As regular readers know, we are huge fans of UNE Makeup, probably the chic-est natural make-up brand around, which happens to be Ecocert-certified. But UNE's new initiative won't just put a smile on your lips: it'll help to educate women in the Cameroon, where 35% are illiterate. (Educating girls is of course crucial, for pushing forward women's rights and reducing poverty.)
For every lip balm bought, £1 will be donated via Plan International, a well-established charity working in developing countries. By 2013, over 3,500 girls under 15 will benefit from the project.
So: you get lovely soft lips, with a nourishing balm that promises four hours of moisturisation thanks to its blend of shea butter, organic jojoba oil, beeswax and candelilla wax. (We like the fact it's clear and can be layered over lipstick for a soft sheen, and we're rather keen on the subtle tomato leaf scent, too.)
Young women in Cameroon, meanwhile, get an education.
That's a rather beautiful trade-off, we'd say.
PS To mark this collabotation, UNE is running a competition to win a year's supply of make-up - click here to enter on the Plan International site
UNE Fund-raising Lip Balm is priced £5.99 and you can find it here
UNE's website is www.unebeauty.com, or click here
