BCA Think Pink - Pt. 4

October is not quite halfway over but the opportunities to shop in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month keep coming. There are so many ways to shop pink (I’ve even stocked up on my favorite pink Sharpies for the cause) and I am thrilled to find that with each year there are more and more eco-friendly beauty brands on store shelves and joining the crusade.

The green beauty mavens over at tarte have created the Think Pink natural collection to benefit the Young Survival Coalition working “to increase the quality and quantity of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer ages 40 and under.”

The 18-item collection includes such favorites as emphasEYES brow pencil, natural cheekstains in dollface and blissful, and 24/7 natural lip sheer with SPF 15 in summer fling. 20% of proceeds will be donated to the YSC. As a bonus, spend $40 or more and you will get an adorable baby pink clutch purse (retailing for $22), perfect for makeup or going out. Use promo code PinkOct09 when checking out.

Through October AND November, suki® advanced. organic. science™ is donating 100% of proceeds from the purchase of Sukiface exfoliate foaming cleanser ($29.95) and Sukibody sensitive cleansing bar ($10.95) to Think Before You Pink. Both products are vegan and adhere to the Suki© standards of organic beauty made without cruelty or synthetics and a minimal carbon footprint. Think Before You Pink is a campaign of Breast Cancer Action, seeking “transparency and accountability by companies that take part in breast cancer fundraising, and encourages consumers to ask critical questions about pink ribbon promotions.” In the sea of items sporting that pink ribbon, it’s important to know who is truly benefiting.

Mineral makeup revolutionary jane iredale has created a new lipstick shade, Christina ($19), in honor of actress and breast cancer survivor Christina Applegate. Part of the PureMoist Lipcolour collection, the SPF 18 lipstick is antioxidant rich and paraben free. For every tube sold, Iredale Mineral Cosmetics will donate $2 to Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Another $2 will be donated to LBBC for the purchase of each tube of In The Pink PureGloss for Lips ($19). The paraben free gloss is made with mineral-based pigments and no petrochemicals, keeping lips hydrated and protected. jane iredale has committed to donating a minimum of $25,000 from this event to LBBC, an organization working to help breast cancer patients and their families.


CONTEST: This month jane iredale launched it’s first ever UGC contest, Makeover Your Makeup Bag. Share photos, videos and/or blogs to express why you deserve the grand prize: a trip for two to New York City, an in-person Makeup Bag Makeover, session with a jane iredale artist and $1,000 in product. Other chances to win include six weekly scavenger hunts as well as a prize for the most viral entry. The contest runs October 5th through November 16th. Click here to find out more. Good luck!

THINK PINK - Part Three

Okay, so I thought this would be my final post on eco-friendly Breast Cancer Awareness Month greatness but there is simply so much out there I'll be back with a few more posts next week. Today I have a fabulous collection of organizations to share, all benefiting from the philanthropy of companies that we love here at Beauty Banter.

My friend Debbie recently became a rep for Avon (announcing it with the clip from Edward Scissorhands when Avon came a’calling) in part because of their commitment to women’s health. To date they have donated over $585 million to cancer research and education and as part of BCA Month, Avon has created the Breast Cancer Crusade Moisturizing Bar Soap ($4), a grapefruit-scented face and body bar, along with a collection of great items including a reusable tote from Marimekko ($10). 100% (yes, 100%) of net profits benefit the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade and Avon Foundation for Women (all orders are made through Avon reps, so the link above will take you to Debbie’s site to shop. If you already have your own Avon rep, contact them directly to shop for the cause).

Boscia Skin Care is supporting the Love/Avon Army of Women, which seeks to recruit one million healthy women of all ages and ethnicities, breast cancer survivors and those at high-risk, to partner in research that will one day lead to the cure." For every package of the limited edition Boscia Rose Blotting Linens ($10) 10% will benefits Dr. Love's foundation to “accelerate our understanding of what causes breast cancer and how to end it.”

KORRES announces they’ve “Gone Pink” to support the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund. While shopping you not only give to research but you save at the same time. All month long shopping at the KORRES site, selected “Pink Products” including body butters, shower gels and makeup will be 20% off AND 10% of proceeds benefit the NBCCF.

They’re also using this wonderful cause to introduce three new value sets called Lip Kits for the Cure. Available in Radiant Red, Perfect Pink and Naturally Nude, they retail for $19.50 but contain between $48 and $54 worth of KORRES Color lipsticks, liners and glosses. 10% of proceeds go to the NBCCF. As will 10% of the price of pink-ribboned giftwrap if you decide to pick up presents while you're there.

KORRES GIVEAWAY: through October 14th get a free Quince 50ml body butter for every purchase of $25 or more.

Sephora has created several limited edition items for the month of October to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. $1 from the sale of each paraben free Super Shimmer Lip Gloss in Forever Pink and BCA Pink Eyelash Curler ($16) benefit the BCRF. The BCA Refillable Powder Brush ($21) is a retractable, natural hair brush perfect for filling with your favorite mineral makeup or loose powder. $2 from the sale of each brush goes to the BCRF. Available online and in stores.

Website Beauty.com has created a unique month-long promo to benefit Cancer and Careers, which offers support and resources to women with cancer in the workforce. Over thirty brands have chosen items to benefit the CAC, including FRESH Sugar Lip, L’Occitane Shea Butter, Caudalie Moisturizing Cream-Mask, Bliss fatgirlscrub, and Remede Intensive Double Serum. Check out the Beauty.com CAC link here for the whole list of products.

