By Kelly Anne Fitzpatrick on October 12, 2011 in
It seems like just about everything's gone pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and retailers are jumping on the bandwagon with pink beauty products that benefit the cause. We decided to suss out which beauty counter staples are best for breast cancer foundations, and which leave something to be desired.
We didn't just look for the highest donation value, but instead for a high donation relative to the total cost of the item. Transparency is also essential--we looked for companies listing the specific donation amount plus details on the donation recipient and product availability. Finally, it doesn't hurt if the product offers additional value to the buyer or the beneficiary.
Good: Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection Pink Lip Color and Bellini High Shimmer Lip Gloss, $44. Ten dollars of every limited edition Pink Ribbon Collection purchase goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. While 23 percent of the purchase price is nothing to sneeze at, Bobbi Brown also gives customers free shipping on any order that includes the Pink Ribbon Collection. When you factor in the $7 it would normally cost to ship a $44 purchase (not to mention the fact that anything else you buy is also shipped free), Bobbi Brown adds a lot more value to their breast cancer awareness product. Plus, they offer the option to donate an additional amount to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at checkout. This limited edition lip color combo pack is available through October.
Better: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, $36. Beat dry skin with Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion and you'll be making a $10 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. That $10 donation comes out to a respectable 28 percent of the purchase price, plus Clinique throws in a free pink mini photo key chain. Clinique also earns brownie points for the pink ribbon pin and health tips they're including with every purchase made during October. Like Bobbi Brown, Clinique also offers all customers the option to make an additional donation right at the checkout. This special edition of Clinique's trademark lotion is available until Nov. 15.
Best: Smashbox O-Gloss, $22. You just can't beat 100 percent, and that's what Smashbox is donating--100 percent of the purchase price, not just the proceeds. Think of it as making a $22 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and getting a free lip-gloss in return. Plus, Smashbox's standard shipping is free. But you'll have to move quickly; this promotion only lasts through October.
Buyer Beware: Clarisonic Skin Cleansing Systems, $119-$235. Clarisonic donates "a portion" of proceeds from the sale of each pink Sonic Cleansing System to the charity Look Good ... Feel Better, which helps women struggling with cancer feel better about themselves. It's definitely a worthy cause, but Clarisonic doesn't specify exactly how much they donate per purchase or how long this promotion will go on. At such a hefty price tag, we're wary of the lack of detail. Clarisonic does list a donation value for its Limited Edition Almond Blossom Plus Cleansing System ($235), but the donation is only $15. For starters, that's only about 6 percent of the purchase price--one of the lowest we encountered--and furthermore, the limited edition cleanser costs an extra $10. Instead of splurging, "like" Clarisonic on facebook, and they'll donate $1 for every new "like" this month.
