Skin Cancer Awareness Month means it’s time for us gals (and guys…they’ve got skin too!) to be a little more cognizant about protecting our skin from those UV rays. One of the best ways to do this is to use products with SPF built right in. Check out some of my favorites.
I know it’s a bit on the pricey side but Clinique’s Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 ($42.50) is absolutely fantastic. It works great for ladies with sensitive skin. Did I mention that it also helps even out your skintone a bit? Prolonged use of this baby means your lovely face will glow like the goddess that you are.
Okay, so I know it’s for guys, but I am absolutely in love with Jack Black’s Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 ($7.50 on Dermstore.com). Aside from containing SPF 25, this lip balm feels super moisturizing on your smacker. We don’t think your guy will notice if his Jack Black balm is missing. Or will he?
Are you a foundation-wearin’ kind of gal? You may want to give Cover FX Natural FX Water Based Foundation SPF 15 ($40 at Sephora) a whirl. This medium-coverage and oil-free foundation has SPF 15 and gives your skin a satiny touch. How awesome are foundations that don’t feel heavy? Cover FX feels lightweight and natural. Love it!
Don’t forget to show your hands some lovin’. Boscia Daily Hand Revival Therapy SPF 15 ($16 on Dermstore.com) feels absolutely divine on the fingers and palms. I also love that this vegan hand lotion has SPF 15. It makes a perfect addition to your purse’s beauty lineup.
Looking for a moisturizer that is so lightweight that it fits comfortably under your foundation? Look no further, girlfriend. Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 ($14.99) is inexpensive and super hydrating for those of us with dry skin.
Do you use any skincare products with SPF in them? What are your favorites? Have you used any of the above products?
About the Author: Brittany Thomas founded the websiteClumpsOfMascara.comto spread her love for beauty. A staunch advocate of the power of social media, Brittany has done extensive work as a social media consultant, planning and executing campaigns for a number of organizations. She is just as engaging on camera. Her effortless delivery and flair for the dramatic has earned her more than a million views on YouTube. Brittany hopes that her love for beauty can inspire young women to truly love themselves.
Disclaimer:Glamour Gone Good, Inc. does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services. The views and opinions of authors expressed on this blog do not necessarily represent those of Glamour Gone Good, Inc. and they may not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Memorial Day weekend is just days away (can't wait!), so I wanted to carry on the theme of sun safety from our previous post in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month. I've found a wide range of fabulous skin care and beauty products on the market. What makes them particularly relevant when it comes to fun in the sun is that they have an SPF of 15 or more, which makes them ideal for the summer!
5 Great Picks for SPF Skin Care & Beauty products:
L’Oreal Youth Code Day Lotion, SPF 30 This lotion is meant to protect your skin with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 30 to help prevent future signs of sun damage.
Smashbox Cosmetics Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss, SPF 15 This lip gloss is meant to offer color and shine for up to 6 hours, while SPF 15 protects your pout. The luxurious formula with vitamins A, C & E and sea kale revitalizes and nourishes lips.
Fresh Sugar Lip Collection, SPF 15 The formula is enriched with sugar, a natural humectant that prevents moisture loss, a blend of nourishing oils and protective waxes, and antioxidant-rich vitamins. It is meant to provide essential year-round protection from UV rays.
Which other SPF skin care or beauty products do you use or would you recommend?
Disclaimer:Glamour Gone Good, Inc. does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services. The views and opinions of authors expressed on this blog do not necessarily represent those of Glamour Gone Good, Inc. and they may not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
May is always such an exciting time of year. The air smells sweeter, the sun feels warmer, flowers are blooming and we know that summer is just around the corner. As we make our summer plans, we often think about the fun stuff like where we want to go on vacation, which bikini we want to wear when we head to the beach for the first time, or which new pair of sandals we want to debut at the season’s first rooftop party.
There’s one more thing we always need to remember when thinking about all of this fun in the sun…sun safety. May is rather appropriately Skin Cancer Awareness Month and, for those of us not living in warmer climates, May is when we start spending more time outdoors. So, Glamour Gone Good has thought of some helpful tips to help keep your skin safe while having fun in the sun.
