London College of Fashion recently hosted the annual MSc Cosmetic Science Industry Day, which has run for 19 years. The event brings together students, alumni, industry, and recruiters in an open discussion around the changing face of the cosmetics and beauty industry. This year the event began with PZ CUSSONS interviewing second year students for placement scheme roles, and Arthur Edward conducting tutorials with final year students focusing on graduate recruitment, CV advice and interview techniques. Both companies were very impressed at the students’ general presentation and professionalism.
Following this, students from the integrated MSc Cosmetic Science course who had completed a Diploma in Professional Studies (DiPS) placement year gave informative presentations about their experience. There were 100 audience members of fellow students, staff and industry guests, listening as the presenters shared details of their work experience and personal learning.
Cosmetic Toiletries and Perfumery Association (CTPA) Awards, and the Summit Events Award for Outstanding Personal Development were awarded at the end of the event. Presented each year to the best Cosmetic Science students at LCF, the awards demonstrate LCF’s successful collaboration with the UK cosmetic industry. Third year student Iliada Hadjisavva won the annual 'Summit Events' Award for her overall academic and personal development and contribution to the course ethos. She will attend the prestigious scientific conference on skin aging taking place in June 2020, in London.
The CTPA awards were distributed across the MSc undergraduate course years, with the Best Student Award going to first year students Jana Froehlich, Yuanbei Lim and Georgia Wells and second year student Natasha Csonge. These were awarded for their consistent high grades and dedication to the course. The Best Improver Award went to Nora Merik for her second year, and the Best Placement Report winner was returning DiPS student Maria Gasos Cavestany.
Finally, third year student, Katie Nga Nguyen, pitched her DiPS project on changing matt lipstick ingredients to safer and more sustainable ones, and was selected by the audience for the Best Presentation Award. Each winning student has received £600 - £1200 in prize money from the CTPA.
Overall, the industry guests invited were impressed at the standard of the placement projects presented and the engagement of the students. The course tutors were also proud of every student involved in the event. Danka Tamburic, Professor of Cosmetic Science with LCF, commented;
It was one of the best, if not the best, industry day in our long history.
A panel discussion on the topic of consumer diversity also took place during the event, featuring LCF alumni and industry representatives.
- Joycelyn Mate - Co-founding director of the Afrocenchix Ltd
- Pippa Harman - LCF alumna and founder of SkinLyst Ltd
- Aimee Nottingham - LCF alumna and New Product Development Manager for Bulldog UK
- Gabriela Daniels - Programme Director Science, LCF FBS
Key topics discussed included the challenges of reaching out to male consumers, helping Afro hair grow healthily and offering consumers with mature skin a customised skincare regime. The panel agreed that there was an increasing need to better-educate the diverse consumers about which products suit their needs, and that the industry should focus on presenting positive messages about the safety and efficacy of cosmetic products.
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