Soldier Soother

Skincando’s Combat-Ready Balm soothes everything from sunburn and dry skin to razor burn and sand-flea bites, which is why U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are big fans of the product. From now through December 25, you can donate a two-ounce jar of the cream to a solider and get another sent to you, all for $12.50. It’s a small way to say thank you to the men and women making big sacrifices for our country.

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Sweetness and Light

This time of year, many people in the cold and potentially snow-covered northern part of the country would love to be spending a little time down south. But if an escape isn’t in their future, they can at least make their own home feel a little bit like Charleston, New Orleans, or other Deep South spots with soy candles from Low Country Luxe. And while all of them give off good scents, many of the company’s candles also give back to nonprofits. The sweet tea olive blossom and citrus scented New Orleans candle ($54.95) benefits the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans and Music for Tomorrow, while the Beau, Belle, and Sugah collection ($34.95 each) helps raise funds for the March of Dimes. The Savannah-based company also supports its own region through its Gullah candle ($49.95), which generates donations to the Penn Center and its efforts to preserve South Carolina’s Gullah history.

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What a Card

If you’re a slacker when it comes to Christmas cards, don’t worry. You still have time to order some photo cards from Tiny Prints, which offers stylish options for those who prefer a more modern spin on the traditional custom. And if you choose one of the designs in the company’s Celebrity Holiday Card Collection, you’ll be supporting charity while sharing your favorite photo of your kids with friends and family. Desperate Housewives’ Marcia Cross and Alison Sweeney of The Biggest Loser and Days of Our Lives are among the famous moms who provided design ideas for cards benefiting organizations like Feeding America and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. So don’t wait any longer—upload your favorite photo and place an order to share some holiday cheer with your loved ones and some very worthy causes.

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Going to the Dogs

Got a pet lover on your gift list? Then check out Emily Elizabeth Jewelry. The New York–based company, whose designs have been spotted on celebs like Kristen Wiig and Vanessa Hudgens, donates 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of its animal-centric items to the ASPCA. Pieces include a paw-charm necklace ($48) and matching stud earrings ($35) sure to appeal to any dog owner you know.

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A Recipe for Success

I love that the pieces in KitchenAid’s Cook for the Cure Pink Product Collection look like grown-up versions of a little girl’s play-kitchen accessories. And I love even more that they help generate funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast-cancer survivors and activists working to put an end to the disease. For every piece purchased, KitchenAid donates up to $50 to fight breast cancer. So go ahead and whip up a cake or puree some veggies—it just might help save a life.

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Culture Club

Even if they’re not world travelers yet, the kids in your life can look the part with globally influenced fashions from the Tea Collection. From kimono-inspired dresses for girls to dragon-emblazoned T-shirts for boys, the worldly attire looks like it could have come straight from the closet of the Jolie-Pitt kids. And like that famously charitable family, Tea Collection is also known for giving back. Twice a year, it introduces a new selection of onesies, T-shirts, and hoodies that benefit the Global Fund for Children. Fifty percent of their sales go to the organization that has awarded more than $13.9 million in grants in 72 countries since 1997.

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Everyday People

Going through Harry Potter withdrawal? Ease your pain with One Day in the Life of Daniel Radcliffe ($29.95), a new book from photographer Tim Hailand. Featuring 50 black-and-white and color images, it captures a day during Radcliffe’s run in Equus on Broadway, everything from him dozing in bed to rehearsing his buzz-worthy role. The book goes on sale December 15, and a portion of the proceeds goes to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Look for additional books from Hailand focusing on artists and entertainers like Rufus Wainwright and Christian Lacroix in 2010.

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