Benefit and M.A.C announce partnership for women’s health

On a mission to promote reproductive health, both Benefit Cosmetics and M.A.C have announced partnerships with Planned Parenthood.

First, Benefit revealed Planned Parenthood as the newest nonprofit partner for its Bold Is Beautiful Project, the company’s women’s empowerment initiative that has raised more than $16 million globally since 2015.

Throughout May, Benefit will donate 100 per cent of its brow wax proceeds to its Bold Is Beautiful partners, which include Look Good Feel Better, Dress for Success, Girls Inc., Step Up, The Princess Project and now, Planned Parenthood.

“We were going to do this regardless of whether M.A.C did it or not,” said Benefit Americas general manager, Alfred Stillman, noting that Benefit and M.A.C approached Planned Parenthood independently of one another. “We felt we would be stronger together. We’re thrilled that M.A.C did the same thing we did at the same time.”

M.A.C has been funding Planned Parenthood since 2008, according to M.A.C AIDS Fund chairman and executive group president of the Estée Lauder Companies, John Demsey.

Over the past 11 years, M.A.C has donated a total of $1.6 million to Planned Parenthood, and now the beauty giant is pledging 100 per cent of proceeds from its Viva Glam lipsticks to its Viva Glam efforts and $500,000 of the donations to Planned Parenthood over two years.

That money will be used to educate young people on sexual health and relationships and to expand Planned Parenthood’s chat/text program and Roo, the organisation’s sexual health chatbot.

“We believe strongly at the core equity of our brand that we have a social responsibility and a belief in social justice that we need to and want to support organisations that help people make the right decisions and live their best lives,” said Demsey. “Through public and private business and government partnerships, that’s how you make an impact on the world. That’s why we’re here.”

Benefit and M.A.C are Planned Parenthood’s first official beauty partners.

Image courtesy of Refinery29.