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These beauty brands are giving new meaning to beauty inside and out

From sustainability to female empowerment, these five beauty brands are ensuring a better (and more beautiful) world through advocating worthwhile causes. 

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1. Lancôme

Perhaps one of Lancôme's best-known advocacies is promoting female literacy. Alongside NGO Care, Lancôme's Write Her Future programme helps women by giving them access to literacy, mentorship and entrepreneurship opportunities. Over 32,000 women in 14 countries across the world have participated and many more are likely inspired by such opportunities. 

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2. Guerlain

The bee has always been a significant hallmark for Guerlain: as such, the luxury brand has promised to lend its support to protect these hardworking creatures. Most notably, their Women For Bees Programme (for which they have partnered with UNESCO) saw the graduation of eight female beekeepers this July 2021. Guerlain has also continued to map out the goals for their advocacy, which includes training 50 more female beekeepers, establishing 2,500 hives in 25 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, and ensuring the health of 125 million bees, all by 2025. This collective effort, while beneficial for a beauty brand, also stands as a commitment to help preserve nature for collective benefit. 

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3. La Mer

Unsurprisingly, beauty brand La Mer finds its philanthropic cause in protecting its namesake: the sea. Since 2012, the La Mer Blue Heart Oceans Fund has been supporting ocean conservation through a variety of projects. They've worked with National Geographic Society, as well as other advocates to champion research and initiatives geared towards empowering the youth, spreading awareness, and protecting the mangroves. 

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4. Aveda

Aveda recently made the announcement that they were transitioning into becoming a fully vegan brand; this is in line with their promise to be cruelty-free. But aside from that, the brand also commits to other advocacies such as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every October, Aveda releases a limited edition hand creme. Through these sales, profits are donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Aveda also shares a close relationship with the Brazilian Yawanawa tribe, who helps the brand source urukum seeds. Together, both parties have supported each other, with Aveda helping to strengthen and reestablish Yawanawa culture through a published book and cultural awareness. Aveda also provides the tribe with support towards educational assistance, malaria treatment, sustainable farming practices, and modernisation of their river transportation. 

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5. CHANEL

Through Fondation CHANEL, the French luxury beauty brand is able to support and empower women and adolescent girls as "agents of change in society". The foundation focuses on addressing issues of discrimination and abuse against women, working hand in hand with nonprofit organisations, social enterprises, and individuals to promote equality and inclusion for women. Most recently, their partnership with The Global Fund has helped strengthen female engagement healthcare across African territories such as Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Côte d’Ivoire. 

The Fondation is open to unsolicited proposals and hopes to extend its support to individuals, religious organisations, and the like. 

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