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
Breastcancer.org
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
Susan G. Komen
Young Survival Coalition

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 brands. 

Estée Lauder has had a long history of robust breast cancer initiatives. When you buy certain products from Estée Lauder, they will support the Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign. This year marks the campaign’s 30th anniversary. For the occasion, the Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation will donate $15 million over five years to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

One-hundred percent of the proceeds from every Proud to Be Pink Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss Duo goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

GHD will donate $20 of every purchase from its limited-edition Orchid Pink Collection to The Pink Agenda.

IS Clinical will donate 100% of profits from its Poly-Vitamin Serum to the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

Yon-Ka Paris will donate a portion of its sales to Cancer and Careers.

For every Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil purchased on its website, Elemis is donating one to a breast cancer survivor through their charity partner, Look Good Feel Better. 

Amika will donate $4 of profits from its Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask to HairToStay. 

Wander Beauty will donate 20% of profits from its Baggage Claim Eye Masks to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Kiss and ImPress will donate 10% of every purchase from their new limited-edition collection of lashes and nails to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Trinny London will donate 10% of profits from its Lip + Cheek in Sherin to Breast Cancer Now.

Revitalash will donate $2 for each RevitaBrow Advanced purchased to different breast cancer charities.

The Better Skin Co. will donate 100% of profits from its Mirakle Cream to Cancer Cartel.

Skin Inc. will donate 20% of profits from its My Daily Dose Uplift serum to The Nightbirde Foundation.

Olivia Garden will donate 20% of profits from its new special-edition collection to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Colorproof will donate 20% of profits from the Colorproof Thicken Collection to HairToStay.

Next, 18 LGBTQ-Owned Beauty Brands to Support Through Pride Month and Beyond