AJ Addae is a cosmetic chemist, clinical researcher and chemical biology Ph.D. student at the University of California, Los Angeles. When Addae was a clinical researcher and formulator in the medical-grade skin care space, she immediately saw how underserved and under-considered Black consumers are in the R&D process, and sought to build Sula Labs—a research-forward product development and testing laboratory that develops and tests products for Black-owned brands and dark-skinned consumers, with customers in retailers including Sephora, Credo Beauty and Ulta Beauty.
Addae's dermatologic research is published in the Journal of Drugs and Dermatology, and she is a Future Laboratory Future Innovators awardee. She is ultimately driven by her innate passion for using chemistry and clinical research as a means of change for the health of skin of color.

Birnur Aral, Ph.D., brings over 20 years of experience in the consumer products industry, with a career spanning R&D roles at Unilever and Takasago, and media leadership at Good Housekeeping magazine, where she led the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab. At Good Housekeeping, she oversaw studies across diverse product categories, shaping reviews and editorial content that reached over 50 million readers monthly. She also evaluated and endorsed products for both the Good Housekeeping Seal and the Green Good Housekeeping Seal, covering categories including cosmetics, OTC drugs and supplements.

As the organizer of Good Housekeeping’s Raise the Green Bar Sustainability Summits, Aral introduced and managed the brand’s Sustainable Innovation Awards. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Boğaziçi University, advanced degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology, and a post-graduate certificate in Sustainability Analytics from Columbia University.

Today, she runs a consultancy that helps consumer product brands grow through science-backed innovation, transparency and trust-building. She is also a part-time visiting scientist at her alma mater, Stevens Institute of Technology. Aral contributes to industry journals, serves as a juror for awards panels, moderates industry events, and mentors graduate students. Her work has resulted in scientific publications and patented innovations in personal care.

Director of Cosmetic Science & Formulation Design Undergraduate Major, Associate Professor

Gabriella Baki, Ph.D., is director of cosmetic science and formulation design, undergraduate major, and associate professor at the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She serves as program director and the main instructor for lectures and laboratories in a unique undergraduate program: the BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design major. It is the first and currently only undergraduate program in the United States focused exclusively on cosmetics and personal care.

Baki is a pharmacist, graduated in 2008 from the University of Szeged, Hungary; she also holds a doctorate in pharmaceutics from the same university. Baki has been a faculty member at the University of Toledo since January 2012. Her main research focus lies in the area of topical delivery for active ingredients and cosmetic actives, sensory testing of creams and lotions, and SPF and broad-spectrum boosting technologies. Baki has made more than a dozen technical presentations and authored and co-authored more than 40 publications, including for Cosmetics & Toiletries. She has contributed to book chapters and authored the book Introduction to Cosmetic Formulation and Technology.

Senior Research Scientist, Open Innovation

Sudhir Baswan, Ph.D., is a senior research scientist in the open innovation group at Amway Corp, accountable for evaluating new, adjacent and disruptive innovations in the health and wellness categories (nutrition, beauty and beyond). Baswan’s expertise in cosmetic and pharmaceutical sciences brings a unique and rare blend of perspectives for the beauty industry. He received his doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences (cosmetic science focus) from the University of Cincinnati; master’s in cosmetic chemistry from Fairleigh Dickinson University; and bachelor’s in pharmacy from the University of Mumbai.

He has extensive experience in scientific research and publications on topical bio-membranes, along with 10+ years of industry know-how on beauty trends and technologies. He is also the founder for www.foodforskin.org, a consumer focused web site dedicated to bringing snackable, simplified science to wellness and beauty enthusiasts.

Assistant Vice President, CPD Hair Care & Styling Development

Julie Bianchini, Ph.D., is assistant vice president of CPD hair care and styling development at L'Oréal. Previously, she was associate director of skin health and beauty R&D at Kenvue, where she was responsible for end-to-end product development for the cleansing and acne categories of iconic brands such as Neutrogena and Clean & Clear.

Bianchini has spent nearly 10 years developing scientifically rigorous and novel products across multiple skin care categories, including sun care and facial moisturizers and treatments that provide superior efficacy and aesthetics and deliver unmet consumer needs.

In 2024, she was awarded the inaugural Kenvue Science & Innovation Award for advancing the science behind the iconic Neutrogena Hydro Boost platform. In 2020, she served on the Committee on Scientific Affairs with the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC), and she was named one of Six Young Trailblazing Scientists on The Johnson & Johnson Under 40 to Watch List in 2017.

