Typically, I provide you with a list of companies that contribute funds to breast cancer research, but this year I’m doing something different. I want to talk about avoiding pink-washing and urge you to go a little deeper in your support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This October, I encourage you to take the extra time to support brands owned by breast cancer survivors. Why? Because running a small business is hard enough—running a small business after cancer is a whole different challenge. Most of us survivors had to rethink everything: how to balance business finances, pay for our health insurance (which isn’t cheap!), and save for the unknown. We don’t have the backing of large corporations or VC funds (you know, the ones pushing pink trash cans or socks in October). What we do have is heart and a mission to make a difference, often creating products that help ease the cancer journey for those coming behind us.
As a small business owner and breast cancer survivor, my brand is deeply personal. It’s not just about selling skincare—it’s about creating clean, effective products that are safe for people who, like me, have undergone breast cancer treatments or have sensitive or menopausal skin, again like me! I’ve chosen to keep my business small, focusing on getting products directly into the hands of cancer patients rather than pouring money into big marketing campaigns. This can be tough when competing against the industry giants and larger conglomerates that dominate shelf space. When you purchase from my brand, you’re purchasing from me, a survivor, sometimes menopausal mess and a woman with a mission: to provide healing, empowering skincare to those who need it most.
This past year has been incredibly challenging for small businesses like mine. Rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and a tough economy have tested my resilience in ways I never expected. Staying afloat as a small, survivor-owned brand relies heavily on loyal customers like you. We don’t have massive budgets for marketing or endless resources. We have passion, perseverance, and a deep commitment to creating products that matter.
I’ve learned that life doesn’t give you a pass on hardship just because you’ve survived cancer. In fact, this past year has been filled with its own personal and business challenges: navigating personal loss, making difficult financial decisions, and finding ways to keep my business alive amidst a tough economy. Yet through it all, I’ve found moments of joy and have learned to embrace the chaos.
I’m incredibly grateful for the journey I’ve been on and the lessons it has taught me. But this is also a call to action. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, rather than buying into the pink-washed campaigns of big corporations, I ask that you support businesses with a deeper mission. Small businesses owned by survivors understand resilience and determination like no one else. When you shop with us, you’re not just purchasing a product—you’re investing in our ongoing fight to thrive.
Supporting small, survivor-owned businesses makes a real impact. We’re not here for global domination or massive expansion. We’re here because we believe in what we do, and we’ve built our brands with purpose and care. It’s not easy, but with your help, we can continue to grow and flourish.
This year, I invite you to not only celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month but to actively support small businesses owned by breast cancer survivors. We’re survivors, yes—but we’re also entrepreneurs, dreamers, and fighters. And with your support, we’ll continue to rise.
Let’s keep going on this journey together—one skincare product at a time. Thank you for your continued support. It means more than you know.
