You'd better check yourself: Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Campaign 2020

Perhaps unsurprisingly, thanks to Covid, comes the alarming news that not only is the winter set to bring a perfect storm in terms of mental health, but just as seriously, nearly half of women in the UK are now less likely to share their breast cancer concerns.

One in five women have deprioritised their breast health; this rises to 1 in 4 for those under the age of 45. GP surgery closures during the pandemic have already made it more difficult to visit a doctor; this is despite the fact that a fifth of under-45s are unlikely to visit, even if they have noticed a change in their breasts.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made two-thirds of women feel less connected and more isolated. But the good news is that the vast majority want to unite in the face of breast cancer.

A step towards this can be taken by saving a date in your diary: on Wednesday 21^st October, 2020 at 7pm UK time, The Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland are looking to host the largest ever self-check via Zoom with special guests including Global Ambassador Elizabeth Hurley and Dr Zoe Williams. This has been organised in the hope of bringing people together and encouraging everyone to be breast aware.

If you can't make the self-check, you can also support the campaign by buying classic beauty products - purchases of the following products in October result in a donation to help fight breast cancer:

• AVEDA – Hand Relief Moisturising Creme with Cherry Almond Aroma ($5 per purchase) 

• BOBBI BROWN – Luxe Matt Lip Color Duo (100% RRP minus VAT)

• DARPHIN – INTRAL Redness Relief Soothing Serum (20% RRP minus VAT)

• ESTÉE LAUDER – Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex (20% of RRP minus VAT)

• GLAMGLOW – Bubblesheet Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask (20% of RRP minus VAT)

• JO MALONE – Peony & Blush Suede 100ml Cologne (£20 per purchase in the UK and €25 per purchase in Ireland)

• LA MER – Crème de la Mer Moisturising Cream 15ml (50% of RRP minus VAT)

• ORIGINS – Blooming Lip Duo (100% of RRP)

Details of how you can support the campaign this year, download our self-check leaflet and access the live self-check are at https://www.elcompanies.co.uk/en-GB/our-commitments/the-breast-cancer-campaign

Beauty Byte: Make Up Not War

Ever since its inception, Ellis Faas has supported renowned charity War Child via the proceeds from its makeup sales. So why not make a splash while making up this summer?

Make Up Not War is Ellis Faas' microsite, which showcases all of the good work that it is helping War Child to do (one Ellis Faas auction this month raised a cool €4k).

Its latest campaign is called Share A Kiss, which seeks to harness the power of Instagram in encouraging people to Make Up Not War. Kiss into the camera (perhaps using an Ellis Faas lipstick!), blow a kiss, or pass the kiss on however you like, using the hashtags #kisstomakeupnotwar, #MUNWChallenge, #ellisfaas and #warchild. You could even win a book showcasing Ellis Faas' work, signed especially for you!

As mentioned, you could use an Ellis Faas lipstick to participate in this challenge - perhaps their limited edition Hot Lip (which is cruelty-free and vegan) might suffice? The sale of each lipstick also enables War Child to keep one child from a war zone safe from harm for three months. Pick yours up here.

But if lipstick's not your thing, there's also the Ellis Faas t-shirt, from which the proceeds support a vulnerable child for six weeks. (Buy yours here!) Or failing that - donate direct.

There are lots of great causes out there, and this one's definitely up there in terms of being worthy of your consideration.

Big kiss!

Mary Kay Limited Edition One Woman Can Creme Lipstick

RRP: £13

--What does the promo say?--
"Limited-edition Beauty That Counts^®Mary Kay^® Creme Lipstick,  in the shade One Woman Can™, celebrates Mary Kay’s 50th anniversary as the creme lipstick that gives back. Berry-pink shade looks great on everyone. Long-wearing, stay-true formula glides on easily. Helps protect lips with antioxidants. Provides instant moisture."

--Packaging--
The pale gold tube is fairly standard, in all honesty. Something at least partly transparent would be better so that the beautiful swirls of lipstick could be seen more immediately. However, it does the job, with the lid remaining secure.

--Application--
Apply straight from the tube or using a lip brush to clean dry lips. For a subtler look, apply just to the bottom lip before pressing together with the top lip for a paler result. Two dots of lipstick on each lip, and then blending, will do the same thing.

--Appearance--
Depending on which side of the lipstick you get more of when applying, results can vary from a darker berry to a brighter fuschia. The latter may be a bit full-on for some, so I'd recommend blotting for a more muted effect as mentioned above. Nonetheless, both colours in the stick should suit just about everyone. 

--Texture and consistency--
Beautifully smooth and soft thanks to the oodles of natural waxes and oils this contains. Lipstick's come a long way from those very drying days.

--Longevity--
About the same as most modern lippies, to be honest - although longer than you'd expect perhaps for something that glides on so smoothly and has so few artificial additives.

--Value for money--
This is a high-quality product that uses ingredients straight from nature, and its price tag of £13 competes favourably with lipsticks from brands with similar ideologies (Aveda, Origins and Bare Escentuals charge the same for their lip colours in department stores). With that in mind, I'd buy again once my free lippy from Mary Kay's lovely PR people has run out :)

perfect partners
TimeWise Age-Fighting Lip Primer, £16
Satin Lips Set, £19
Retractable Lip Brush, £2

Run a TANATHON

Want a tan, but not the potential health problems that go with it? A fake tan is far healthier than hitting the beach or the sunbeds - and now fake tan brand St Tropez has teamed up with Malmaison Hotels and Macmillan Cancer Support to promote responsible tanning through events running up to the end of August 11th.

To support the cause, come to Le Petit Spa at the Birmingham branch of Malmaison hotels. Name your price for a St Tropez spray tan in the mini spa (with a minimum bid of £5 requested) and Malmaison will match your fee with a donation to Macmillan. With every charity spray tan, you'll also receive a free 50ml wash-off tan sample.

Book your charity spray tan in advance by calling 0121 246 5008 and quoting "Macmillan Tanathon". You may feel unable to run a charity marathon - but I reckon most people can participate in a charity tanathon!

Beauty Byte: Claire's for Comic Relief

Looking to spice up your life this March - and help raise money for Red Nose Day? Pop into Claire's at 488 Oxford Street (London W1) at any time between 10.00 and 18.00 not only tomorrow (March 5th) but also on Red Nose Day itself (March 18th) for a manicure using Claire's exclusive WAH nail varnish in bright scarlet; the manicure is free with any purchase of a Red Nose Day product (of which 30p goes to the Red Nose Day charity) at Claire's. Now that's what I call painting the town red.