunker blackhead and pore cleansing mask system and a mini Deep Retreat clay mask. Eye Gotta Glow is a six-pack of brightening under-eye masks. Gimme Brow+ is a tinted volumizing brow gel, the 24-Hour Brow Setter is a clear brow gel, and Fluff Up is a flexible texturizing wax. They're Real Tinted Primer, the Silky-Soft powder blush, the Benetint Pocket Pal and the Super Setter setting spray round things out, along with a few bigger gift sets. To lock everything down, the best setting powder for every skin type can help you compare.

My Benefit routine would be short. A Precisely pencil for the brows, They're Real on the lashes, a swipe of Benetint on the cheeks and Hoola where the sun would hit. Twin sisters opened a small boutique in the Mission District, and five decades later the whole point is still a face that looks lively without much work. For a night out, I would add a second coat of They're Real and leave everything else alone.

If you want to keep going, M.O.T.D. Cosmetics Makeup Brushes and Merit Makeup and Skincare pair well with this edit.