Bianchini has a Ph.D. in biology from Stanford University and completed the Stanford Business School Ignite Program for Leaders in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She is passionate about mentoring and developing the next generation of scientists.

Mark Chandler is president of ACT Solutions Corp. (Adaptive Cosmetic Technology Solutions) and has been in the industry for more than 35 years, most recently serving as skin care applications manager for Croda Inc. He has held roles in sales, marketing, strategic planning and acquisitions, and R&D. Chandler has taught courses for the SCC, CfPA and others on cosmetic formulation, cosmetic raw materials, liquid foundation emulsions, practical basics and theory in emulsion technology, Formulating for Efficacy, surfactant selection, formulating with food ingredients and low energy emulsification for more than 20 years.

Mark also is a lecturer in the cosmetic science and formulation design program at the University of Toledo college of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences. He was awarded Fellow status by the SCC in 2014 and has presented technology throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. He has authored numerous technical articles, including in Cosmetics & Toiletries, and chapters in such publications as Harry’s Cosmeticology and the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology.

Gabriela Daniels has more than 20 years of experience as an educator and researcher in the field of cosmetics. She is the program director of science at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, home to one of the world’s oldest degree programs dedicated to cosmetics. Gabriela’s teaching and research focus on promoting inclusivity within the cosmetics industry, ensuring robust scientific standards for claim substantiation, and, more recently, exploring the application of artificial intelligence in cosmetics-related research and innovation.

Daniels also chairs the Scientific Program Committee of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists in the UK, helping to shape its direction and champion the dissemination of cutting-edge academic and industry research to members and affiliated groups. She has an extensive track record of conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications, and serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Cosmetic Science.

Kelly A. Dobos is a cosmetic chemist with ~25 years of expertise in skin care and color cosmetics, having worked for brands such as Bonne Bell, Purell and Jergens. She graduated Oberlin College with a bachelor's in chemistry, and obtained a master's in pharmaceutical sciences with an emphasis in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati, from which she received the GOLD (Graduate of the Last Decade) Distinguished Alumni Award.

Dobos also holds an MBA from Cleveland State University and has been a member of the SCC for 18 years, serving at local and national levels, including as president in 2019. Kelly is an inventor on four patents and has written numerous articles for cosmetic science publications, including Cosmetics & Toiletries. She is part of the American Chemical Society’s expert panel and serves as a subject matter expert for consumer magazines like Allure and New Beauty, in addition to news organizations such as NPR and the Washington Post. She has served as a judge for previous C&T Allē Awards and is currently teaching courses on color cosmetics for the University of Cincinnati.

Marie Drago is French pharmacist and the founder of Gallinée Microbiome Skincare, founded in London in 2016. Her big idea was: What if instead of killing bacteria, we would help them help you? After all, you’re 50% bacteria, that’s not an insult and you should care for them. Gallinée has 4 patents, 23 products and billions of happy bacteria. It has been part of the Shiseido family since October 2022. Drago is currently the chief creative officer for the brand.

Angela R. Eppler, Ph.D., currently serves as the R&D Head of Formulation leading ChapStick development at Suave Brands Co. Throughout her career, she has developed a specialty and extensive expertise in innovation, formulation, cross-functional product design roles and project management of concept to launch development lifecycles for cosmetic, OTC and personal care applications.

Eppler earned her doctorate degree in pharmaceutical sciences with a specialty in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. She began her career as a biologist at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the Cosmetic Toxicology Branch, where her research activities included skin absorption, metabolism of inflammatory mediators and the development of alternative in vitro skin irritation methods.

Prior to joining Suave Brands, she held senior principal scientist roles at Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Haleon Consumer Healthcare, driving innovation, product development and clinical claim substantiation primarily for topical cosmetic and OTC brands as well as respiratory, oral care and nutritional supplements.

Eppler is dedicated to furthering educational opportunities, mentorship and knowledge sharing within the industry. In addition to her Advisory Board role at Cosmetics & Toiletries, she is an active member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC), having served and held multiple local, regional and national board and committee positions.

