You know you’ve found a good cosmetics company when you ask for samples and the sales woman brings out a whole box of plastic trial-size cases.

This is just what happened for me when I visited the BeneFit counter at Harrod’s. As I watched the saleswoman scoop my samples into their special plastic containers, I wondered if Benefit was possibly the ultimate "crunchy" makeup company. Afterall, they have a policy of no animal testing, use no animal by-products, steer clear of added perfumes and, to top it all off, are based in San Francisco. If you buy from Origins, one of BeneFit’s competitors in the "green" makeup market, you know deep down in your heart that your money is going towards the Estee Lauder makeup empire -- but if you buy from BeneFit, you’re supporting the "underdog" in the market. This is part of BeneFit’s appeal.

One of the first questions the BeneFit saleswoman asked me when I told her I was interested in their skin care range was, "Do you like to use water?" I have combination skin, which becomes prone to dryness in the winter especially by using water morning and night, but my answer was still a resounding "yes!" I used BeneFit’s All Type Cleanser for three days and was thoroughly impressed; it felt like it was moisturising my face at the same time as it was cleansing it. And there was no added fragrance so there was no overwhelming smell – just that of the natural ingredients, which is a plus in my book. At £11.95 (U.S. $13), it’s a bit steep, but a nice treat for once in a while. I’m returning to Harrod’s to splurge on this little baby.

My second sample from BeneFit was the Azulene Toner for combination skin. I’ve never been a big toner fan, since they usually dry out my skin and, besides, some of them can hurt like hell when you apply them. But this one was different; in fact, it was so gentle it was almost like taking a cotton swab and rubbing water all over your face! There was no sting, and it didn’t try out my face. BeneFit’s toner provides a refreshing extra step in your skincare routine – that is, if you have the time to bother with toner.

One interesting thing to note is that there was only a trace of makeup and dirt left on the cotton ball, not a heavy brown smudge left by other toners. This puzzled me, since I’d thought witch hazel, which is the second ingredient in BeneFit’s toner, was more powerful than that. Perhaps it simply shows how good the All Type Cleanser is.

If you’re a toner devotee and prefer gentle toners that won’t sting your face, this is a good choice. At £11.95 (US$13), I’m not buying this product; however, I will be trying to talk my mom into buying it for me.

On to the moisturisers! I was given two different moisturisers, Hyaluronic Creme and Vita Hydrating Creme. The Hyaluronic Creme was, again, aimed at those with combination skin, while the Vita Hydrating Creme was more of a heavy-duty moisturizer for those with extra-dry skin.

The Hyaluronic Creme is a thick, rich creme enriched with vitamins A & D. I wondered later why BeneFit had omitted one of the best vitamins for skin, vitamin E, but, unfortunately, I didn’t think at the time to ask. It was absorbed by my skin in about thirty minutes, and was a good moisturiser, but I’ll wager the Body Shop’s Vitamin E Moisturiser would do just as good a job at a third of the price. BeneFit is asking £18.50 (U.S. $20) -- cheap compared to similar moisturisers offered by other companies, e.g., Esteé Lauder and Lancôme, still, I’m not sufficiently impressed to fork over the money.

The Vita Hydrating Creme has a stiff texture (think white frosting), and a more off-white tinge; it was a really good product providing Serious Moisture to my cheeks and throat. I wish I’d have known about Vita Hydrating Creme at the beginning of winter, it probably would have saved my skin!

Overall, I’m intrigued by BeneFit, and will be looking into their makeup range next.

You can find Benefit products at BenefitCosmetics.com, Sephora.com, Sephora stores, and Benefit cosmetic counters at department stores near you.