Last week, we stepped inside the new Benefit Cosmetics headquarters in downtown San Francisco for a preview of the locally-grown company’s b.right! Radiant Skincare line, due out in April. While the vintage-inspired packaging may be enough to convince you to give this new line a try, we especially like this new collection for two other important reasons.

First, brightening skin is central to the line’s modus operandi. Some skincare is aimed at niches such as fighting the signs of aging, others make deep-cleaning or pore refining their goal. But brighter skin is something with near-universal appeal.

Second, the pricing ($19-$39) falls in the comfortable middle ground between drugstore and high-end department stores brands. When we find a product that we like, it’s always nice to know we could actually afford to keep using it on an ongoing basis.

We’ve also got to give props to the clever packaging, always one of Benefit’s strong points. Double-walled glass jars with textured bumps for a vintage apothecary feel meet functional “toddles” (i.e. a tube-bottle combo) also textured with bumps to keep them from slipping out of your hands in the shower.

And last but not least, since we’re principally concerned with independent brands, it’s worth mentioning that, while Benefit Cosmetics is no longer small enough to fall into that category, we appreciate this local company for being a great indie-t0-mainstream success story (and because its office seriously kills us with its perfectly awesome pinkness). First launched by twin sisters Jane and Jean Ford in the 1970′s, the company has grown to be carried in over 30 countries. And even though it’s currently owned by LVMH, it retains its family feel. Case in point: Jean Ford’s daughters Annie and Maggie Ford Danielson are now the company’s global beauty experts.

Keep your eyes bright and open for the line’s debut next month. Below, more pics.

Select items from the Benefit b.right! Radiant Skincare line

Annie Ford Danielson tells a room of local beauty bloggers all about the new b.right! collection

After a presentation, beauty bloggers had the chance to sample the products and chat in small groups with Benefit's global beauty experts Annie (pictured) and Maggie Ford Danielson.

The collection's bottles and jars have a distinctly vintage-inspired look and feel.

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Full disclosure: free products were gifted to us during the event. Though we don’t think that biases our judgment, we think it’s only good, fair reporting to let you know.