Growing up, my mom and I walked the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure every year. Volunteers used to pass out signs that read, "I walk for…,” to fill out. We always wrote my grandmother’s name, as she died of breast cancer when my mom was young. At that point in my life, breast cancer seemed like a nebulous, intangible disease to me—I knew my grandmother had died from it before I was born, but I didn’t know anyone personally who had breast cancer. Now, the number of women that I alone know who have been affected by breast cancer keeps climbing.
For far too many of us, breast cancer has hit close to home. The American Cancer Society reports that one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and besides lung cancer, breast cancer death rates are the highest of any cancer. In 2021, the World Health Organization found that breast cancer had become the most common form of cancer worldwide. As of January, over 3.8 million women in the United States have a history of breast cancer, according to an ACS study on cancer treatment and survivorship statistics.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s a great time to consider donating to support breast cancer research. There are new advancements every day that offer hope for people battling breast cancer, and your dollars can make a major difference. A few organizations to consider donating to:
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
In the beauty sphere, many brands are donating part or all of their proceeds to causes supporting breast cancer research for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here are some of the brands that are putting breast cancer advancements at the forefront this October. If you're buying beauty this month, consider opting for one of these products.
Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder has had a long history of robust breast cancer initiatives. When you buy certain products from Estée Lauder, they will support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation by donating 20 percent of the purchase, up to $238,000.
Bobbi Brown
One-hundred percent of the proceeds from every Powerful Pinks Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss Duo goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
GHD
GHD will donate $20 of every purchase from its limited-edition Orchid Pink Collection to The Pink Agenda.
IS Clinical
IS Clinical will donate 100% of profits from its Poly-Vitamin Serum to the National Breast Cancer Coalition for the entire month of October.
Yon-Ka Paris
Yon-Ka Paris will donate a portion of its sales from the Elixir Vital and Sensitive Collection line to Cancer and Careers.
Blue Lagoon Iceland
During the month of October, 30% of sales from each Rejuvenating Lip Balm purchase will go to breast cancer research at the Icelandic Cancer Society.
Jo Malone London
Jo Malone London will donate 50% of sales from the Special-Edition Peony Blush Suede Cologne to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
The Beachwaver Co
This month, 100% of net profits from the Pink Root Therapy Scalp Massager will be donated to a charity that supports breast cancer patients and survivors.
Amika
Amika will donate $1 from each of the Amika x HairToStay Wizard Detangling Hair Primer sold during October. The brand also donates 1% of their overall ecomm sales to HairToStay, which aims to increase awareness and provide financial support to cancer patients for scalp-cooling technology.
Kiss
Kiss and ImPress will donate 10% of every purchase from their Gel Fantasy Breast Cancer Awareness collection to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Dermaflash
Dermaflash will donate 25% of profits from its Pop Pink colorway to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Revitalash
Revitalash will donate $2 for each RevitaBrow Advanced purchased to different breast cancer charities.
Curaprox
The Better Skin Co. will donate 25% of sales from their new limited edition pink toothbrush set to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Skin Inc.
Skin Inc. will donate 20% of profits from its My Daily Dose Uplift serum to The Nightbirde Foundation.
Olivia Garden
Olivia Garden will donate 50% of profits from its new special-edition collection to breast cancer research.