Amber Evans, Ph.D., is passionate about impacting the consumer beauty care experience through science, technology and leadership. She is currently the technical director at House of Cheatham, where she leads the R&D, regulatory and microbiology teams powering a global portfolio of textured hair care and body care brands. Prior to this role, Evans was senior manager of product development at Moroccanoil, where she leveraged her technical expertise in hair and skin science, ingredient technologies and claims testing to drive the global launch of prestige hair color and hair and body care products. She also contributed to innovation in hair color and hair, body and oral care through R&D scientist roles at ingredient supplier BASF and CPG leader Procter & Gamble.

Evans earned a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences (cosmetic science focus) from the University of Cincinnati and a B.S. in chemistry from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. She has authored hair care publications, co-invented patented technologies, and been featured on STEM and beauty industry platforms. She was also the 2024 Chair of the New York Chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC). As a mentor, innovator and SCC executive board member, Evans is dedicated to influencing the progression of the cosmetic field.

Tomonobu Ezure, Ph.D., is a top research scientist at Shiseido, having been honored with the title of “Fellow” for the first time ever in Shiseido’s 150-year history. He has been conducting R&D, especially on anti-aging skin care, leading to the development of a broad range of skincare products. 

Ezure is a pioneer in the field of facial aging, having set the basic definitions and evaluation methods of facial aging, as well as clarifying various mechanisms and establishing solutions based on studies of skin regeneration. He has also developed AI-based digital technology for visualizing skin dynamics in four dimensions for the first time. At the last congress of the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC), he was introduced as the most famous researcher in the cosmetic field, based on his monumental achievement of receiving four consecutive IFSCC awards.

Mindy Goldstein, Ph.D., received her bachelor of science with honors in biochemistry, master's of science in pathology, and doctorate in basic medical sciences from New York University in the area of UV and gamma radiation damage to DNA and DNA repair. She has been credited with more than eleven publications and has been awarded patents in raw materials, encapsulation and controlled release.

Goldstein most recently held the position of VP of R&D and product development for Atlantic Coast Media Group. Previously, she served as executive director of R&D for The Estée Lauder Cos. Goldstein is an active member of the SCC and recently was president of the national society in 2020. She was editor twice for the Journal of Cosmetic Science and currently is an advisor and reviewer for the journal, as well as for Cosmetics & Toiletries. She is a member of numerous professional and scientific organizations including the PCPC Nomenclature Committee, where she is chair of the subcommittee on biotechnology, botanicals and ferments.

Bettina Gruber is an R&D specialist and formulator for strategic skin care projects at Grupo Boticário. She has more than ten years of experience in product development, which has supported several major face and body care product launches on national and international markets.

Gruber is a graduate in pharmacy, with a specialization in marketing and a master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences. Her expertise additionally includes product development, and she is passionate about science and innovation.

Mauricio Guzmán Alonso is an industrial chemist and exploration scientist at Belcorp with 16 years of experience in R&D and innovation in cosmetic industry. He holds a masters in marketing and business management, and is also a product safety assessment consultant. Guzmán Alonso has contributed to several papers in Congresses including the IFSCC, ISBS, Colamiqc and Farmacosmética. He is the author and co-author of more than 25 publications in scientific journals; the recipient of the Jose Joaquin Perez Villalba Prize at the XX Colamiqc 2011 for best paper on natural ingredients; and the winner of the Maison G. deNavarre Prize at the XXII IFSCC Conference in Brazil in 2013.

Guzmán Alonso joined Belcorp in 2007 and currently is the Green Tech & Chemicals leader and formulation scientist for skin care and personal care categories. His areas of interest in cosmetics R&D include formulation, biotechnology, neuroscience and applied natural ingredients research in hair and skin.

Greg Hillebrand, Ph.D., is an associate professor of the University of Cincinnati cosmetic science program. He has also served as a senior principal research scientist in Amway R&D’s Global Discovery department, providing technical leadership for both the beauty and nutritional categories. He has a broad expertise in skin and hair science, especially skin health, aging, photo-aging, epidemiology, biophysical and imaging clinical methods and product performance testing. His current area of focus is the skin microbiome and its role in health and disease. 

Hillebrand has many significant publications and several of his inventions have been successfully commercialized. He lived and worked in Japan for seven years on an ex-pat assignment gaining direct experience and insight into Asian consumer needs and the Asian beauty market. He is externally focused, embracing open innovation and research collaborations with both academia and industry for new technology identification and commercialization.