1. Protect Your Eyes with Sunglasses & Wide Brimmed Hats
Everyone, including children, is at risk from eye damage due to too much exposure from UV radiation. Some of the worst case scenarios can include skin cancer of the eyelids, cataract, and photokeratitis (corneal sunburn).
Wearing a wide brimmed hat along with a protective pair of sunglasses is your best protection from eye damage. Plus, it looks so chic! When selecting a pair of sunglasses, consider a pair that is certified to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, decreases visible light, and reduces glares to a comfortable level.
2. Protect Your Body with UPF Clothing and/or an Umbrella
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, clothes can protect your skin against the sun's harmful UV rays, but not all clothing is created equal. The tightness of the weave, the weight, type of fiber, color and amount of skin covered all affect the amount of protection they provide. Look for clothes that are made of tightly woven fabric or, better yet, clearly labeled as UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) clothing.
If you’re on the beach or somewhere outdoors, without much clothing on to protect your skin, bring an umbrella as a great alternative to provide you with shade.
3. Use Sunscreen Regularly and Liberally
Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sunburn and some skin cancers, but only if used correctly. Use it regularly and liberally when outside during the daytime, even if it’s not too sunny out. Always be sure to read the labels and apply accordingly.
Some quick tips to keep in mind when selecting the right sunscreen for you:
* Use a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum” on the label (this will screen out both UVB and UVA rays)
* Use a sunscreen with an SPF between 15 and 50 (between SPF 30 and 50 for the beach and pool)
* Look for the new UVA “star” rating system on the label
*Look for zinc or titanium oxide as key ingredients and avoid suspected skin carcinogens like oxybenzone or retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A)
GREAT NEWS! Our contest has been extended by one week, now ending on Monday, May 16th!
In celebration of Mother’s Day, Glamour Gone Good is paying tribute to the women who have raised us, guided us, inspired us – our mothers – by hosting a Twitter contest to #CelebrateMom while raising awareness for women’s heart health.
Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, but it doesn’t have to be.
Starting Monday, May 2nd, anyone that follows @GlamourGoneGood and @sisterhearts on Twitter and tweets: Follow @GlamourGoneGood and @sisterhearts to #CelebrateMom & make sure her heart's healthy. RT to #win beauty prizes! http://bit.ly/lf5hfw will automatically be entered to win a complimentary package full of beauty products, generously donated by beauty blogger, Chrissy Callahan.
Tweet: Follow @GlamourGoneGood and @sisterhearts to #CelebrateMom & make sure her heart's healthy. RT to #win beauty prizes! http://bit.ly/lf5hfw
The gift package includes the following beauty products: * Dream Angels desire Angel Mist by Victoria’s Secret (8.4 fl. oz.) * Forever Orchid Shower Gel by Mary Kay (6.5 fl. oz.) * Glorious Skin Visible Lifting Tensor Mask by Comfort Zone (1.60 fl. oz.) * Shea Cashmere Hand Cream by Bath & Body Works, Secret Wonderland Collection (2.5 oz.) * Flirt! Rock-N-Rebel Lipgloss, Rockin’ Pink color (.3 fl. oz.)
The winner will be announced via Twitter on Monday, May 16, 2011 (we've extended it by one week!).
Rules: The contest is open to any U.S. resident with a Twitter account. The winner will be picked at random on May 16, 2011 from tweets and announced via twitter tweets and a direct message to the winner. If a winner does not answer and claim the prize within 7 days, another winner will be picked at random.
Founded in 1999 by women’s health advocate Irene Pollin, the Sister to Sister Foundation is dedicated to preventing heart disease in women.
But why does Sister to Sister focus on women? These are some heart disease facts that every woman should know, as well as the men who love them.
1. Each year, significantly more women than men die from heart disease and stroke. Lack of knowledge amongst the public that the largest healthcare threat to women is heart disease allows it to claim many lives that could have been otherwise spared.
