The lipstick that raised $500 mn over the past 25 yrs to fight AIDS

MAC Viva Glam has a philanthropic and beauty legacy unmatched by many a mightier consumer product

Every very good makeup artist knows that the smallest touches can make a world of difference.

For the past 25 years, MAC Cosmetics has been selling its Viva Glam lipstick to raise money for the fight against HIV and AIDS. The subsidiary of Estee Lauder sells the $18.50 lipstick in a mere three shades —bluish-red, pinkish-beige, and brownish-plum — but donates 100 per cent of the proceeds to the cause. Each year, those tiny wands of colour generate from $20 million to $30 million; to date, the campaign has raised more than $500 million. The MAC Viva Glam Fund