Beauty Products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and with an estimated 180,000 women expected to be diagnosed in 2008 alone, it is more important than ever that we stand up and pay attention. The beauty industry has long been an ally in the fight against this epidemic, and this year is no exception. Some of the season’s hottest must-have beauty products and accessories give you more than glam for your buck—they allow you to stand up for one of the most vital causes on the planet. So pick up some of these limited-edition finds and help create a better world for your sister, mother, daughter, or for the one in eight women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.

Cosmetic Changes

Few individuals have been as personally involved in the fight against breast cancer as Evelyn Lauder. In 1993, after co-creating the iconic pink ribbon as a symbol of the battle for the cure, she founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to fund research and prevention of the disease. Her passion for the fight against breast cancer extends to her yearly Estée Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection, and this year's most to-die-for offering is the Evelyn Lauder Lip Color Collection (1) ($22). This convenient lip color set comes in a pink zippered travel case and includes two Pure Color Long Lasting Lipsticks in Bali Rose and Candy shades, and one Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Rich Berry. Estée Lauder will donate $500,000 through sales of the Pink Ribbon Collection to the BCRF.

Another crave-worthy collectible that’s flying off the shelves is the Bigelow Limited Edition Cancer Vixen Kit (2) ($29.50). C.O. Bigelow has partnered with Marisa Acocella Marchetto, the famous illustrator, writer, and breast cancer survivor, to create their special Cancer Vixen line of products. The kit contains Lemon Cream Body Wash and Lemon Body Cream, Mentha Foot Tingling Foot Cream, Dr. Hiosous Quince Hand Lotion, and Mentha Lip Tint in Pink Minte—all Bigelow favorites. Sales from the Cancer Vixen line will go towards a $250,000 donation to the BCRF, so grab these limited-edition products while you still can.

Beauty guru Bobbi Brown is getting in on the act with a fantastic lip duo, the Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection (3) ($40). Achieve a perfect pout while helping Bobbi raise $35,000 for the BCRF with this limited-edition set, which includes her Tulle Lip Color and Pink Glitter Lip Gloss and comes in a commemorative pink box. Also helping out with the cause is cosmetics line DuWop, which is supporting the Cosmetic Executive Women Cancer and Careers Foundation with 20 percent of the proceeds from their sale of the DuWop Pink Shimmer Brick (4) ($18), which comes packaged in a commemorative sleeve adorned with the names of women who have struggled with breast cancer.