October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Around 1 in 8 women in the United States, about 12 percent, will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society, and there are currently more than 2.8 million survivors of the disease. Another shocking statistic? A woman in the U.S. is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes, reports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. However, with an Early Detection Plan, women can catch the cancer in its early stages and get the necessary medical attention to fight it and, hopefully, win their battle with the disease.
Each year, many beauty companies use this time to increase awareness about breast cancer by donating money to various treatment, research and education charities from the sales of limited edition products (often featuring the fight’s signature pink ribbon icon). Most of these items are only available during the month of October though — and many companies only donate during this month as well.
Here’s a list of HNGN’s top 20 beauty products to support breast cancer awareness in 2015.
1. Aveda: Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme ($26)
This incredibly rich hand cream moisturizes with hydrating plant-derived emollients and vitamins. Hands will be softer and smoother after use, and the calming Shampure scent (made from 25 pure flower and plant essences) will leave you feeling happier. Aveda will donate $4 from the purchase of each limited edition bottle to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
2. Avon: Outspoken Party! Eau De Parfum Spray ($34)
This new fragrance from pop singer Fergie has sweet notes of pink peony, raspberry and crème brûlée. Outspoken Party! was created to celebrate breast cancer survivors, and $5 from every purchase this month will be given to the Avon Foundation for Women’s Breast Cancer Crusade. Also available from Avon with a portion of the proceeds donated to charity: Ribbon Cord Bracelet ($6), Floral Tote Bag ($15) and a limited edition Skin So Soft Breast Cancer Awareness Soft & Sensual Bath Oil ($10).
3. Bobbi Brown: Peony Set ($50)
This perfect pink powder blush (embossed with a ribbon) and mini face-blender brush provide the perfect shade for cheeks, giving users a naturally-flushed glow. The silky formula has a matte finish, and $12 from the sale of every limited edition set will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
4. Clinique: Pink With A Purpose Cheek Pop With Bag ($22)
This limited edition blush, in Berry Pop, gives cheeks a bright and healthy glow with an allergy-tested, silky-smooth, stay-true formula without any fragrance. The accompanying cosmetic case has a pink ribbon zipper pull letting everyone know that you support the cause. Clinique will donate $4 from every sale of this item to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
5. Decléor: Aromessence Rose d’Orient Aroma Duo ($68)
This is the ninth consecutive year that Decléor will be donating 10 percent of the net proceeds of a specific beauty product to Cancer and Careers. This year’s set features two items for the face — the Aromessence Rose d’Orient Smoothing Serum and the Harmonie Calm Soothing Milky Cream — each made with with 100 percent natural, pure, active and preservative-free essential oil and plant extracts.
6. Donna Karan: Cashmere Mist ($82)
Twenty percent of the suggested retail price of this limited edition eau de parfum spray version of the brand’s Liquid Cashmere fragrance will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. With a scent designed to remind its wearer of cashmere, the perfume has accents of mandarin, bergamot and muguet with undertones of patchouli, vanilla, sandalwood and musk.
7. Duri Cosmetics: The Power Of The Pink Nail Polish Collection ($6 each)
Duri Cosmetics has released four special nail lacquers in pink-empowered colors: I Pink I Can (a glossy salmon shade), Pink Positive Thoughts (a medium pink with micro gold sparkles), Pink Warrior (a metallic pink with shimmer and sparkle) and Pinky Promise (a shimmery baby pink). The company will donate 10 percent of the sales of each bottle of polish to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
8. EOS: Breast Cancer Awareness Lip Balm 2-Pack ($6.59)
This limited edition package contains two antioxidant-rich lip balms — Strawberry Sorbet and Wildberry – presented in pretty pink spheres. The nourishing lip quenchers, which glide on clear, are 100 percent natural, 95 percent organic and do not contain parabens, petrolatums or phthalates. EOS will donate 100 percent of the net profits to breast cancer research.
9. Estée Lauder: Evelyn Lauder And Elizabeth Hurley Dream Pink Collection ($33.50)
Twenty percent of the suggested retail price for this set — containing three miniature Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipsticks, in Rebellious Rose, Powerful and Tumultuous Pink, and a colorful cross-body bag — will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Estée Lauder will also donate to the BCRF with the purchase of the Evelyn Lauder Dream Pin ($12.50), Limited Edition Golden Alligator Slim Compact ($200), Modern Muse Solid Perfume Keychain ($49.50) and Resillence Lift Night Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Crème with Pink Ribbon Bracelet ($86).
10. Invisibobble: Breast Cancer Awareness Invisibobble ($8 for 3)
This unique styling tool, in Pink Power, helps create long-lasting and fun hairstyles without leaving a kink in your hair and helps avoid split ends, breakage and tugging. The limited edition traceless hair ring is antiallergic and compatible with all hair types. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Now.
