It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and, as we are all too painfully aware, breast cancer affects each and every one of us all year long. Each of has a friend or loved one who has experienced this devastating disease – or perhaps one of you is fighting the battle against breast cancer yourself. We know from our own, or a loved one’s experience, that fighting breast cancer is a daily struggle, an ongoing battle that, regardless of the month or the day, continues to be waged.
While we all acknowledge that breast cancer knows no season, this month gives us the opportunity to support the cause by making us aware of it. Whether we choose to donate to our favorite charity or purchase a product from a company that will donate a portion of the proceeds to theirs, we want to help.
It’s recently come to my attention that Breast Cancer Awareness Month has come under criticism from several fronts. Some dislike the commercialism of breast cancer; others resent that only one month has been set aside to acknowledge the disease or that other diseases don’t have a month devoted to raising funds to research and eradicate them. Others say that the color pink, used to symbolize breast cancer, infantilizes women. And then there are those who feel that breast cancer awareness month has been “pink- washed.” This is the valid disagreement of the practice of selling products that contain known carcinogens to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness programs. I leave it to you to grapple with your own feelings about these issues.
IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, HERE’S HOW …
In the meantime, below are several companies that will make donations to their favorite breast cancer charities. Look them over, make a purchase or two and help fight this disease so that it will be eradicated in our lifetime.
For the month of October, CHROMATICgallerie is donating 10% of their shoe sales to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. At CHROMATICgallerie, you can choose your shoes based on style, heel height, color or event. The collection features an array of fun colorful pumps all retailing for $88.00. Proceeds from the sale of every color of shoes will go to benefit the cause. Simply enter code NBCAM10 at checkout. Pick up your pair here: http://www.chromaticgallerie.com
Mama Mio is supporting the cause by donating $1.00 for every bottle of Boob Tube sold in the US to Look Good Feel Better, the cancer support charity that helps women manage the visible side effects of cancer treatment. Boob Tube, $45.00, helps defy gravity and takes years off your décolletage. This bust and neck firmer promises fast results saying that, within a week, you’ll notice that your chest looks firmer, fitter, glowing, more dewy and more youthful. Mama Mio products can be purchased at http://www.mamamio.com
PUR attitude is offering 50% of net sales for the brand’s 3-Piece Skin Essentials Kit and the Fountain of Youth to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) during the month of October. The 3-Piece Skin Essentials Kit includes Hydro-Drench Moisturizer, Purifying Rice Face Wash, and Multi-Effects Eye Cream, $144.00; Fountain of Youth is the brand’s signature anti-aging serum, $90.00. Each product in the PUR attitude line is dermatologist tested and approved, backed by independent clinical studies, and follows founder David Pollock’s brand philosophy of “Safe Beauty,” avoiding harsh chemicals and known carcinogens, parabens, PEG’s, glycols, sulfates, petro-chemicals, synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes.
For the month of October, Manduka, a leader in high performance yoga gear, has launched a pink page showcasing its most popular products with 10% of the proceeds going to breastcancer.org. Some of the offerings: PROlite, a lighter, zero-waste, non slip yoga mat for in the studio and on the go, $78.00; eKO Lite Yoga Mat, an eco-friendly yoga mat made from biodegradable, non-Amazon harvested, natural tree rubber that provides cushion and support, $48.00; eQua Mat Towel, an absorbent and quick drying towel to spread over your yoga mat to provide a slip-resistant, hygienic surface. Designed for mats up to 71″ long, $42.00.
To promote continued awareness, Essio announces an alliance with Pink-Link.org, an online resource for women with breast cancer and the people who love them. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Essio will donate a portion of all sales to Pink-Link, with the mission of expanding the site and communications tools which Pink-Link provides to its users. The American Cancer Society recommends that women give themselves a monthly breast self-exam when their skin is wet—ideally, in the shower. The Essio organic aromatherapy system makes this routine self-check more relaxing and pleasant, which motivates women to do it more consistently. The refreshing, 100% organic botanicals used in Essio aromatherapy for the shower such as Lavender, Sweet Orange and Peppermint, make a shower seem like a trip to the spa.
