The world’s top beauty brands have created limited-edition pink products to raise funds for breast cancer research. So if you’re planning to splash out on your make up bag and skincare essentials, this is the time to do it, when a percentage of your cash will be donated to charity.
Beauty Companies are on Board to Battle Breast Cancer
According to the charity, Cancer Research UK, breast cancer is the most common women’s cancer in the UK, with one in nine women developing the disease at one point in their lives.
The Estee Lauder group, who own brands including Origins, Darphin and Jo Malone, launched the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in 1992, with Evelyn H Lauder co-creating the pink ribbon motif which has become the universal symbol of breast health.
Lauder then launched The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in 1993, an independent, not-for-profit, organisation dedicated to funding clinical research. Donations from the sale of their limited-edition pink products are ploughed into the charity where, in the UK, the BCRF support research at the Royal Marsden institute of Cancer Research.
Products with the Feelgood Factor
Whether it’s treating yourself to face creams or fragrances, get in the pink and pledge your support.
- Darphin’s Arovita C Energic Firming Cream is vitamin-enriched to help firm skin and correct first loss of elasticity of the face and neck. It also works on boosting radiance and safeguarding against environmental damage. It's £44 with £5 gong to charity.
- Spa gurus Elemis have created a Beauty Secrets collection, which features four award-winning products, including Papaya Enzyme Peel and Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, in a chic fuchsia cosmetics bag, £50, with Elemis pledging £10 to Breast Cancer Care.
- If lip balm is one of your desert island essentials, Crème de la Mer have launched an exclusive balm presented in a pink leather pouch, £35, which is available in Harrods, Knightsbridge and Brown Thomas in Dublin, with £5 donated to charity.
- Beauty classic, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter, is loved for its skin-softening properties - and its distinctive fragrance - and for October it swaps its usual cream packaging for a pink bottle, when 25p from every 250ml size, £3.51, will be donated to charity.
- For silky soft hands use Aveda’s Hand Relief, £16.15, which has exfoliating fruit acids and vitamins A and E. Aveda will donate £2 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Getting Lippy
Clinique’s Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 is a global best seller and to support Breast Cancer Awareness in 2009, they’re offering a cute key chain with Pink Ribbon charm, £15. Attached are three miniature pink glosses, which are perfect for on-the-go touch ups. For each one sold in the UK, £2 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign (£1 will be donated by Clinique and £1 by Boots to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation).
Lips take a starring role in this year’s campaign with Bobbi Brown producing a pink Crystal Glitter lip balm and an exclusive Blush Pink Cream lip colour, £28, while at Estee Lauder you can pucker up with The Elizabeth Hurley Lip Collection featuring Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Elizabeth Pink, High Gloss in Pink Lady and Artist’s Lip Pencil in Spice Writer. It’s £20 with £5 donated to charity.
The Eyes Have it
Prescriptives Pink Ribbon Palette for cheeks and eyes, contains four eye shades including Aubergine, Hocus and Cassis as well as two cheek shades in Apple Blossom and Rose Petal. It’s £25, with £2.50 to charity. Mineral make up brand Bare Escentuals are doing their bit with Cloud Nine, a set of three eye colors in a pink bag, £18, available from QVC, with all net proceeds going to Breast Cancer Care.
Everything's Coming up Roses
For a final finishing touch, spritz the gorgeous Red Roses cologne from Jo Malone, which is blended from seven different types of roses from around the world, with a heart of crushed violet leaves and a dash of lemon. The 100ml bottle costs £64, with a £5 donation in the UK to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s study at the Royal Marsden.
Most women don’t need an excuse to splash out on new beauty essentials, but when it's for charity, it's guilt-free shopping at its very best! Think pink girls!
Linda Robertson - Linda has over 11 years' experience as a news and features journalist. She spent seven years on the features desk at an award-winning ...
