Breast cancer accounts for one in three new female cancers each year with roughly 310,720 new cases of invasive disease projected to be diagnosed in women in the US this year alone. It continues to gain added attention with unfortunate news of celebrity diagnoses.

The disease that touched actress Christina Applegate at just 35 and claimed the life of Shannon Doherty. Most recently, Jenna Fischer and Olivia Munn revealed their battles with the disease, with WebMD calling 43-year-old Munn’s diagnosis with an aggressive form of cancer a “wake-up call to women.”

Munn and many others afflicted with the disease have posted educational content on social media about the importance of tapping into one’s womanly intuition and summon their courage to bring their concerns to their gynecologist.

The beauty industry—which has a long history of raising funds for critical breast cancer research—continues to up its game during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, brands are emphasizing routine check-ups, designing new campaigns and creating special kits to raise funds.

The Estée Lauder Companies’ Brave New Digital Campaign

The Estée Lauder Companies says it’s placing a “renewed emphasis” on women’s health with the launch of its 2024 Breast Cancer Campaign with one bold message: “Breast Care is Self-Care.”

The company – which created the pink ribbon and established its Breast Cancer Campaign in 1992 with Evelyn H. Lauder – wants to inspire and educate women across generations to reframe their self-care routines to include proactive prevention and early detection measures.

The company’s new video features New York employees sharing their authentic views on the link between breast health and self-care. A dedicated new website includes resources to understand breast health, including how to recognize potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of screenings and healthy lifestyle habits. The site also encourages women to be proactive about their health, offering information on dense breast tissue (which can make cancer harder to detect), performing self-exams and accessing a personalized breast cancer risk assessment.

Since its establishment of the pink ribbon in 1992, the Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation has funded more than $131 million for lifesaving global research, education and access to medical services with more than $103 million funding medical research through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

In 2022, the Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation made a commitment to donate $15 million over five years to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, to establish a Health Equity Initiative. This ongoing research will further the goal of reducing breast cancer disparities and improving outcomes in Black women.

“Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide,” said William P. Lauder, executive chairman, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. “We will continue supporting the brilliant researchers who are working towards a cure while also advocating for prevention and early detection. I’m incredibly proud of the meaningful efforts shown by our employees, consumers, and partners, who unite around this shared goal.”

Canceling Cancer with Laura Geller Beauty

Laura Geller Beauty is injecting smiles into this important cause.

For the fourth year, it’s partnering with actress Fran Drescher’s nonprofit organization, Cancer Schmancer. As the comic once said about life, “remember, it’s also very funny, because side by side with grief lies joy.”

Cancer Schmancer advocates for prevention, early detection and policy change. The nonprofit was instrumental in passing 2007’s Gynecologic Cancer Education & Awareness Act to use the “power of the purse” to dictate responsible manufacturing trends.

“I strive to live authentically, and I take pride in being a trusted voice,” said Drescher, adding that she appreciated the brand’s product safety which makes their partnership meaningful.

Fifty-percent of proceeds from Laura Geller Beauty’s Breast Cancer Awareness kit, $59 on LauraGeller.com, will go towards the nonprofit. The kit includes the brand’s Everyday Heroes Baked Trio and a Dual-Ended Blush + Eyeshadow Precision Brush.

The cause holds a personal significance for Geller as she was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated early.

“As a breast cancer survivor, I’m deeply committed to empowering all women to take control of their health through early detection and proactive care,” said Geller. “This year, we’re thrilled to donate 50% of the proceeds from our exclusive kit to Cancer Schmancer to further their life-saving work. Together, we can inspire and equip women to become their own health advocates, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to prevent cancer before it starts.”

Thrive Causemetics’ New Dream Chaser Launch

For Thrive Causemetics, beauty and giving back go hand-in-hand. The brand, which donates to hundreds of nonprofits with every purchase, supports a number of important causes from racial and social justice to domestic abuse and homelessness.