Shuting Hu, Ph.D., is a scientist-entrepreneur bridging advanced academic discovery and real-world impact in skin longevity. She earned her Ph.D. in biological sciences from The University of Hong Kong, with research spanning autophagy, chronic inflammation and DNA repair mechanisms. She is the author of 10+ peer-reviewed publications and inventor on 9 patents (4 granted), developing novel bioactives including autophagy inducers and compounds for pigmentation disorder treatment, anti-inflammaging and DNA photoprotection.

As founder and CEO of Acaderma, a biotech skin care brand dedicated to skin longevity, Hu translates advanced longevity science into patented, ethically sourced skin care. Her research-led approach delivers products that target key hallmarks of aging with proven efficacy. Her innovation has been recognized with Vogue Business’s Beauty Game Changer Award (2025), the Longevity 100 Award, the IFSCC Young Cosmetic Scientist Award (2014) and selection as a Global Finalist in L’Oréal Innovation Runway (2017). Hu was also the first Asian entrepreneur in Sephora’s Accelerate (2018) program.

Committed to social impact, she advances ethical sourcing and community empowerment through partnerships with African NGOs such as ASNAPP, helping to educate and equip women farmers with sustainable farming skills and income opportunities. Her work exemplifies rigorous science scaled through technology transfer, manufacturing optimization and responsible commercialization—reshaping how we age through the lens of longevity.

Shilpi Jain is the founder of Skinveda. After completing her master’s degree in chemistry magna cum laude at the University of Toronto, Canada, she went on to work with Arena Pharmaceuticals as a Medicinal Scientist, working on antiobesity drug called Lorcaserin. In the last two decades, She has been the principal scientist for several leading skin, hair and pet care brands while working with well-known cosmetic manufacturing firms and as a consultant.

In 2013, Jain saw a gap in the skin care industry to focus on psycho-dermatology, telomeres and the influence of stress on the skin. Being born in an east Indian family where ayurveda was practiced on a daily basis, and using her knowledge of the chemistry of these herbs and their efficacy, Jain spent two years working on creating highly effective formulas to help solve stress-related skin care issues including rosacea, eczema, atopic dermatitis, age spots, wrinkles, dark circles, crow’s feet, cellulite, dry skin, dehydrated skin and hyperpigmentation, to name a few. Skinveda was launched in Whole Foods in 2013, and then at several boutiques, e-commerce platforms including The Ayurveda Experience, Truth In Aging, and Amazon.

David Jameson is Product Scientific Communication Manager at Oriflame R&D. He has more than 15 years' experience in the cosmetic industry, including four years focusing on clinical testing for cosmetic claims and in-house research. Jameson has a keen interest and understanding of skin physiology, measurement principles, product evaluation and regulatory standards. He has co-authored research on sensitive skin, published in the journal Cosmetics, and is a patent holder (patent no. SE1650868A1) for a test method and assay for the diagnosis and evaluation of clinical product performance.

In addition to a background in chemistry, Jameson holds a master's degree in digital marketing and analytics. In his current role, which sits at the interface between R&D, marketing and communications, he and his team are responsible for substantiating product claims. As part of this role, Jameson and his team also help to translate complex and technical scientific information into simplified formats that can then be used by marketing, creative and sales support teams to communicate the benefits of Oriflame's products.

John Jiménez is a pharmacist from National University of Colombia with a master's in sustainable development and specialization studies in marketing, cosmetic science and neuromarketing. He has 30 publications in scientific journals and a book chapter in cosmetic formulation. He has been the recipient of: the Maison G. de Navarre Prize (IFSCC 2004), Henry Maso Award (IFSCC 2016) and best scientific papers at Colamiqc Ecuador 2009, Colamiqc Brazil 2013 and Farmacosmética Colombia 2014.

Jiménez also has been a speaker at various international conferences in Europe and Latin America. Since 2013, he has written a trends column for Cosmetics & Toiletries Brazil; since 2019, a column on market trends for in-cosmetics; and since 2020, a column on neuromarketing for Eurocosmetics. He also has authored and co-authored articles and served on the Scientific Advisory Board for Cosmetics & Toiletries. Jiménez additionally served as president of Accytec Bogotá (2017-2019) and currently is senior researcher at Belcorp.

Dr. Helen Knaggs is Head of Global Product Research and Development at Nu Skin Enterprises, Provo, Utah, USA. In this role, she oversees personal care and wellness areas, leading a diverse R&D team across multiple disciplines, based in Provo, USA and Shanghai, China. Additionally, Dr Knaggs is VP sponsor for Nu Skin’s Women Rising ERG, helping to launch initiatives that empower women within the workplace and around the community.

