The Cosmetics & Toiletries (C&T) Allē Awards proudly welcomes nine additions to its iconic panel of judges from top beauty and skin care companies and academia, including Olaplex, UCLA, Codex Labs and more. These industry leaders, with expertise spanning product innovation, cosmetic science, supply chain, skin health, sustainability, etc., will lend their expertise to the 2026 C&T Allē Awards to honor excellence and ingenuity in cosmetics R&D innovation.
"It's been an incredible year for entries," said Rachel Grabenhofer, managing scientific editor of Cosmetics & Toiletries, who oversees the C&T Allē Awards program. "We have an unprecedented number of innovations to review this year, warranting the expansion of our highly prestigious panel of judges. We're grateful to them for joining us — and to the judges who joined us from the start. It's a time commitment on everyone's part but we want to ensure the awards are truly meaningful."
Meet our latest elite additions (and see the full judges' list here):
Rebecca Gadberry, YG Laboratories and UCLA Extension
Rebecca Gadberry
Director of Product Development and Education; Sr. Instructor and Program Director
Acknowledged as a beauty industry icon, Rebecca Gadberry is a pioneer in skin care and a preeminent authority on ingredients. With more than 1,500 cosmetic products developed, 600+ published articles and decades of experience as an educator and journalist, Gadberry has shaped the beauty industry. She was named the first Marketing Fellow of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists and was the 13th licensed esthetician in California. Currently, she leads product development and education at YG Laboratories while co-hosting the podcast Facially Conscious: Get the Skinny on All Things Skin.
Shuting Hu, Ph.D., Acaderma
Shuting Hu, Ph.D.
CEO and Co-Founder
Shuting Hu, Ph.D., is a trailblazer in natural ingredient research and skin care innovation. With a Ph.D. in biological science from the University of Hong Kong, she has published groundbreaking research in international journals and discovered novel natural agents for skin health. As the founder of Acaderma, she combines science and entrepreneurship, earning accolades like the Henry Maso Young Cosmetic Scientist Award and a spot in Sephora’s Accelerate program.
David Jameson, Oriflame
David Jameson
Product Scientific Communication Manager
David Jameson brings more than 15 years of experience in cosmetic science, specializing in clinical testing, skin physiology and product evaluation. A published researcher and patent holder, Jameson excels at translating complex scientific data into accessible insights for marketing and sales teams. His expertise ensures that product claims are substantiated and effectively communicated.
Krupa Koestline, KKT Labs
Krupa Koestline
Founder, CEO and Chief Chemist
Krupa Koestline is a visionary in clean beauty and biotech innovation. With more than 600 formulations to her name, she has been recognized as one of Beauty Independent’s Top 30 Product Developers and was the 2024 Florence Wall Award recipient. Her work merges biology, biotechnology and ayurveda to redefine sustainability and ingredient integrity in the beauty industry.
Manessa Lormejuste, LORM·CO
Manessa Lormejuste
Beauty Scientist and Product Developer
Manessa Lormejuste is a leading beauty scientist and founder of LORM·CO, a consultancy specializing in science-backed innovations. With experience at L’Oréal USA, Beautycounter and Farmacy Beauty, she has developed expertise in formulation and product strategy. A LinkedIn Top Voice in Beauty, Lormejuste was also a 2024 Beauty Independent Top 30 Product Developer.
Akemi Ooka, Ph.D., Independent Beauty Association
Akemi Ooka, Ph.D.
CEO
Akemi Ooka, Ph.D., brings more than 20 years of experience in the CPG industry, spanning product development, supply chain transformation and sustainability. With a Ph.D. in chemistry from UCLA, she has held leadership roles at companies like J.R. Watkins and The Clorox Company. As CEO of the Independent Beauty Association, she champions innovation and sustainability in the beauty industry.
Barbara Paldus, Ph.D., Codex Labs
Barbara Paldus, Ph.D.
Founder and CEO
A serial entrepreneur with more than 50 U.S. patents, Barbara Paldus, Ph.D., combines her expertise in biotechnology and sustainability to create clinically proven, microbiome-friendly skin care solutions. Fluent in five languages and holding a Ph.D. from Stanford University, Paldus has founded multiple companies, including Codex Labs, which bridges dermatology and ethnobotany for holistic skin health.
Lavinia Popescu, Olaplex
Lavinia Popescu
Chief Scientist and Research Officer
Lavinia Popescu is a leader in analytical chemistry and biotechnology, with more than two decades of experience in product development at companies like Moroccanoil and Elizabeth Arden. As Olaplex’s chief scientist, she drives sustainable innovation in hair and skin care, leveraging her deep understanding of raw materials and consumer insights.
Smitha Rao, Parëva Beauty
Smitha Rao
Scientist, Founder and CEO
Smitha Rao is a scientist and executive with nearly 20 years of experience in brand transformation and innovation. With three patents and a strong background in R&D, she has built and scaled multiple beauty and wellness brands. As the founder of Parëva Beauty, Rao focuses on delivering Clinically Crafted solutions for skin longevity.
These accomplished professionals will bring their diverse expertise and unique perspectives to the judging process, ensuring that the C&T Allē Awards continue to honor the best and brightest in cosmetics R&D. We are honored to have them on board and look forward to their contributions.
