6 charities beauty companies love

Kiss My Face for Seeds of Peace

The Cause: Seeds of Peace, a summer camp in Maine where teens from countries of conflict like Palestine and Israel come together to meet their historical adversaries, learn conflict resolution and see the similarities that unite them instead of the differences.

Did You Know: Seeds of Peace was founded in 1993 by the late writer and journalist John Wallach, on the belief that “Treaties are negotiated by governments, peace is made by people.”

How You Can Help: Buy a bottle of new Kiss My Face Peace Soap (500 ml for $10, 1L $15, kissmyface.com for stores), an all-natural, multi-purpose, pure castile soap, with 10 per cent of profits going directly to Seeds of Peace. Or go online to the Kiss My Face Facebook page and click on thepledgeforpeace.com and enter your e-mail. For every 10,000 pledges, Kiss My Face will send one teen (cost $6,000) to camp.

Green Beaver

The Cause: Alain Menard, co-founder of Canadian natural personal care line Green Beaver, created “For My Sister” deodorant in 2008 after his younger sister Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32. A hundred per cent of profits go to The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research in Toronto.

Did You Know: Breast cancer radiation treatment can make skin more sensitive so a natural product is ideal for skin susceptible to irritation. 

How You Can Help: Purchase a Green Beaver “For My Sister” deodorant ($6 at natural health stores across Canada, visit greenbeaver.com for locations). Although Michelle Ménard sadly passed away in 2009, Green Beaver remains committed to fighting the disease. To date, the firm has sold 10,000 units of “For My Sister” deodorant.

Lush

The Cause: Dogwood Initiative’s No Tankers campaign aims to protect the Great Bear Rainforest, the coastal eco-region that extends from Vancouver Island north to the Alaska border, from the threat of oil tankers and potential oil spills.

Did You Know: The Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia is the largest intact, coastal temperate rainforest left in the world.

How You Can Help: One hundred per cent of proceeds from the sale of Lush Charity Pot Luscious Hand and Body Lotion ($21, lush.ca), made with fair-trade cocoa butter, go to the Dogwood Initiative to educate people across B.C. on the No Tankers campaign

Avon

The Cause: Hello Green Tomorrow, a global green initiative, aims to plant one million trees in South America’s depleted Atlantic Rainforest. The program is a part of the United Nations’ Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign.

Did You Know: Launched in March by Avon with a  $1 million donation, the fund has already doubled through donor matching, resulting in the planting of two million new trees.

How You Can Help: Go to avon.ca and click on “Hello Green Tomorrow” to donate. For every dollar donated, Avon will ensure one tree gets planted.

MAC

The Cause: The MAC AIDS Fund, which raises money through the sale of MAC Viva Glam Lipsticks and Lipglasses to support men, women and children globally affected by HIV/AIDS.

Did You Know: Since it inception in 1994, the MAC AIDS Fund has raised more than $170 million U.S. 

How You Can Help: From August 9th until next March, you can buy the new Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga Viva Glam Lipglasses, Viva Glam Cyndi and Viva Glam Gaga ($16.50 ea), inspired by the Viva Glam lipsticks launched earlier this year. Beginning in September, limited edition makeup bags ($33.50) will also be available. A hundred per cent of proceeds go towards the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Estee Lauder

The Cause: The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, conceived in 1992 to educate women and raise money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To date, the campaign has raised more than $40 million U.S.

Did You Know: This year marks the 11th anniversary of Lauder Illuminations, with 200 buildings, monuments and landmarks worldwide illuminated in pink light as a reminder to women to have regular breast exams. With early detection, breast cancer is 98 percent curable.

How You Can Help: Beginning this October, you can purchase items from the Estée Lauder Pink Ribbon collection of makeup (like this pink accessory bag loaded with four lipglosses — $30) to raise awareness and help the cause. Estée Lauder Canada will donate $100,000 in connection with the sales of Pink Ribbon Collection items to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

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