October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
When they first arrived they were not met with a happy welcome.
Of course the first step was denial. Never mind that whenever I ran or cartwheeled or climbed trees they were always bouncing every which way. I was 11. I was a tomboy. My agenda involved riding bikes, playing baseball: I absolutely had no plans to grow up, acquire boobs or wear bras in the near future.
But then there they were. And one day, when my best friend and I were running around her yard pretending to be Olympic track stars, her mom noticed that I was sprinting in the most peculiar way. Without thinking, I cradled my arms underneath my bosoms to prevent the No-These-Aren’t-Boobs from bouncing around as I ran sans arms for the Gold.
Her mom made a quick jaunt to our house and gently mentioned to my mother that I might want to get something to rein those suckers in. And although in my mind tomboys didn’t need no stinking bras and I was determined to live in my life of boob-denial, my mom sat me down that evening and declared, “YOU WILL BE GETTING A BRA THIS WEEKEND.”
And so I went to bed that night in tears.
Even though I was just 11, I knew that my life was changing, and that from now on, things would be different because I was growing up. That frightened me most of all.
While the relationship between my breasts began with a rocky start, I can say now that I appreciate them. They’ve helped me score numerous free beers. Oh, and my husband claims they were really “easy on the eyes” on our first date.
But in all seriousness, I thank the powers-that-be every day that the boobs been healthy thus far. Within the past few years I’ve had a few friends who’ve been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. These amazing women are survivors, and are my heroes.
So, in honor of these wonderful ladies I’ll be doing several posts this month dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Several of my favorite beauty lines are selling special products with proceeds that go to different Breast Cancer organizations. If you’re planning on buying a lipstick or a blush this October, please think about purchasing something that supports the cause. It’s a small step, but you can still make a difference. See – makeup can be a powerful thing!
Product: Limited Edition of Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. Check out the cute Clinique and Pink Ribbon cell phone charms!
Use: As a moisturizing facial lotion
Price: $35.00 for a 6.7 fl. oz pump-top bottle
Who this benefits: $10 per Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding the most innovative clinical and genetic research at leading medical centers worldwide. For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org or call 1.866.FIND.A.CURE.
Product: Prescriptives’ Limited Edition Pink Ahead Colorscope Eye Color
Use: A shadow trio to highlight, define and contour eyes – wear each shade alone or blend them together to create your own customized look.
Price: $17.50
Who this benefits: Purchasing a product from this collection helps Prescriptives donate $40,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Product: Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights and Smashbox Face & Body Brush #19
Use: Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights is a powder highlighter that gives skin a natural-rosy hue. Apply with Face & Body Brush #19 to your face or décolleté.
Price: $59.00
Who this benefits:A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the set will go directly to the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund, a grassroots advocacy group dedicated to finding a cure.
Product: Splendid and Estee Lauder’s Limited-Edition Pink Camouflage Tank Top
Use: To cover your bosoms and to raise awareness that early detection saves lives!
Price: $42.00
Who this benefits: Splendid will donate 25% of the proceeds from the sale of each tank top to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
I hope you get the chance to hug the women you love on this wonderful Wednesday.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Yay, more support for the cause 🙂
oOOh! I love the Smashbox one! What a great cause, I am so glad these companies are doing something to help awareness of this deadly disease, as it runs in my family as well, so I am all for it!
I know! I am going to go by the Prescriptives counter to pick up the Shadow trio (right after I practice extreme powers of self-restraint at Chanel!)
Vanessa, you’ll love the Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights Powder. It’s very pretty and the brush is soft. And even though buying one of these products is a small gesture, it helps. Love it!
Good luck resisting the Chanel! 🙂
Oh god, we all know where this is going. ARRRRRGGGHHHH!
Oh..I would LOVE to get the Smashbox powder but I can’t purchase Cargo anywhere… =( If bought in the internet there will be a benefit for the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund?
=(
(Hating my stupid country =/)
Mmm, the clinique bottle looks just way too familliar.
On the other hand, Smashbox looks fine. OMG, tell me about the brush, please! I just got a brush from the Body shop and decided to wash it – with mango body wash (HAHAHAHA) and now, it’s all oily and stringy like when I use it -not puffy and soft and smooth! I wanted to cry. Obviously I don’t know how to take care of brushes – Karen, I need your help! I think I heard you can use tea tree oil? Omg Karen help :'(
But um, on the other hand I saw in the Globe and Mail today that Dior came up with this to support the Canadian Breast Cancer society:
So pretty! Here’s the article:
Looking good is essential, but you can’t beat looking good while doing good.
Glam French brand Dior is doing its part to support breast cancer awareness with its sleek and stylish Couture Palette.
The flower-print compact features sparkly bronzer and two colours of lip gloss (a subtle light coral and a deeper warm rose). These shades may seem summery right now, but they’ll be perfect to zap some life into your look come winter — and the holiday party season.
But our favourite part of the set has got to be the 007-esque metallic pink, mini makeup brushes, which attach to the front of the compact with flashy silver and white elastics. Just like Bond, you’ll always be ready for action.
$55, available at the Bay (visit http://www.hbc.com for store locations); 10 per cent of proceeds will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
But yes, to answer your previous question, we get to turn legal when we’re 19. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a real mountie before, actually. And you know what’s so sad? I’ve never gone out of the country before – born and raised in Toronto and I haven’t even gone shopping in Buffalo before! It’s so sad – but I definitely want to go to San Fran! Have some relatives there… but I also want to go to LA… and Texas… and New York … and Florida…. omg.
Sorry, went off topic. Hope you had a pretty day!!!
Oh noooo my picture didn’t show up! Here’s the link:
http://images.theglobeandmail.com/archives/RTGAM/images/20071004/wstylecounsel1004/100407.jpg
I just totally uglied up your comments section for this blog entry. Sorry!!! =(
Hey Erusa,
I’m not 100% sure but I think that even if you purchase out of the country that the proceeds still go to the charity.
You will *love* that brush. I used it yesterday and it’s very soft and great for highlighting powders and blushes.
You’re in Spain, right? I love your country, girl! That’s where my husband asked me to marry him. 🙂
Irene, don’t worry ’bout it girl!
And thanks for the Dior Scoop, yay!
In terms of brushes, I always end up using MAC’s brush cleaner. Yes, it’s $10, and I know I can make a DIY cleaner for cheaper (mix Johnson & Johnson’s baby shampoo with water in a bottle) but MAC’s brush cleaner is *FAST* and works well for me. For brushes that have hard-to-remove products on them (Liquidlast liner, some long-wearing foundations), I’ll clean them using jojoba oil. (You can find bottles at organic groceries and health stores.)
I learned how to clean brushes from a nice MAC artist. She taught me to cup my hand, then put the brush cleaner in the cup. Swirl the brush head in the cleaner. I then keep sink water running while I run the brush underneath it, then swirl again, the run underneath the water again till the brush is clean. To dry, I reshape them and then hang them off the side of a shelf so that the brush heads have air completely around them. I usually clean my brushes at night and leave them like this to dry. By morning they are nice and clean and ready to use.
I’ve heard that olive oil soap works well too, because it cleans and conditions the brushes at the same time, but I have yet to try.
OH! Last night I thought of one more thing I love about Canada: freakin’ MIKE MEYERS, the guy in Austin Powers. LOVE HIM!
Yay! I’m going to try MAC’s cleaner soon, then. Just I didn’t know why my brush turned oily so quickly… like it just felt gross. Thanks for the tips, Karen!
You’re welcome Irene! Let me know if it works out for you. 🙂