Knaggs has over 35 years of experience in product research and development, receiving a BSc in Biochemistry and Pharmacology and PhD from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Leeds, England, as well as an MBA from University of Warwick, England. She started her career as a research biochemist in the dermatology department of Leeds General Infirmary and then worked for Unilever in United States, Europe and Asia. She has numerous scientific publications, book chapters and patents, as well as being requested to speak at international conferences and review science publications.

Krupa Koestline is the founder of KKT Labs and a leading cosmetic chemist behind 600+ breakthrough formulations for several well-known brands. Named one of Beauty Independent’s Top 30 Product Developers and the 2024 Florence Wall Award recipient, she merges her background in biology, biotechnology and ayurveda to drive clean, biotech-forward innovation.

Koestline's work prioritizes sustainability, ingredient integrity and environmental responsibility, challenging industry norms and redefining clean beauty. Krupa also serves as Chair-Elect of FLSCC and sits on the Credo Clean Beauty Council.

Danilo Lambino is an inventor, cosmetic formulator, visual artist and beauty technology entrepreneur at Formulae8, a company he founded in 2008. He holds a master's degree in material science and engineering from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Saint Louis University. He describes himself as passionately engaged in creative and entrepreneurial technology, product and brand development ventures in the beauty space.

Lambino's work is focused on empowering ideas, transforming consumer insights and enabling new discoveries in ingredients, devices, emerging packaging trends and novel delivery systems. He is the recipient of a 2010 International Technology Award from Cosmetics & Toiletries (now the C&T Allē Awards) for an innovative melanin spot technology demo kit demonstrating a client's efficacy in directly fading melanin. He is also a member of the Cosmetics & Toiletries Scientific Advisory Board.

Manessa Lormejuste is a beauty scientist and founder of LORM·CO, a consultancy helping brands create science-backed innovations across skin, hair, body, color and fragrance. With prior experience at L’Oréal USA, Beautycounter and Farmacy Beauty, she brings deep expertise in formulation, product strategy and claims development.

A LinkedIn Top Voice in Beauty and Beauty Independent Top 30 Product Developer (2024), Manessa also advises MMARA, a digital hair concierge app for textured hair users. She holds a B.A. in Chemical Biology and a Master of Business & Science in Personal Care Science from Rutgers University.

Nattaya Lourith, Ph.D., is associate professor of cosmetic science, leading creative innovation for cosmetics in the phytochemicals and cosmeceuticals research group at Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand. She earned her master's degree in organic chemistry from Khon Kaen University in 2001, and her doctorate in bioorganic chemistry at Ehime University in 2004. Lourith served as research assistant and teaching assistant at Kagawa University from 2001-2004, and research associate at the Institute of Biological Chemistry at Washington State University in 2005. Her research areas focus on the chemistry of natural products and fragrances, the preparation and quality control of raw materials and cosmetic products, and herbs for cosmetics. 

Lourith is the author and co-author of numerous books, book chapters, review articles and research articles, and was awarded the Shell Centenary Scholarship Fund in 2000, the Japanese Government Scholarship from 2001-2004, as the JSPS Young East Asian Researcher in 2009, as the Select lecture of WCOS2022, Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Japan Oil Chemists’ Society, and as the Sophia University (STEC) Visiting Scholar in 2024. She is a regular contributor to Cosmetics & Toiletries.

Lorne Lucree is the CEO and founder of the all-new Stealth Consumer Health + Wellness startup, having most recently served as founder of Quiet Coyote Consulting. He has spent his career utilizing a passion for beauty combined with a constant curiosity to distill consumer insights, developments in technology and active ingredients, packaging innovations, progress in sustainability, olfactive trends, inclusion efforts, and the latest formulation techniques into blue-sky ideas that translate into breakthrough, retail-ready products that resonate with a wide range of consumers and retail partners.

Combine the consumer-first approach of marketing from Procter & Gamble and Unilever Prestige, the attention to beauty métier from L’Oréal and Estee Lauder, the entrepreneurial, creative spirit of the world of brand building at a fast growth beauty incubator like Luxury Brand Partners (R+Co, IGK, One/Size), and a deep knowledge of operations and supply chain from personal care manufacturing, and you have a snapshot Lorne’s professional background that informs his approach to concept development. Lorne's innovative concepts have garnered global recognition, winning prestigious awards such as Allure Best of Beauty, Allure Best of Beauty Breakthrough, Refinery 29 Beauty Innovator, Glamour Beauty Award, Times UK Style Beauty Award, and Nylon Beauty Hit List. These accolades are a testament to his ability to create successful and resonating innovation.

