The brainchild of twin sisters Jean and Jane Ford, Benefit thrives on a quirky sensibility—a “laughter is the best cosmetic” policy that’s an extension of the founders’ own lighthearted approach to life. After making for the West Coast to pursue a short-lived career in modeling, the Indiana-born Fords launched their beauty empire in the late seventies with the idea that makeup could provide both physical and comic relief for women who, as the sisters put it, “might be having a case of the uglies.” Seven and a half million multitasking bottles of Benetint later, and the Fords are still doling out the pretty. “We don’t follow trends,” says Jean. “Our raison d’être is to create products to fix particular beauty dilemmas.” Their latest venture is a new scent trio due out next month. Read on to discover the method behind their makeup. continue reading…