by Emily Mongan
If you’re a beauty junkie, you know there’s no feeling quite like the one you get when you bring home a haul of new products. But what if your love for beauty could do good while making you look good? We’ve rounded up a selection of some of our favorite beauty brands that give back to worthy causes, so no matter what your philanthropic passion is you can make sure your next purchase really counts!
Clarins has partnered with FEED Projects to release the limited edition FEED 10 pouch, a “gift with a purpose” that provides 10 nutritious lunches to schools in developing countries through the UN World Food Program. Each little red polka dot pouch comes with five travel-sized Clarins products, including their Moisture-Rich Body Lotion, Relax Bath & Shower Concentrate, Gentle Refiner, HydraQuench Cream Mask and their Hand and Nail Treatment Cream. The FEED 10 gift bags launch of September 21 and will be available through October 4 with the purchase of two other Clarins products, so you can stock up on your winter travel necessities while giving back in a big way.
Something as simple as brushing your hair can now help a community in need, thanks to the charitable folks at The Wet Brush. The Wet Brush’s new Earth Collection brush features a bamboo handle and special flexible bristles that can detangle even the most cantankerous hair, wet or dry. Proceeds from each brush go towards providing clean drinking water to a school in Cambodia, and the brush’s packaging is 100% recyclable so you can feel good about making your hair look great. The Wet Brush is available at Cult Beauty, Sally stores and salons nationwide for £11.99.
If you get regular manicures, your next appointment can support efforts to raise awareness about early breast cancer diagnosis. Birchbox is partnering with Models Own nail polish to host the Birchbox Manithon, a daylong event raising funds for breast cancer charity CoppaFeel. On August 29, 2014 from 10 am to 8 pm, London’s Soho Square will play host to 20 manicure stations where you can get your nails glammed up on the go. A manicure appointment can be booked for a minimum fee of £5 per person, with all proceeds going to CoppaFeel. Can’t make it to the Manithon, but still want to help out? Birchbox is also selling a limited-edition manicure design T-shirt in honor of the event. The shirts are available at birchbox.co.uk/shop for £12, with all proceeds going to CoppaFeel.
Lush cosmetics is known for their brightly colored, inventive bath and beauty products. But in addition to their quirky bath bombs and shower jellies, Lush sells a simple pot of moisturizer that’s making a big difference. The Lush Charity Pot lotion is made with organic cocoa butter and scented with the ylang-ylang flower, making it a luxurious fix for any spots of dry skin. The best part? 100% of the proceeds (excluding tax) go to charity. In the five years since the Charity Pot launched, Lush has donated millions of pounds to over 350 different grassroots charities around the world! Charity Pots are available in different sizes, and range in price from £1 to £12.95 at Lush stores or at lush.co.uk.
If you’re in need of a new do, why not do some good at the same time? Rush Hair & Beauty salons have created the HAIRraising campaign, a fundraising effort to raise money for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Since launching in 2008, HAIRraising has raised £1 million towards new operating theatres for the hospital, as well as a new respiratory unit set to open in 2017. Rush patrons can donate to the cause in the salon, online at justgiving.com/rushsupportsgosh or by texting RUSH51 £2 to 70070.