Prior to founding Quiet Coyote, Lorne held the position of Central Strategic Innovation Advisor to the Unilever Prestige portfolio of brands as well as SVP of Innovation at TATCHA. He was also hand-picked as a member of the Conscious Beauty at Ulta Advisory Board and the Product Development Advisor for the Ulta MUSE Accelerator Program, showcasing his commitment to driving innovation in the industry. Prior to Unilever Prestige, Lorne served as the Chief Innovation Officer and Head of ESG at Voyant Beauty, the largest beauty and personal care contract manufacturer in the US, along with holding product development and global marketing leadership roles at Estee Lauder, L'Oreal, and Luxury Brand Partners. Lorne has an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business focusing on marketing, leadership, and change management and a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University focusing on communications and women's studies.

Stephen Lynch, Ph.D., is associate vice president of skin care development for L’Oréal USA Research & Innovation, where he has worked since 2014. As head of scientific valorization, he leads a team that supports skin care product development from project initiation through market launch, with a critical focus on communication of scientific knowledge, selection of active ingredients, coordination of testing and substantiation of product claims. Among his team’s responsibilities are such well-known skin care brands as L’Oréal Paris, SkinCeuticals, La Roche-Posay, CeraVe and Kiehl’s.

Prior to joining L’Oréal, Lynch spent 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry conducting drug discovery research with Roche and Purdue Pharma. He holds a bachelor's in chemistry from the University of Richmond and a doctorate in organic chemistry from Emory University. He additionally has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications across diverse fields of scientific research.

Jennifer Marsh, Ph.D., has worked with P&G for 17+ years in a variety of roles, including consumer research, and product and technology development. As vice president of the Victor Mills Society at P&G, former Research Fellow and an accomplished scientist, Marsh has conducted multiple studies on bleach and oxidative chemistry for hair color technologies. One of her most recent achievements, a new hair color chemistry, was launched in 2008 as Nice N' Easy Perfect 10, which was the result of several years of collaboration by a team of P&G's scientists. This work earned recognition from the Society of Cosmetics Chemists.

In addition, Princeton has recognized her work on High Pressure Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Marsh holds a doctorate in synthetic inorganic chemistry from the University of Oxford's Wolfson College, where her thesis was on the chemistry of gold. She has presented and published numerous papers in the area of hair structure science and color, and she holds more than 20 patents.

Akemi Ooka, Ph.D., is the chief executive officer at the Independent Beauty Association (IBA). She earned her doctorate in chemistry from UCLA and she has more than 20 years of experience in the CPG industry, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small startups.

Ooka’s experience spans product development, sourcing and supply chain transformation at companies including J.R. Watkins, method and The Clorox Company. She previously served as IBA’s vice president of global supply chain and sustainability resources.

Canadian-born of Czech parents and fluent in five languages with a doctorate from Stanford University (U.S.), Barbara Paldus, Ph.D., holds more than 50 U.S. patents and is a serial entrepreneur, having started companies like Picarro (greenhouse gas detection for climate change) and Finesse Solutions (biotechnology equipment for vaccines like COVID-19, cancer therapeutics and cell therapy).

Codex Labs was conceived with dermatologists and ethnobotanists to deliver affordable, clinically proven skin-gut-brain solutions that support the microbiomes and deliver healthy skin without sacrificing sustainability.

Lavinia Popescu is chief scientist and research officer at Olaplex, specializing in the intersection of analytical chemistry and biotechnology within the beauty industry. With more than two decades of experience, she has held pivotal roles in product development and research, notably at renowned companies such as Moroccanoil and Elizabeth Arden. Popescu's expertise spans a broad spectrum, including formulation, commercialization and consumer insights. She is recognized for her contributions to skin and hair care products, leveraging her deep understanding of raw materials and actives.

Popescu holds an MBA from Dowling College and a master's degree in chemistry from Universitatea din București. Her work has been published in prestigious journals, reflecting her commitment to scientific advancement in cosmetics. Passionate about enhancing consumer experiences, she is dedicated to driving sustainable practices in product development. Lavinia's leadership in cross-functional teams has been instrumental in launching successful beauty brands, showcasing her strategic vision and market insight.

Smitha Rao, a scientist, innovator and accomplished beauty veteran, founded Parëva Beauty in February 2025, responding to a disconnect she saw in the industry: brands chasing headlines, fear-based claims, excessive marketing hype and quick fixes but little was built for longevity. That realization became the foundation for her company (Parëva means transformation in Sanskrit). The brand's mission is to extend skin health with Clinically Crafted professional-grade products.

Among other achievements, Rao filed her first biotech patent application in her 20’s and she has created more than 200 products across 15 brands in the beauty and wellness space in her nearly 18-year career. She also developed a patent pending technology, Molecur 3, from plant stem cells targeting exosome activation and NAD+ to rejuvenate skin. Previously, Rao has held multiple leadership roles, consistently building and scaling brands, launching new brands and reviving latent brands by developing innovative product portfolios or original content with authentic storytelling.

Michelle Shieh is the associate director of scientific communications and serves as the Derma Science Director at Amorepacific’s Americas Research & Innovation Center in New York. In her role, she leads the strategic localization and reinterpretation of scientific content and claims, while driving scientific storytelling and content creation across skincare brands including Laneige, Aestura, Sulwhasoo, Innisfree and Hanyul. She focuses on translating complex dermatological science into accessible consumer communication.

Shieh holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Washington and a master’s degree from ISIPCA in France. Prior to joining Amorepacific, she held roles at L’Oréal and The Estée Lauder Companies.

Akshay Talati, R.Ph., is a pharmacist and leader with an established track record of more than two decades in cosmetics, dermatological and pharmaceutical product development, for 20+ distinct brands of three of the largest multinationals: The Estée Lauder Cos., Unilever and L’Oréal. He champions innovation for hundreds of products and advises in several cosmetic societies, striving to positively influence those who seek guidance through mentoring.

Currently, he is chief innovation officer for Supergoop!, having most recently served as vice president of product development, research and innovation for regulatory, beauty and wellness at goop. He also serves as a founding member of Skindie, generating authentic beauty intelligence and trends, and is a member of the C&T Scientific Advisory Board. He additionally is the 2025-2026 president of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC).

Gill Westgate, Ph.D., is a successful hair and skin science professional with an extensive and varied career obtained in industry (Unilever UK), academia and private consultancy. She has served the cosmetics industry as a consultant for more than 20 years and also spent several years in research and knowledge transfer within academia (University of Bradford, UK).

Westgate is internationally recognized for her scientific contribution in hair and scalp science and is often an invited speaker at conferences. She is a founder and immediate past president of the International Federation of Hair Research Societies, and serves as a member of several industry scientific advisory boards, including for Cosmetics & Toiletries. In 2020 she co-founded Cosmetics Cluster UK, a trade association for UK companies within the cosmetics sector. Westgate continues to collaborate on several projects, publications and book chapters.

Tao Zheng, Ph.D., has been an innovation leader and is a material scientist with 23+ years of experience in the personal care industry. He is currently executive director, SPF & Makeup Charter Innovation at the Estée Lauder Cos. His experience includes leading a team of scientists to create, design and implement key charter innovation programs to develop breakthrough technology platforms for cosmetic brands including Estée Lauder, Clinique, La Mer, MAC, Smashbox, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced and Tom Ford Beauty. Recently, he initiated two SPF Charters to drive global sun care innovations for both organic and inorganic sunscreen products in skin care and makeup categories.

Prior to The Estée Lauder Cos., Zheng headed the sun care and skin care innovation group at Edgewell Personal Care for seven years, where he developed OTC products and technology pipelines for Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic, the leading sun care brands in the U.S. and global markets. In addition, he developed antibacterial wipes for Wet Ones following the FDA Monograph. Prior to Edgewell, he worked at Avon as program manager for 12 years, driving color cosmetics and skin care active delivery innovations. He also worked at Procter & Gamble for oral care and denture adhesive innovation.

Zheng received his doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. He holds 30+ patents and patent applications worldwide in polymer materials and formulation technologies. He has served as Judge for the CEW Beauty Creators Awards for four years, and is also a key member of the Committee on Scientific Affairs (COSA) for Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC), where he assists in judging research papers for technical awards and organizing the SCC Annual Scientific Meetings. In addition, he is an esteemed member of the Cosmetics & Toiletries Scientific Advisory board.