Now THIS is something to write home about!

We’ve been waiting for the day that Benefit would put all three of our favorite powders in one little box—and now it’s here.  Benefit Cosmetics Powder Pop! includes Dallas (rosy bronze), Hoola (bronze), and Dandelion (soft pink), along with a mini brush in this limited-edition Sephora exclusive. Love it!

Everyone’s talking about That Gal, Benefit’s fab brightening primer that premiered in stores this month. We got our hands on it several weeks ago and fell in love. (That is, until a girlfriend found it in our Makeup Bag, tried it, and refused to leave our house without it.) The magical formula transforms our skin with light-reflecting pigments, leaving a smooth, glow-y finish.

Now, thanks to the folks at Benefit Cosmetics, you can audition to be “That Gal!”

If you’re beautiful on the inside and out (and you know you are), a do-gooder and a go-getter with a sparkling personality, and you love makeup (oh, also, you need to desire STARDOM!) go to sephora.com/thatgal and enter to be “That Gal.”

You can also enter in person at the “That Gal” audition event:

• Chicago
  • Sephora Watertower Place, Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL–August 17
  • Sephora Old Orchard, Skokie, IL–August 18
• New York
  • Sephora Times Square, NYC–August 24
  • Sephora Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ–August 25

Prizes include a guest hosting spot on EXTRA, a photo shoot with Lucky Magazine, a beauty feature on Sephora.com, and a year’s supply of Benefit Cosmetics.

This is your chance, girls. Show Benefit Cosmetics your stuff and prove you’re “That Gal”!

Hey, friends!

I can’t believe I’m already thinking about Back-to-School… it seems like summer just started.

For me, high school volleyball tryouts start in less than two weeks, and then school starts two weeks after that. NOOOO!

Some of my friends will be seniors this year, which means they’re getting ready for Senior Portraits. This can be totally overwhelming as there’s a zillion different things to think about: choosing a location, what to wear, how to pose, and most importantly HAIR AND MAKEUP.

Being the super-helpful friend that I am, I took it upon myself to check out some local photography studios for some senior portrait tips. (After all, no one wants to look back on their senior portrait and cringe .)

In addition to the basics of 1) wear solid colors to keep the focus on you and not your outfit, 2) schedule outdoor photo shoots during the hour before sundown for the best lighting, and 3) relax and be natural–I also learned a few makeup tips for looking your best in pictures:

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• As much as you’ll be tempted to go all Prom with your makeup, please refrain. If you don’t normally wear blood-red lipstick and feather-tipped-falsies, it’s not a good idea to wear them in your senior portrait.
• Powder is your best friend. While natural, dewy skin is lovely in real life, it can translate to OIL SLICK in pictures. Not good. I like CoverGirl Clean Pressed Powder .
• Shimmer and sparkles can reflect light and cause the same I-didn’t-wash-my-face-today look. Step away from the sparkles!
• Too much gloss can look as if you’re drooling. Ew. But a little blue-tinged gloss like Benefit California Kissin’ Smile Brightening Lip Shine can make your teeth appear whiter. (This one also has a minty fresh scent!)
• Lightly dust the apples of your cheeks with peach blush. (If you’re like me and my friends, you probably don’t take the time to wear blush, but trust me–it makes a HUGE difference. Try L’Oreal Light Softening Blush in Charmed Peach.)

So there it is. Simple, easy, natural.

Happy posing!

From “Supermodel in a Bottle” (High Beam) to Dandelion, we have always counted on Benefit to give our complexion a pretty boost in times of need.

This summer at Benefit counters nationwide, a new brightening primer called “That Gal” is making its debut. Worn alone or under foundation, this silky primer smooths skin and gives a brighter appearance.

While we must wait until August to get That Gal in the stores, it’s already available at Benefit.com for $27.