2. 80% of women ages 40 to 60 have one or more heart disease risk factors that can be controlled or reduced. Risk factors that can be controlled include salt intake, smoking, high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels or low HDL (“good”) levels, high blood pressure, obesity, physical inactivity, uncontrolled diabetes and high stress levels.
3. Women are far less likely than men to be tested or treated for heart disease in a timely manner. Women who are at risk for cardiovascular disease are often not referred for diagnostic testing that would be standard in men.
4. Women have more heart attacks that go unrecognized, more repeat heart attacks, and greater risk of stroke after heart attack. Physicians may under-evaluate and treat women because they don’t appear to be as high-risk as a man, especially if they are young and “appear healthy” with a slender build.
5. Women don’t know that heart attack symptoms may be different than in men. Women are more likely to feel shortness of breath, fatigue, abdominal pressure, nausea or heartburn, or jaw, neck, back, or upper shoulder pain. Call 911 if you think you are having any of these symptoms, and do not hesitate for a minute when calling for help. Trust your intuition that something is “not right” and do not be concerned about looking foolish or “bothering” anyone. And do not drive yourself to the hospital. You can be attended to while riding in an ambulance, and every minute counts when diagnosing and treating a heart attack.
Whether you think volunteering isn’t for you, or you’re already involved and want to do more, there are so many other ways to give back with a few simple clicks of your mouse. Yep, online shopping is easy, fun…and it just got even better with these fashionable picks that give back to support those who need it most.
The Somaly Mam Foundation sells products made by sex trafficking and slavery survivors, and the profit goes right back to the cause: raising awareness, building shelters and helping those still in crisis. The Silk Empowerment Necklace ($25) is beautiful and unique, just like the survivors who crafted it.
You may already know all about NEST and the amazing handmade goods that women around the world have created. This spring, pack up for a picnic using the Raquel Tote ($10), a fashionable way to support a female entrepreneur’s success.
Make a purchase through UNICEF’s store and the profits will do children in need a world of good. Handmade in India, the Wool & Silk Wrap ($50) features a bright, multi-colored pattern, and is bound to become your go-to spring accessory.
Do you buy products that donate to charities? What have you purchased that went to a good cause? What do you think of our picks? How do you choose to volunteer your time?
About the Author Sheckys.com lets you share your man's mystifying moments, get easy tips for the healthiest and happiest you, discover our Girls Night Out events and more, all while earning OMG Points toward free goodies!
Every year, Earth Day is celebrated around the world on April 22nd. This year, Earth Day is themed after A Billion Acts of Green: a people-powered campaign to generate a billion acts of environmental service and advocacy before Rio +20. (For more info, visit www.earthday.org.)
In celebration of Earth Day 2011, Glamour Gone Good is giving you a taste of how the glamorous worlds of beauty and fashion are going green. While Earth Day is a great time of year to think about how to minimize our individual carbon footprints, these innovative brands are helping us live more eco-friendly lives 365 days a year.
Spa Ritual® Dedicated to the spa tradition, SpaRitual is committed to creating eco-friendly products. They use Vegan ingredients from around the world, including many specially sourced and selected plant essences that are wildcrafted OR organic. The formulations are naturally colored and free of synthetic dyes. SpaRitual is constantly monitoring sustainability issues and strives to be on the cutting edge of environmental awareness. To learn more, visit www.sparitual.com.
Advanced Cosmetic Technologies This hair color brand celebrates itself as being the only PPD-free, 100% plant-based permanent hair color available. They use no PPD, ammonia or resorcinol and their plant-based dyes are all-natural, not synthetic like other hair color brands. Made from renewable and sustainable ingredients, they have an ultra-low environmental impact. To learn more, visit www.actnaturals.com.