11. Jane Iredale: Smell The Roses Hydration Spray ($29)
This moisturizing facial spritz contains organic rose damascena flower water, which tones and cleanses skin, calms inflammation and reduces redness. The spray — developed by Jane Iredale exclusively for Living Beyond Breast Cancer, which receives 100 percent of the profits from its sale — is vegan safe, and its rose scent helps users de-stress.
12. Manic Panic: Pretty Flamingo High Voltage Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream ($13.99)
Dye your hair pink to support the cause with this semi-permanent formula. Manic Panic will donate 50 percent of the purchase price of its Pretty Flamingo shade to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The easy-to-use hair dye, which glows under black light, is vegan-friendly and PPD and ammonia free.
13. Murad: Hydrate For Hope Set ($54)
This limited edition set features Murad’s Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture formula for face and neck (which hydrates for up to eight hours, boosts resilience and plumps skin with avocado, sunflower and olive fruit oils, retinyl palmitate and shea butter) inside a silver and pink case. And, for the fifth year in a row, the company will be donating 10 percent from its sale to City of Hope’s breast and women’s cancers research, treatment and education programs.
14. Origins: Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment ($21)
Help dehydrated skin and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by purchasing this limited edition hand cream. The rich, botanical-infused formula contains resurrecting rose of Jericho and skin-reviving trehalose and sea haricots, leaving hands silky, even-toned and youthful. Plus, $4 from every purchase will go to the BCRF.
15. RevitaLash: Advanced 2.0 Eyelash Conditioner ($98)
RevitaLash helps dry, brittle and lifeless eyelashes with a proprietary blend of scientifically-advanced technology that utilizes peptides, extracts and nutritive vitamins to fight breakage and improve flexibility, moisture and shine. Ten percent of the profits from each limited edition pink eyelash conditioner purchase will benefit breast cancer awareness, research and education initiatives.
16. RockStar White: Be Kissable ($47.95)
Brighten up your smile with an all-natural and kosher whitening solution. Made in the USA, Rockstar White’s gel formula contains the highest concentration of whitening power of any over-the-counter teeth whitener. The special pink kit, containing over 27 treatments, indicates that a percentage of the profits will benefit various breast cancer research charities.
17. Skinn Cosmetics: Foot Fetish Heel Balm ($22)
Heal rough, dry and cracked feet with this hydrating and rejuvenating balm — featuring vitamins A, C and E, shea butter, meadowfoam seed, jojoba oils and salicylic acid — that easily glides on like butter and has a sweet scent. Skinn Cosmetics will donate 100 percent of the sales during Breast Cancer Awareness month to Bright Pink.
18. Smashbox: 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer ($20)
Use this limited edition, sweat- and humidity-resistant eye shadow primer before applying color to keep peepers vibrant all day long without fading, creasing or smudging. The label’s pink ribbon indicates that Smashbox will donate $5 from every primer sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
19. Supersmile: Crystal Collection Pink Diamond Toothbrush ($15)
Enjoy daily brushings with a sparkly pink toothbrush featuring an ergonomically shaped Lucite handle and patented 45-degree bristles designed to clean above and beneath the gum line while polishing and whitening teeth. SHARE Breast Cancer will receive 80 percent of the proceeds Supersmile makes from the October sale of this toothbrush.
20. Ulta: Donate With A Kiss Products ($5 each)
Beauty retailer Ulta is selling five limited edition products this October and, for each purchase, the company will donate 50 percent of its price to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. There is a Fashion Clutch (available in rose gold or hot pink), Fragrance Atomizer (in rose gold), Tassel Keychain, Cuff Bracelet Set (one says “Inspire” and the other “Love”) and Gem Compact Mirror.
BONUS!
Here’s 3 Non-Beauty Items Also Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness
1. Guess: 2015 Sparkling Pink Multifunction Watch ($100)
It’s time to cure breast cancer, and Guess will donate 20 percent from the sale of this limited edition watch to the Get in Touch Foundation. The timepiece has a white silicone strap, a rose-gold case with crystals and a white dial with a pink ribbon crystal icon.
2. Pilot Pen: G2 Retractable Gel Roller Pen ($4.55 for 2)
Pilot has four different writing instruments emblazoned with the pink ribbon available to support breast cancer awareness, but we love the G2 gel pen the best. The fine tip pen — available in black or pink ink— has a rubber grip to make writing more comfortable and comes in packs of two. Fifteen percent of the gross proceeds from each pen pack sold will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
3. Trudeau: Lulu Travel Tumbler ($12.99)
This 16-ounce tumbler has pretty pink and purple floral accents on its stainless steel exterior. The leak resistant pink top flips open for easy access to your favorite beverage, and its double wall insulation keeps liquids hot for up to two hours. Trudeau will donate a portion of the sales proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
