Breast Cancer Month: a shopper's guide

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and shops are bursting with pink things you can buy to help raise money for the cause. Literally thousands of products are donating money to breast cancer charities whenever you buy. With one out of every nine women still being diagnosed with breast cancer, it's something that affects most of us at some time or another. But not every product gives equally to charities, and all those pink choices can leave you a bit red-eyed.

We've taken the hassle off the high street, by trudging dutifully in and out of boutiques to find you the pick of the crop that give a healthy chunk of their profits to charities. Here are our faves.

Shine on
Spread this month's most important message with sparkle by wearing Breast Cancer Care's snazzy glitter pin. Or simply download a virtual image of one, zap it onto your mobile phone and save lives with your screensaver. Pins are available for a £1 donation throughout October from Dorothy Perkins, Faith Shoes, Interflora florists, Mothercare, Nationwide Building Society and the Slug and Lettuce, among others. Pin badges and wristbands are available at Asda and Boots. Screensavers are available at www.breastcancercare for a £1.50 donation that will go to BCC plus the cost of a regular text message.

Sweet success
To perfume aficionados Sarah Jessica Parker's fragrance 'Lovely' is a blend of lavender, orchid and white amber with top notes of mandarin and apple martini. To the rest of us it's a fab new variety of the stuff that makes us smell good. £5 from every £22.50 30ml bottle of Eau de Parfum will go to Breast Cancer Campaign. Available at Debenhams.

One step forward
London's glitterati have been bringing placky boots into vogue and stomping all round town in theirs. Give your green Hunters a holiday and step out in Asda's Tickled Pink variety, splashed with ribbons and hot pink. All of the profit from the £10 wellies is split equally between Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Campaign.

Spread the warmth
Snuggle up for winter while helping Britain's best girly cause with Burberry's softest scrummiest scarf ever. It costs £125 and is available exclusively at Selfridges. Thirty per cent of the price will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Charity chocolate
You couldn't find a better reason to forget the diet. Now Asda have made scoffing chocy cake mean you're helping a good cause, there's no excuse not to tuck into their mouth-watering gooey layer cake. All profits from the £2.98 will be split equally between Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Campaign.

Think pinkie
Madame Tussauds and a host of celebs will be showing their support by adorning their waxworks with Cancer Research UK's pinkie rings. 'The Pinkie,' the new must have 'bling' accessory for the season is a pink ring engraved with the message 'All Women Together'. There's a suggested donation of £1 per pack of three different sizes (so one fits all). Available at Cancer Research UK shops.

Rose-tinted future
Pretty in pink, these special glasses from Specsavers have been made to give you and women everywhere a brilliant vision of a brighter future. They cost £10 and all the proceeds go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Target breast cancer
Toby Pimlico is famous for its designer t-shirts, emblazoned with cheeky, flirty slogans. It's a favourite with leading celebrity style icons across the globe. That's exactly why you wont want to miss out on his limited edition Fashion Targets Breast Cancer T-shirts. Available at at www.fashiontargets.org.uk, the designer Toby tee costs £35 with £15 going to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Learn more about how you can fight breast cancer and protect the health of your breasts