Revolution Organic Cosmetics This line of organic cosmetic products chooses only certified organic plant-based ingredients that meet the rigorous standards of the USDA to ensure the integrity and purity of its products. Each ingredient is carefully selected for their skin benefiting properties and all of its formulations combine highly concentrated blends of nourishing organic butters, oils, herbs and certified organic perfume blends. Revolution Organic Cosmetics considers itself ‘revolutionary’ because its products are all multi-tasking. They do more so you can use less. To learn more, visit www.revolutionorganics.com.
derma e® derma e celebrates itself as a pioneer in the development of natural antioxidant formulations and as the leading innovator of natural topical antioxidant moisturizers and anti-aging skin care products to increase hydration to your skin, help reduce the damaging effects of aging, and improve your skin’s texture and appearance. Currently, derma e offers a full line of natural, therapeutic skin and hair care formulations rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and botanicals. To learn more, visit www.dermae.net.
reco jeans® reco jeans promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle by introducing a green line of denim that minimizes the use of fresh cotton and that reduces the amount of excess fabric that would end up in a landfill. Cotton is delicate, soft, and fuzzy and yet it is hazardous to the environment.
Did you know more than 20% of the entire world’s pesticide usage in a year is used to maintain cotton? Recycled cotton and other materials do not use pesticides and minimizes excess fabrics which would normally end up in a landfill. reco jeans prides itself in reducing that amount by nearly 60%. To learn more, visit www.recojeans.com.
Are there any other brands you would add to this list?
She’s the First is a not-for-profit organization that funds education sponsorships for girls in the developing world. In most cases, a girl who benefits from She’s the First will be the first female in her family to graduate from secondary school. In a world where 70 percent of out-of-school youth are girls, She’s the First is taking immediate action to ensure a future of universal education that will put an end to global poverty.
As a Millennial-led not-for-profit, She’s the First attracts a core audience born between 1980 and 1995, whose relatively small donations stretch far to make a huge difference. The cost of a year’s sponsorship can be as low as $80, but averages $200 to $300 a year.
She’s the First hosts two marquee events each year, the GIRLS WHO ROCK benefit concert and the She’s the First Soiree in New York City. Beyond events, She’s the First is a storytelling platform, where people see the efforts that make a sponsorship possible, and then see how it impacts a girl. She’s the First is a brand that is personally relatable: Women celebrate the achievement that makes them a first, attribute it to their education, and then have an intense desire to pay it forward by giving another girl her opportunity.
In 2010, She's the First raised more than $13,500 to sponsor at least 37 girls for one year!
To help She’s the First continue its amazing work to empower girls around the world, Glamour Gone Good will donate $1 to She’s the First for every new follower @GlamourGoneGood gets between March 29th and April 12th.*
PLUS: Every @GlamourGoneGood Twitter follower who completes this tweet: “I am the first…” will be entered to win a free gift from Glamour Gone Good that includes the following Bath & Body Works products:
Cucumber Melon Eau de Toilette (1.7 oz.)
Magnolia Blossom Body Lotion (8 oz.)
Coconut Lime Verbana Bubble Bath (10 oz.)
Follow @GlamourGoneGood and tell us what you’re the first to do!
* As of March 29, 2011, Glamour Gone Good has 2,044 followers. The maximum donation Glamour Gone Good will make to She’s the First during this promotion is $500.
Rules: The free gift is available to any U.S. resident with a Twitter account. The winner of the free gift will be picked at random from re-tweets and announced via twitter tweets and a direct message to the winner. If a winner does not answer and claim the free gift within 7 days, another winner will be picked at random.
Did you know that March is Women's History Month and that March 8th is International Women's Day? And, it just so happens that this year marks the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day.
If you're not familiar with International Women's Day, here's the scoop: Each year, International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur on this day and throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organizations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues. The United Nations has declared 2011's theme: Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women
In honor of International Women's Day, Glamour Gone Good is paying tribute to the women who helped launch and continue to nurture its growth by hosting a Twitter contest to #CelebrateWomen.
Starting March 8, 2011, anyone that follows @GlamourGoneGood on Twitter and re-tweets:Follow @GlamourGoneGood to celebrate women & enter to #win a Bath&Body Works gift basket. RT to win! http://bit.ly/he6KyQ #CelebrateWomenwill automatically be entered to win a complimentary gift package full of Bath & Body Works products, generously donated by beauty blogger, Chrissy Callahan.
