Beauty brands promote Breast Cancer Awareness every October in various ways. The Estee Lauder Companies Breast Cancer Campaign supports the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) — and its brands heavily promote the iconic Pink Ribbon, a symbol created by Evelyn Lauder that that often adorns many of its products in specially designed, limited edition packaging. 

Avon has its Breast Cancer Crusade, with a variety of limited edition products in its Shop for the Greater Goods online store, including the Love candle shown above. Ralph Lauren created the Pink Pony campaign, inspired by the brand’s logo. Ouidad created Curls for a Cure — a year-round initiative that has raised nearly half a million dollars for the BCRF, to date. The brand matches every Curls for a Cure donation made through its websites or in its salons, dollar for dollar.

Many other beauty brands sign on to join the cause every October, choosing various organizations to support, including the Cosmetic Executive Women Foundation’s Cancer and Careers.

Read more about these initiatives below.

See a round-up of all the pink packaging we could find this year:
Slideshow: 31 Beauty Products Turn Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Photo above (L-R): Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Limited Edition; Ouidad’s Curls for a Cure; Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony logo; the BCRF’s Shop Pink section on its website; Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask in a limited edition package that features a pink ribbon decoration.

Estee Lauder’s Pink Ribbon Celebrates 25 Years in 2017

This month, the Estée Lauder Companies celebrates the 25-year anniversary of its Breast Cancer Campaign — and the iconic Pink Ribbon symbol created by Evelyn Lauder. Evelyn Lauder founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in 1993 to help advance the world’s most promising research.

This year’s limited edition Pink Ribbon collection by Estee Lauder marks 25 years with a newly designed Pink Ribbon Commemorative Pin — and several beauty products in “pink ribbon” packaging. (See them all in the slideshow, link below.)

The Estee Lauder Companies’ numerous brands support the cause as well. Clinique isone example. The brand launched the #TakeTheDayOff Challenge on October 6th, asking consumers to post a video or photo of themselves on Facebook to show how they remove makeup — and then ask three friends to do the same. For every post using all three hashtags #CliniqueDonates, #TakeTheDayOffChallenge, and #PinkRibbon25, the brand will donate $10.00 to the BCRF. 

Aveda created a limited-edition package for the Breast Cancer Awareness edition of its Hand Relief Moisturizing Creme, and Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, shown above, is in a tube decorated with an image of pink ribbons.

Avon’s Breast Cancer Crusade Includes a New Online Boutique

Avon is the largest corporate donor to the breast cancer cause, with $815 million donated globally. The company is celebrating 25 years of its Breast Cancer Crusade” with several new initiatives, including a new online boutique, “Shop for the Greater Goods.” It features limited edition Pink Hope fundraising products, including an official signature lipstick shade, Pure Pink. Avon will donate 20% of net profits from these products – up to $1 million in 2017 – to the Avon Foundation for Women to support Avon Breast Cancer Crusade programs across the country.

Scott White, Chief Executive Officer, New Avon LLC comments, “Over the last 25 years, our Representatives have united as a force for good in raising awareness and funds for breast cancer. Each pink ribbon product sold, each brochure distributed, and every conversation can be a valuable trigger for women to take action for their own well-being.”

Dr. Paul Goss, chairman of the Avon Foundation Scientific Advisory Board and director of Breast Cancer Research at Massachusetts General Hospital adds, "There is still much work to be done in raising awareness of breast cancer, particularly its signs, risks and how to act on concerns about it. Awareness is essential, since it increases the likelihood that breast cancer is detected at an early stage. Early detection is the most effective way of saving lives, it is crucial to tackling breast cancer.”

Funds raised from all Avon Breast Cancer initiatives, including walks that are held throughout the year, help fund programs such as Avon Access to Care, which has awarded more than 790 grants to 200 hospitals across the country through the end of 2016, totaling more than $235 million.

Smaller Brands Join the Cause

It’s not just large beauty companies that are supporting the cause. Smaller companies, as well as new brands, are doing their part as well.

Et Al Beauty, a family-owned company that makes Fullips, a lip enhancing tool, is giving away small lip enhancers during October, while supplies last. Year round, the company also offers free products to any patient battling breast cancer. The company also sells BCA themed pink enhancers during October, and a portion of the sales are donated to the Susan G. Komen organization.

Linda Gomez, CEO of Et Al Beauty, says, “We aren't the biggest company, but we hope to have a big impact. Every year we try to take our awareness efforts one step further. This year we decided as a company to give away free product in the hopes that it would get women and men talking about breast cancer awareness.”

Impromptu, a new brand, is donating $1 from every sale during October of its pink lipstick shade, Ribbon In The Sky, to Provision Project. The non-profit provides financial relief to women in active treatment for breast cancer through donations. The color is named for the mom of Impromptu’s founder, Leyna Topete, who has been battling breast cancer for 10 years.  “I cannot think of a better way to give back, something I intend to do for as long as possible,” says Topete.

Hair care brand Olivia Garden has launched a special edition brush collection, in rose gold, and line of professional cutting shears, to support the BCRF. FaceTory, a subscription service that delivers curated boxes filled with Korean sheet masks, has created a #BCA box, available in October. The company will donate 3% of all its subscription proceeds from both its plans to the BCRF. 

Alba Botanica is partnering with The Pink Agenda, a non-profit organization committed to raising money for breast cancer research and Giuliana Rancic's FAB-U-WISH program, an initiative that grants wishes to those suffering from breast cancer. Last year, the brand launched the “Do Good – Do Beautiful” campaign, which highlights women who are doing good and beautiful things in their lives and the world.

Julie Marchant-Houle, senior vice president/general manager of Personal Care products at The Hain Celestial Group, says, “As a brand that promotes creating positive change in the world, the Alba Botanica brand is thrilled to be working alongside Giuliana and The Pink Agenda to both spread awareness and raise research funds in support of finding a cure for breast cancer.”

Supporting CEW’s Cancer & Careers

Some brands choose to support CEW Foundation’s Cancer and Careers during October. Arcona is donating 25% of proceeds from its Triad pads; Skyn Iceland is donating 10% of sales of its Berry Lip Fix; and Ziip Beauty is donating 10% of all sales through October 31st.

Shiseido is also supporting Cancer and Careers — and will donate $5 for every purchase of Rouge Rouge lipstick in Murrey, Peruvian Pink and Primrose Sun, through November 1st. In addition, Yon-Ka will donate $1 of every product sold from their Vitality Collection, until the end of November.

Laura Geller is partnering with BeautyKind to give the first 750 Cancer and Career supporters a free $25 gift card to buy Laura Geller products — and 5% of every order will be donated to Cancer and Careers. BeautyKind allows shoppers to choose a cause to support year-round, and by choosing the CEW Foundation’s Cancer & Careers, 5% of all purchases are donated.

See the Slideshow: 31 Beauty Products Turn Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness