The Society of Cosmetic Scientists (SCS) is made up of the people who make, legislate and test the beauty products that we use every single day. Established in 1948, the Society’s mission is to advance the science of cosmetics throughout the beauty industry, informing, inspiring and connecting through educational programming and scientific meetings, which are open to members and non-members alike.
Today they have almost 1,000 members who not only represent the entire journey of a product — from ingredients, concept and formulation, right the way through to efficacy testing, claims and export — but also most of the major players in the UK beauty market today — from the brand names you’ll have heard of, such as Deciem, Boots, L’Oreal and Estee Lauder to the unsung heroes in ingredients manufacturing, contract manufacturing and toxicology testing.
The Introduction to Cosmetic Science (ICS) course, the Society’s newest educational initiative, is designed for anyone who is interested in further developing their knowledge in skincare and understanding the fundamentals of cosmetic science. Split into five modules — Skin Care, Hair Care, Colour Cosmetics, Nail Care and Oral Care — that can be purchased individually (£150+VAT) or as a full course (£600+VAT), the course is app-based and, on completion, students receive digital certificates and badges which can be used on social media or on CVs.
But the ICS is not the only way in which the Society is hoping to improve public understanding of cosmetic science. At a time when the beauty industry is rife with pseudoscience and misinformation, the SCS stands for evidence-based information. We are currently in the process of setting up a database of members who are happy to be consulted by the media and content creators. So whether you need a formulating chemist to explain how hyaluronic acid works (and why molecular weight is important), want a toxicologist to give you the truth about a recent beauty scare story, or simply need a regulator to tell you the latest on China and animal testing, The SCS can connect you to the right expert.
For more information on the Society of Cosmetic Scientists visit scs.org.uk or contact marketing@scs.org.uk
