Case Study

Cosmetic Science has always been something I knew I wanted to do. My interest in cosmetics later led me to grow curious about how products are made, and what makes a product effective. To pursue an interest and the combination of sciences and creativity appealed to me as the perfect blend for a future career. The University of Sunderland was one of the few universities running the course at undergraduate level, so I applied!

Peptides and its effects on hair has always been a field that interested me, so when I was given the opportunity to choose what I wanted to explore as part of my final year project, I was thrilled to be able to investigate ‘The Effects of Lupine Peptide on the Appearance of Bleached Hair’. I enjoyed having the flexibility of picking an area of research that interested me and being able to use the University’s scientific equipment to aid my study. I learned so much from this project.

Over the summer of 2024, I submitted my final year project to the Society of Cosmetic Scientists (SCS) Student Poster Competition and was invited to present my research at the SCS Annual Conference. I received the most votes from attending industry professionals and won the competition! I am now pursuing a master’s degree at University College London (UCL) in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship, where I am looking to venture out into cosmeceuticals.

If I could give a piece of advice to prospective students, I would highly suggest securing a placement. The Cosmetic Science course at Sunderland allows you to take a year out of your studies to do a placement year. I had the opportunity to carry out my placement year at Superdrug, where I gained real-world knowledge and skills that I wouldn’t have been able to in the classroom. It is an extremely valuable opportunity.

The University of Sunderland has prepared me for a future in the cosmetics industry, where I was able to develop the skillsets required to succeed in this field. I’m grateful to have gained the confidence, a key trait required to thrive in the real world!

Published 20 September 2024