Tweet: Follow @GlamourGoneGood to celebrate women & enter to #win a Bath&Body Works gift basket. RT to win! http://bit.ly/he6KyQ #CelebrateWomen
The gift package includes the following Bath & Body Works products: * Chocolate Escape 3-in-1 Body Wash, Bubble Bath & Shampoo * Secret Wonderland Sensual Swirl Body Lotion * Temptations Vanilla Ice Cream Body Splash * Liplicious Cupcakes Pink Chiffon Lip Gloss
The winner will be announced via Twitter on March 16, 2011.
NOTE: The #CelebrateWomen giveaway contest has officially closed. Thanks to all those who participated.
Rules: The contest is open to any U.S. resident with a Twitter account. The winner will be picked at random from re-tweets and announced via twitter tweets and a direct message to the winner. If a winner does not answer and claim the prize within 7 days, another winner will be picked at random.
Soulful Songwriters, Citizens Storming Capitol Hill for Change and a Twitter Celebrity Auction Highlight CARE's Celebration of the Accomplishments of Women and Girls Around the World
The Empire State Building will glow orange for one night. Concertgoers will gather to hear Grammy winner India.Arie, hitmaker Michael Franti and others perform a tribute. Twitter users will participate in a TwitChange celebrity auction. More than a thousand people will descend on Capitol Hill to demand a better world for millions of marginalized women and girls around the globe.
And that's just a taste of what's planned in honor of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day through CARE, a leading humanitarian organization that fights poverty by empowering girls and women.
International Women's Day (March 8) is a time to recognize the political, economic and social achievements of women past, present and future. It also serves as a reminder of inequities that remain. And it is the growing movement to close that gap that will take center stage this March as people across the United States recognize this historic occasion.
"We are so excited about CARE's International Women's Day celebration this year," said CARE President and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle. "Not only will we honor the accomplishments of girls and women during the past century, but everything we do will be designed to inspire others to act on their behalf."
On March 8, CARE will kick off its annual conference in Washington D.C. with a tribute concert by recording artists India.Arie, Michael Franti, American idol alum Crystal Bowersox and, in an exclusive U.S. premier performance, Idan Raichel. Here CARE also will unveil a first-of-its-kind report entitled, "The Top 10 Myths About Women & the Heroes Who Bust Them," which identifies some of the most prominent myths about girls and women and sets the record straight through facts, figures and remarkable stories of mythbusters.
On March 9-10, the conference will unite more than a thousand advocates at the Washington Hilton to discuss pressing global poverty issues, such as the importance of foreign assistance, quality education for girls and economic opportunities for women. Conference participants will hear from notables such as: CARE's Dr. Gayle; Melinda Gates, co-chair and trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Former First Lady Laura Bush; and Judy Woodruff of PBS' NewsHour. Advocates will then head to Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and take an active role in influencing U.S. policy to improve the lives of millions of vulnerable women and girls around the world.
CARE's partners also are using the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day to inspire others to improve the lives of women globally. CARE is joining forces with TwitChange in an online auction to generate interest – and dollars – for CARE. Fans will bid on the chance to be followed, mentioned or retweeted on Twitter by their favorite celebrities. The auction will run from March 2-12, 2011.
CARE is working with Vivanista, a charitable fundraising resource, and Sprinkles Cupcakes to spark a movement during the month of March, encouraging people everywhere to host Parties For A Purpose™ that raise awareness and funds for CARE. Party hosts can download a simple digital toolkit, containing fun party ideas; trivia and discussion questions, a social media guide and Sprinkles Cupcakes signature recipes. In addition to contributing a portion of cupcake and mix sales to CARE, the first 50 people to sign-up to organize a party using Meetup will receive a free gift from Sprinkles Cupcakes.
There will be gifts too. Packages, actually. CARE is planning a special announcement: A modern twist on the original CARE Packages that defined CARE's early years and grew into a symbol of American generosity.