If you’re not sure what you want but know you’ll hit the makeup counter soon, check out Bloomingdale’s Little Pink Gift Cards (they’re redeemable as gift cards in any part of the store). Designed by New Yorker illustrator and Cancer Vixen author Marissa Acocello Marchetto, the gift cards come in any denomination from $10 to $10,000. 10% of the card’s value goes to the BCRF, and if you spend more than the card’s value when you redeem it, 10% of any overage will also be donated. Little Pink Gift Cards are available through the end of the year at stores and online.

CONTEST FOR THE CAUSE: Bloomingdales Little Pink Bag Sweepstakes is giving away ten Little Pink Bloomies Bags with over $800 in beauty products from Bobbi Brown, Clinique, DKNY, Donna Karan, Estée Lauder, Jo Malone, Lab Series, La Mer and Prescriptives. And for every new email subscriber who enters, they’ll donate a $1 to the BCRF. Good luck!

Have a great weekend! xo alex.

Think Pink - Shopping to Support BCA Pt. 2

As I said the other day, I have found so many wonderful products in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month it will take more than one post to share them all. Today I’m focusing on those benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Check in with me Friday for more fabulous finds for the cause.

For dry skin that comes with cooler weather, Aveda Hand Relief moisturizes with soothing Licorice extract, Meadowfoam seed oil, Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Retailing for $21, Aveda will donate $4 from each tube up to $300,000. Available at Aveda Experience Centers and participating salons.

Professional makeup artist Sonia Kashuk brought her runway looks to the real world with a line at Target a decade ago. As a breast cancer survivor, Kashuk has created a limited edition line to be sold at Target with 15% of all sales going to the BCRF. For eyes, there’s the pink Curl for a Cause eyelash curler ($9.99) and cheeks, the Sweep of Pink powder brush ($12.99). The Brush up on Pink 4-piece brush set ($12.99) zips up into a pink floral case making it perfect for travel. The 7-piece Brushed to Perfection is great on the go or on your vanity in its slim floral clutch. The same signature floral print can be found on the Bag Lady cosmetic bag. All items can be found online or in Target stores nationwide.

Throughout October, Bumble and Bumble is donating a $1 for every can of its Classic Hairspray ($12/four ounces or $21/ten ounces) sold online, at their two New York City locations, and participating salons.

Master parfumer Jo Malone created her Red Roses Collection by blending

seven types of rose with violet, lemon and spearmint. Jo Malone will contribute $15,000 from the sale of Red Rose colognes ($55/$100) and bath oil ($60) throughout the month, online and at Bergdorf Goodman, select Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Saks.

Origins designed a special edition of their classic Peace of Mind On-the-spot-relief ($10) for the World Pink campaign. The blend of basil, eucalyptus and peppermint promotes relaxation and relieves stress, and Origins will donate $35,000 from sales this month at Origins stores and department store counters.

Bobbi Brown created the Pink Ribbon Collection for BCA Month, a limited edition set of lippies including a new Creamy Lip Color and Glitter Lip Balm. $40 for the pair, Bobbi Brown will donate $35,000 from sales at Bobbi Brown counters nationwide.


There are so many organizations raising funds for the breast cancer research, education and advocacy this month. I’ll be back with more products and deserving organizations on Friday, and throughout the month. If there’s a product benefiting BCA you think I should know about, leave a comment. I’d love to know what I’m missing. xo alex.

Think Pink - Shopping to Support BCA Pt. 1

Because breast cancer has affected so many women I know, these next few weeks I’ll be sharing a number of the fabulous, eco-gorgeous products that are available in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Paul Mitchell has partnered with Cancer Schmancer, founded by actress Fran Drescher to offer the limited-edition Paul Mitchell Pink Express Ion Smooth 1.25 for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Drescher, who was a hair dresser before she became an actress, is also a cancer survivor. Cancer Schmancer works to “empower patients to build relationships with their physicians, creating the intention of a stage-one diagnosis.”

The Paul Mitchell Pink Express Ion Smoother 1.25 uses a blend of silicone and ceramic which reduces styling time, controls frizz and leaves hair hydrated. Check out Sarah’s recent great flat iron how-to tips here. Retailing for $160 the flat iron is available through professional salons (use the online store locator or call 1.800.321.JPMS) through October.

We love Ojon at Beauty Banter and I am thrilled that he has created a Special Edition Revitalizing Mist – BCA leave-in detangler for this cause. Perfect for prepping your hair before styling, the mist smoothes the hair’s cuticle using eco-friendly ingredients, including the magical oil from the Tawira Indians that is the signature of his line. Retailing for $26, Ojon is donating 20% of the proceeds to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, up to $35,000. Revitalizing Mist – BCA is available in stores and online at Sephora, Ulta and PureBeauty.

Throughout October you’ll find store shelves stocked with items featuring that trademark pink ribbon. There’s no way I will be able to cover all the great products out there but my advice to you is seek out those offering the greatest contributions to the cause, and that the funding goes directly to research, education and advocacy with trusted organizations, such as the BCRF, EIF, AVON and Susan G. Komen amongst others. This October, support the cause but also remember to take care of yourself. Each of the sites above offer support and educational resources. I'll be back with more great finds later this week. xo alex.