This October, Sensai by Kanebo will donate 15% of their Total Lip Treatment sales to The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer®. Sensai’s Total Lip Treatment, $68.00, helps promote collagen synthesis around the lip area. The luxurious balm works to repair rough, chapped lips while minimizing the appearance of fine lines. Lips are left feeling smooth and moisturized. Contribute to Strides Against Breast Cancer by purchasing Sensai’s Total Lip Treatment at Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY.
Show support for the cause with American Cancer Society and 1FaceWatch’s, pink Breast Cancer watch. Priced at only $40.00, these affordable statement pieces provide fashion, fun and function for a great cause. For every 9 watches sold, a person in need is given a mammogram and preventative screen testing through The American Cancer Society. The company supports several other charities as well – so please check out the website.
Swedish luxury bed-maker Hästens joins Traditional Home Magazine’s “At Home on Madison Avenue,” an inaugural event set to promote Madison Avenue as a go-to destination for high quality home décor and design. The event will take place on October 22, 2013 and will highlight world-class home design while benefiting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To support the cause, Hästens’ Madison Avenue store, 1100 Madison Avenue at 82nd Street, NYC; will offer their luxurious duck-down travel pillows in limited-edition pink check with 15% of all proceeds going directly to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Ouidad, renowned hair stylist, salon owner, global educator, curl expert, mother, and industry icon, is a breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed at the same age as her mother whom she lost to the disease, Ouidad took action against this aggressive killer and supports breast cancer awareness 365 days a year. Ouidad founded Curls for a Cure in 2005 to raise funds year round for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The company matches any amount donated, up to $50,000. To date, Ouidad has raised over $442,511 for BCRF. The company also underwrites all of the administration costs of the program so that, when $10.00 is donated, BCRF receives the full $10.00. For each donation, Ouidad offers a special pink bracelet inscribed to show her gratitude. With her own difficult hair loss experience, Ouidad is able to comfort troubled clients in an entirely personal way, and suggests these helpful tips on how to look good and feel good during this difficult time.
• Skin will have a yellow tint from chemotherapy – use a bronzer with a pink tint to balance skin color
• Hair tends to lose pigmentation, often growing in gray and curly; wait at least six months post chemotherapy for color to prevent damage of new growth
• Visually prepare for hair loss by cutting hair shorter to minimize the drastic effect of losing hair
• With new hair growth, do deep treatments every two weeks to feed and strengthen hair; frequent deep conditioning is necessary to replenish nutrients, allowing each strand to regain its internal weight and body
Pick pink this October and perfect your beauty routine with products from Lisa Hoffman Beauty. For the month of October, Lisa is donating 100% of profits of her fragranced Pink Pearl Bracelet made with Swarovski Elements, $75.00, to the National Breast Cancer Coalition. The bracelet is available in any of Lisa’s five fragrances: Madagascar Orchid, Tunisian Neroli, Japanese Agarwood, French Clary Sage or Tuscan Fig.
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Great info as always. I just bought the watch!!
That’s great Jill! The watch is fabulous! Love it! I love the whole site and how they donate to all of those charities. I am so impressed with the number of companies that have stepped up for the cause. I’m working on Part 2 with different companies and ways for readers to get involved, so look for that in a few days. Also, I’m very excited about a Giveaway I’m doing with Radical Skincare, to celebrate their entrance into Sephora. (They’re currently sold at Barney’s and other high end stores.) They offered to give one of my readers a full size of their Instant Revitalizing Mask, which sells for $65.00 in stores. All subscribers to the site are automatically entered into the Giveaway, which ends in early November. I haven’t checked the list recently, so if you’re not a subscriber – and want to receive my updates and be entered into this (and future) Giveaways, please subscribe. Enjoy the watch! Thank you so much for your comment and for reading EverBeautiful.com. Since I’m obsessive about increasing EB traffic, I’ll ask that, if you like, you share it with friends. Thanks! xo, Mel