And shining like a giant candle amid the celebration will be the Empire State Building. The evening of March 8, New Yorkers will see it lit in orange — CARE's signature color — in honor of International Women's Day.
To join CARE's International Women's Day activities, visit www.care.org.
About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve education, health and economic opportunity. To learn more, visit www.care.org.
As we all know, the holidays are the time of year for friends and family to gather 'round and celebrate the blessings that life has bestowed upon us. As we prepare to ring in 2011 and make our New Year's resolutions, it's important to remember those less fortunate than us...our neighbors who are currently unemployed and struggling to put food on the table for their children, or working under horrific and abusive conditions, or stuck in hospital beds instead of in the warmth of their homes.
No matter how much or how little we have, there's always something we can do to help.
Dress for Success Worldwide promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. To date, it has helped over 500,000 women work towards self-sufficiency.
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS) helps young women and girls, ages 12-21, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and to develop to their full potential.
Sister to Sister: The Women's Heart Health Foundation is dedicated to preventing heart disease in women. Its services include free cardiac screenings for early detection and treatment, and promoting healthy lifestyle changes that can reduce heart disease risk dramatically.
Rules and restrictions: The contest is open to any U.S. resident. Only those individuals who send in a contribution totaling $25 or more to Glamour Gone Good, Inc. on or before January 2, 2011 will be eligible for the prize, which includes one round-trip flight on JetBlue Airways, redeemable by December 31, 2011 wherever JetBlue flies. Individuals may increase their chances of winning by donating in multiples of $25. For example, a person who donates $100 will be entered into the contest four times. One winner will be chosen at random by Glamour Gone Good, Inc. and will be contacted privately in writing by January 31, 2011. If a winner does not answer and claim the prize within 14 days, another winner will be picked at random.
Donations may be submitted by credit card here or mailed by check to Glamour Gone Good, Inc. 831 Beacon Street, Suite 192, Newton, MA 02459.
Fundraising is the new black, at least in the creative world of the high-fashion industry. Do-good fashionistas out there are working out their passions with style.
At Vivanista, we can all learn from some of the world’s most fashionable philanthropists. Here are the top five role models we can all look up to:
1. Stella McCartney
Last year, Stella McCartney designed a , tailor-made fair-trade T-shirt for the 23rd annual Comic Relief on the British extravaganza Red Nose Day. The comical day is dedicated for people to laugh out loud while raising money to help those in need across the UK and Africa.
For the project, McCartney turned to other fabulous stars for collaboration, including Claudia Schiffer, Keira Knightley, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The T-shirt also featured father Sir Paul McCartney’s The Beatles logo, imprinted with cute red noses on the happy faces of the band members.
The McCartney family’s respect for nature and vegetarianism founded the Meat Free Mondays, an organization that helps promote environmentally friendly eating habit to protect the planet. This has fostered Stella’s founding beliefs of her individual fashion sense – no fur, no leather (Shop: www.stellamccartney.com), and won her the Natural Resources Defence Council in March 2009. “The beliefs I was raised with – to respect animals and to be aware of nature, to understand that we share this planet with other creatures – have had a huge impact on me,” said Stella to The Guardian.
Recently, her L.A. retail store has inspired like-minded do-gooder celebrity Ali Carter, who hosted her own fundraising event at her store on November 12 last week. The eco-friendly (and fashionable!) cooking event benefits Project Peanut Butter, a movement to help malnourished children all around the world.
On the eve of the 2009 London Fashion Week, McCartney also donated a generous amount of 100,000 pounds for the new site of Central Saint Martin’s fashion school. Upon her graduation from the prestigious school in 1995, she made her debut fashion show, which included supermodels Kate Moss, Yasmin Le Bon, and Naomi Campbell. The half-built building is to be completed in 2011.
2. Donnatella Versace
Another reputable graduate from the same school is none other than Donatella Versace, who recently just raised £20,000 for the Central Saint Martin’s 20:20 Fashion Fund from the celebrity dinner she launched on November 11last week. The fund is aiming to provide new equipments and resources for helping educate the next generation of CSM. “I’ve been watching these students – and recruiting them. This is the greatest fashion school in the world,” she told WWD.
