IFSCC Looks to Land, Fire, Surf and Sky for Formulation Answers

By: Rachel Grabenhofer, Cosmetics & Toiletries magazine

Posted: November 3, 2009

Cosmetic chemists called on the elements for formulating answers during the IFSCC Conference, held Oct. 7-9, 2009. Podium presentations were grouped by four themes—land, referring to environmental sustainability; fire, referencing skin protection/rejuvenation; surf, relating to scientific breakthroughs; and sky, looking to what’s possible.

Stirring things up, formulation workshops opened the event as attendees donned lab coats and rolled up their sleeves to gain hands-on formulating experience. In addition, committee meetings filled the first day while exhibitors set up in anticipation of the days to come.

The first evening ushered in welcoming remarks, during which Johann Wiechers, PhD, presented the IFSCC Young Scientist award to Adrien Cousy. In addition, Nick Urquhart of the 2009 Steering Committee welcomed attendees, providing insight regarding the conference theme as well as housekeeping details.

Urquhart was followed by a keynote address by local author/humor columnist Kerry Cue, whose roots are in chemistry. Cue “preached to the choir,” making light of the marketing hype surrounding natural cosmetics positioned as being “chemical-free” and better for the consumer. She added, “And people die from natural causes,” much to the audience’s delight.

Wrapping up the first day, the welcome reception, held at the Melbourne Aquarium, entertained attendees with local music, Aboriginal song and dance and some of Australia’s native wildlife, including a frilled neck lizard, albino boa constrictor and a purebred dingo, among others.