INTO THE BRAND: BENTON

People invest in skincare for different reasons, but most of us will admit that having youthful skin is right up there near the top of the list. Who wouldn’t want to have supple, 20-something-year old skin? So we choose products whose descriptions include the words “plump”, “smooth”, or “fresh” – all things we associate with “young” skin.

But before slathering on all the latest trending anti-aging ingredients, it’s worth noting that a lot of the ways we describe youthful skin are also ways we could describe healthy skin in general. This is the philosophy behind Benton’s brand. The brand was named after the movie, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, where the main character (Brad Pitt) is born old, and grows younger and younger as everyone else ages normally. Benton’s goal is to turn the clock back on our skin by restoring its health with high quality formulas.

And they’re serious. Even their packaging looks like it means business. There aren’t excessive decorations, just the name of the product and a description so you know exactly what you’re getting. To be extra helpful, the lines are color-coded.

To ensure absolute freshness, products are made in small batches, and only natural preservatives are used. Sensitive skin? You won’t find any parabens, mineral oil, alcohol, or other common irritants in their ingredient lists. To put the icing on the cake, Benton is cruelty-free certified, and holds the “Beauty Without Bunnies” mark from PETA. It’s also organic, and is EcoCert certified.

You won’t find an overwhelmingly long product list at Benton. They have a handful of lines based on specific ingredients, including their famous Snail Bee line. Figuring out which line to use is as simple as choosing what ingredients you want to put on your face. Here’s an overview:

Fermentation Line: Yeast extract is one of the main ingredients in their Fermentation line. Why use fermented ingredients? They’re easily absorbed and effective at hydrating and firming, and less likely to cause a negative reaction if you have sensitive skin.

Snail Bee Line: Snail Mucin, or snail secretion filtrate, is exactly what it sounds like. It isn’t slimy and the snails aren’t harmed when the mucin is produced or harvested. It has some stellar effects, since it’s full of proteins, antioxidants, and has healing properties. Bee venom basically tricks the skin into boosting collagen production and increasing circulation, resulting in plumper, smoother skin.

Aloe Propolis Line: Aloe is a hydrating, calming ingredient that can be used on most skin types. Here it’s paired with propolis, a bee product, which heals, soothes, and balances troubled skin.

Cacao Line: This line helps to balance skin that has a tendency to flip-flop between dehydrated and oily. By restoring the oil-water balance in your skin, you’re less likely to under or overproduce sebum. Coming soon!

Tea Tree Line: Tea tree has long been used to treat acne-prone skin, since it has great anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Green Tea Line: Green tea is packed with antioxidants which protect your skin and help it stay clear and look young! Coming soon!

Snail Bee Ultimate: If you want a super-concentrated boost, this line has a serum and hydrogel eye patches for extra nourishment and super soft skin.

Centella Line: Centella is one of those ingredients that does everything. It is an amazing anti-inflammatory, heals irritated or damaged skin, and boosts collagen production.

PHA line : a new exfoliating line currently composed of a toner and a gentle peel

If you aren’t sure what products to get, it may help to know what everyone else is raving about. Here are a few of Benton’s “holy grail” products that you’re going to want to try:

Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel

If your skin is the type that is prone to bad reactions to new products, harsh environments, or plain old hormones, this is the gel you want to use. With a whopping 80% aloe leaf juice and 10% propolis extract, this is a product with some serious soothing power. Aloe is cooling and lightly hydrating, while propolis is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Use if when your skin is irritated, or if you’ve gotten a little too toasty in the sun.

Snail Bee High Content Skin

If you want your products to contain a high concentration of something other than water, you’ll be happy to know that the first ingredient here is snail secretion filtrate. Why be thrilled about snail slime? Because it does amazing things, including firming, boosting collagen production, repairing, and smoothing. Add a host of other great ingredients like bee venom, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, and you have a formula that is anti-aging, and can be used to speed healing after a breakout.

Fermentation Essence

Yeast is pretty amazing stuff, even for your face! This essence uses it to soften skin and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains an impressive list of moisturizers: adenosine, sodium hyaluronate, and panthenol, to name a few. Lock it all in with some ceramides, and you’ll have plump, young skin in no time!

Having sensitive or troubled skin doesn’t mean you have to give up your anti-aging goals. Benton’s purpose is to help everyone, regardless of skin type, get that smooth, baby-soft skin we all crave!