Early this year, the legendary fashion icon has also hosted the 2nd annual Art of Elysium “Bright Lights” bash at Milk Studios in New York while relaunching her VERSUS line since its first launch in the 1990s. Versace brightened up the night with an exclusive performance of “American Boy” by Estelle, along with guest-celebrities such as the Olsen twins, supermodel Karolina Kurkova, and fourth season Project Runway winner Christian Siriano attended the event on April 30th, and together raised money for the Art of Elysium workshops, which provides encouraging activities for ill children to embrace their creativity, despite suffering from medical conditions.
In July 2009, Versace has led an art workshop for kids to design a bag for Versace. That would become the unique tote created by 500 children from Starlight Children’s Foundation and 900 from One Foundation, teaming up with co-founder actor Jet Li to fundraise for the Arts Unites program, a global initiative benefiting the needy children in US and China. As the co-chair of the Whitney Museum of American Art, she drove the Arts Unites initiative to inspire these children to become emerging artists. “Versace has always been connected to art,” she told USAToday.
3. Naomi Campbell
After appearing on numerous catwalks worldwide since Stella McCartney’s graduation, supermodel Naomi Campbell recently hosted her own charitable fashion show during London Fashion Week, the Fashion for Relief Haiti, on February 12 this year to help relief the Haiti earthquake.
“I am deeply saddened by the recent tragedy in Haiti. So many have been killed and severely affected by the earthquake – women and children in particular are most vulnerable in disasters,” she told the Daily Star. She sought help from buddies including Malin Akerman, Chris Brown, and Estelle to make it happen. Upon her initiative for the fashion show, she also worked together with luxury car company Lotus to design its 8th special edition cars called Naomi for Haiti.
In 2007, the supermodel has also strutted her philanthropic style on a fundraising catwalk event held at the Natural History Museum in London. Organized by the Rotary Club of Great Britain, the fashion show included designs by reputable designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Dolce & Gabbana, and the proceeds from the night went to the Rotary Flood Disaster Appeal that benefits the floods in UK during the month of July that year.
“I think this is an important opportunity to really show what the fashion community can do to help others,” Campbell says. She now owns Fashion For Relief, the fundraising agency that hosts charitable auctions to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
4. Gisele Bundchen
As Naomi Campbell noted “the last supermodel” of the generation and often referred to as “the body”, Gisele Bundchen has not only been the highest-paid model of the century, but has also helped numerous projects promoting environmental causes. Just this January, she has donated $1,500,000 to relief the Haiti earthquake. Along with many contributions, such as the fundraiser campaign of celebrity-autographed iPods in 2009 benefiting the Hurricane Katrina relief, one of the most notable projects is the reforestation created by NGO in 2004, where the newly-grown Brazilian Atlantic forest will be covering lands up to 15 hectares and called the Gisele Bundchen Sementes.
With tremendous profits from a 15-year history of successful modeling career and her own businesses, eco-friendly skincare line Sejaa and Brazilian sandals Ipanema Gisele Bundchen, the face of ‘Earth Mother’ has recently donated a huge amount of $50,000 on her own for the 8th Annual Brazil Foundation gala at the Met in September, which had a set goal of $2 million. Thanks to Bundchen and her auctioned Calvin Klein gown for the night, the evening was more than successful. In that same week, she has also stopped by the Museum of Natural History for the UN Millennium Goal Summit, where she was designated as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environmental Programme.
5. Donna Karan
Following the 2010 presidential campaign, the legendary DKNY designer Donna Karan has collaborated with Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker, hosting a Democratic fundraiser last month to raise money for the First Lady at her penthouse at Central Park West New York on October 18th.
Early this year during the Mercedez Benz Fashion Week that opened on February 11, Karan also hosted the Hope Help & Relief Haiti (HHRH) event, “A Night of Humanity”, an auction event that raised over $1,000,000 and brought together industries ranging from the arts, fashion, and entertainment at the Urban Zen Center. As founder of the Urban Zen Foundation, Karan’s aim for the HHRH movement was to raise funds for creating a new, sustainable community in Haiti.
