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BSc (Hons) Cosmetic Science x Thornton & Ross

Two students dressed in lab coats and glasses looking at a computer screen with other students standing in the background.
  • Written byUna Lote Andzane
  • Published date 28 July 2025
Two students dressed in lab coats and glasses looking at a computer screen with other students standing in the background.
Image courtesy of Kushagra Anand.

BSc (Hons) Cosmetic Science students at London College of Fashion (LCF), UAL, completed a collaborative project with leading UK healthcare manufacturer Thornton & Ross to reimagine three of their bestselling skincare products and create a brand new one from scratch.

Established in 1922, Thornton & Ross is behind some of the UK’s most recognisable skincare brands. For this collaboration, the company invited students to work on reformulations of a baby cream, body lotion, and foot cream while also developing a new face cream aligned with current consumer trends.

A woman sat and two women standing in a science lab.
Image courtesy of Kushagra Anand.
Students sat in a classroom listening to a presentation.
Image courtesy of Kushagra Anand.

By working in teams, students identified key consumer needs through a mix of primary and secondary market research. Using industry databases and consumer surveys, they explored current trends, ingredient expectations, and texture preferences.

This allowed them to develop clear product specifications and begin producing prototypes to meet those benchmarks — undertaking stability testing, sensory trials, and instrumental evaluation of texture, performance and appeal.

As part of the process, students presented their findings from the secondary and primary market research, along with their product specifications, to Liz Burrows, Senior Formulation Scientist at Thornton & Ross, and the entire process culminated in the production of a full technical report.

The students will have the opportunity to present their work during LCF’s annual Industry Day in October 2025, which will include members of Thornton & Ross. Final winners will be selected and prizes awarded for the best reports and final presentations.

Two women dressed in lab coats looking at a computer in a science lab.
Image courtesy of Kushagra Anand.

This live brief marks the first collaboration between Thornton & Ross and the Cosmetic Science course, and the benefits were felt by both the students and the industry partner. As Course Leader Mignon Cristofoli explains, the experience is designed to mirror real-world industry standards from end to end.

It brings together pretty much everything you need to learn — from development and reformulation to understanding the customer journey. Students need creativity, organisation, tenacity, and the ability to think critically,

— Mignon Cristofoli, Course Leader

The project not only tested technical and creative skills but also highlighted the importance of communication and collaboration. Students were required to manage timelines, delegate within teams, and present their work clearly to a professional audience.

Student in a lab coat working with a cream in a lab.
Image courtesy of Kushagra Anand.

Feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the project as one of the most rewarding and realistic parts of their degree so far:

  • “Working with an industry partner gave a real sense of purpose.”
  • “It gave our work more relevance and credibility when we talk to potential employers.”
  • “The whole industry link was brilliant — the best thing so far.”

With strong engagement from both the company and the students, the project laid the groundwork for future collaboration and an extension of the relationship — with Thornton & Ross already planning to welcome students to their site for a visit later this year.

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