This year, the color cosmetics brand will donate $100,000 from its newly launched Dream & Glow Chaser Blush + Highlighter duos to support both breast cancer and domestic violence awareness.

The cause has a personal significance to the founder, Karissa Bodnar, who started the business in her one-bedroom apartment after losing her best friend to cancer.

“From the start, supporting our community through their most difficult battles has been at the core of our mission,” said Bodnar, Thrive Causemetics Founder and CEO said. “Cancer became our largest giving initiative, and domestic violence quickly followed as a cause we’re deeply committed to. With the launch of the Dream & Glow Chaser Blush + Highlighter Duos, we are honoring the strength and resilience of survivors and advocates who inspire us every day, while empowering our community to create real change. Together, we can all thrive.”

To date, Thrive Causemetics has donated over $37 million to Breast Cancer Awareness through 98 giving partners, including Keep A Breast, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Pink Ribbon Good and Fighting Pretty. The brand has donated over $16 million to Domestic Violence Awareness, supporting 86 partners such as Peace Over Violence, RAINN, Positive Results Center and Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence.

The Dream & Glow Chaser Blush + Highlighter Duos are available to shop exclusively on thrivecausemetics.com.

Look Good, Feel Better with Elemis

Elemis is using beauty to help women with breast cancer undergoing treatment feel better by keeping up appearances. This year, the skincare brand is handing out roses to its charitable partners so to speak with its Rose Collection. Through October, $10 of every purchase will benefit the Look Good Feel Better Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life and self-esteem of those undergoing cancer treatment.

Regardless of sales, Elemis has committed to donating $30,000 to The Look Good Feel Better Foundation. The collection includes the Pro-Collagen Rose Icons which comprise an impurity-melting cleanser, a hydrating serum and soothing moisturizer. Pro-Collagen Rose Marine Cream works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in two weeks while quenching skin with 24 hours of hydration. The Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm is infused with English Rose Oleo Extract and dissolves makeup easily for petal-soft skin, per the brand. Lastly, the Pro-Collagen Rose Micro Serum is clinically proven to deliver 72 hours of hydration while strengthening the skin’s barrier.

Pampering Services from Aveda Arts & Sciences

Neill Corporation’s Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes will pamper breast cancer survivors with complimentary shampoo and styling sessions or a 30-minute facial at all 18 locations.

In partnership with Aveda, it supports cruelty-free breast cancer research by donating a portion of sales of Aveda’s limited-edition hand relief moisturizing creme. This is the first year it is offering a complimentary, relaxing service at all of its 18 schools as a token of appreciation for survivors’ courage and resilience.

Students will use Aveda products and personalized aromas and techniques, designing a customized treatment that will reveal the skin’s natural beauty.

One in Eight to None in Eight

A reported one in eight women in the US will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. However, thanks to research, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) has made impactful strides in early detection and treatment given the 43% decline in mortality since its founding 30 years ago.

To change the odds for women everywhere, BCRF has established an ingenious “1 in 8 Day” campaign on Oct. 18. The goal is to instill a sense of urgency in women about breast cancer’s somber reality by petitioning as many women as possible to ask eight women in their life to take action by calling their doctor to schedule their mammogram. Bonus points for conducting a self-exam and speaking to their doctor to gauge their probability of developing the disease via a risk assessment. For those feeling timid about taking their health into their hands, making an $8 donation to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation suffices too. At the completion of this task, those women will be asked to keep the daisy chain going by sharing the campaign with eight other women. The goal is to change the statistic from one in eight to none in eight. After scheduling a doctor’s appointment or making a donation, women are asked to post their completed health tasks using #1in8Day and tagging the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“This campaign holds personal significance for many, as breast cancer impacts not just individuals but families, friends and entire communities,” said Sadia Zapp managing director of communications at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. “By driving progress in research, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation hopes to transform this sobering reality to turn “one in eight” into “none in eight. We hope to change the odds in outcomes together.”