A healthy woman who knows how to take care of herself, she also hosted a yoga fundraising event on September 29, where supermodel Christy Turlington and fellow designer Lauren Bush attended to benefit the Women for Women International, which was founded to help rebuild women’s lives from war-torn countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
Like Stella McCartney, she has also Promoted her passions on giving back to the community through designing T-shirts for the Urban Zen collection.10% of each purchase would be donated to the foundation and help empower children, promote well-being, and cultural preservation.
About the Author: Vivanista is a member-based, lifestyle community for fundraising volunteers. Sharing of unique insights, expert tips and a spirit of giving empowers members to improve their own lives and the lives of others.
The holiday season is in full swing and businesses everywhere are looking to boost their end-of-year sales by offering all kinds of discounts and special offers. While many are ruthless in their attempts to gain customers (starting with 4AM Black Friday sales and countless items on clearance), others take a more inventive and even altruistic approach. After all, 'tis the season of giving. So, why shouldn't the companies taking our money also give a little, too?
Glamour Gone Good has had the good fortune of developing a wonderful relationship with Spa Week, a lifestyle brand delivering a robust spa directory, hundreds of spa deals and spa discounts, news and more all year-round.
What makes Spa Week so successful is its approach to marketing, which allows it to develop one-on-one relationships with its target audience. With a powerful online presence, it has successfully harnessed the power of social media to transform its audience into individual ambassadors of the Spa Week brand. And, now, it’s even discovered a way to integrate charitable giving into its online marketing strategy, further engaging its loyal consumer base while also attracting new consumers.
Take a look at the three-step process it has developed for the campaign, which is ultimately meant to encourage SPA gift card sales.
GIVE: With the mission of spreading health, beauty and wellness lifestyle to the next generation, Spa Week’s Holiday Gift Card Sale offers $100 SPA Gift Cards for just $79.99. All other denominations are 20% off – you won’t find this deal anywhere else! SPA Cards are redeemable 52 weeks a year at thousands of day spas, medical spas, salons and wellness centers nationwide for massages, facials, scrubs, pedicures, acupuncture and more, and they never expire.
GIVE BACK: For every new @SPAWEEK Twitter follower we get from now until the end of 2010, Spa Week will donate 10 cents to Glamour Gone Good. Right now we’re at: 8,799.
We chose this organization because we absolutely love their concept, as well as the 3 women’s causes they support. GGG encourages beauty, fashion, salon and spa businesses to integrate charity into their everyday business by giving them fun and easy ways to give back to women in need, even if they don’t have much to give.
TWEET: SPA-liday Gift Card Sale from @SPAWEEK! Follow them to #GiveBack to women in need, and Tweet to Win a $100 SPA Gift Card. http://ow.ly/3gSns
Every Tweet will count as one entry to win a $100 SPA Gift Card from SpaWeek, redeemable all year around for massages, facials and so much more. Contest Ends December 31st at 11:59 EST. Winner drawn and announced on this blog post on January 3rd.
This Spa Week campaign is a huge hit for the following reasons:
It offers a substantial discount on its holiday gift cards.
It has developed a catchy Twitter campaign to promote its gift cards.
It has integrated a brand-appropriate charity into its Twitter campaign, allowing its audience to engage in charitable giving activities while learning about Spa Week’s gift card promotion.
It is offering a free giveaway to further entice its audience to participate in its Twitter campaign, which both raises funds for charity and promotes its holiday gift card sale.
Key take-aways for other brands?
DEALS: Customers want more than just sales and discounts (but they always want those, too!).
DONATE: Tie a suitable charitable partner into your promotion. Customers want to feel good about their purchase and this is an easy way to give them that sense of satisfaction.
FREE GIVEAWAYS: Offer the chance to win something valuable (pick an item to which you want to draw extra attention) and find the appropriate platform from which to promote your contest or sweepstakes.
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