Spelman College recently hosted its first-ever Black Beauty “STEMinist” Lab Intensive and Symposia in collaboration with The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation. The one-week program, from June 2-7, celebrated the contributions of Black women in the cosmetic sciences, introduced students to product formulation, and featured insightful discussions, workshops and presentations from leading industry professionals.
“This symposium and lab-intensive event provided a platform to highlight the scientific contributions of Black women to the beauty industry. Participants gained valuable insights into career paths and opportunities, while also honing lab-based skills essential for the industry,” said Dr. Leyte Winfield, professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and division chair for the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Spelman. “Moreover, speakers emphasized the importance of STEM talent in the beauty sector and advocated for the inclusion of the voices of women of African descent not only as consumers but also as scientific experts in product development.”
Dr. Winfield is also the director of Spelman’s new Cosmetic Science Program and served as director of the Black Beauty STEMinist Lab Intensive and Symposia.
Thirty-five students from 15 colleges and universities participated in the lab intensive, where they formulated candles, serums, clarifying shampoos, make-up products and more under the guidance of industry professionals in Spelman’s laboratories. At the end of the week, the students participated in a product development workshop and learned how to take an idea from concept to market.
With Black women only making up 1.8 percent of the science and engineering workforce in the United States, according to the National Science Foundation, representation among researchers, developers and formulators in the beauty industry is essential.
“For nearly a decade, The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation's (ELCCF) work has focused on advancing women and girls by supporting organizations that help create access to opportunity, said Rachel Tulchin, vice president of social impact at The Estèe Lauder Companies. “As a global leader in STEM education for Black women, Spelman College is an extraordinary new ELCCF partner. Through its summer Intensive, we are proud to support the institution’s efforts to expand and improve access to STEM education for historically marginalized communities and, in turn, increase representation in the beauty and personal care industries.”
In addition to the lab intensive, the Black Beauty STEMinist Symposia was open to the wider AUC community to facilitate additional networking opportunities for both speakers and scholars. The agenda featured panels, workshops focusing on product development, seminars delving into AI in beauty and other innovative technologies, as well as discussions on mindset and personal branding for success. Featured speakers and presenters included representatives from The Estée Lauder Companies, MAC Cosmetics, Proctor & Gamble, Lip Revolt, MYAVANA, Mary Kay Global, L’Oreal, PATTERN Beauty and more.
To culminate the week’s events, Spelman hosted a closing reception in collaboration with PATTERN Beauty in celebration of the students’ hard work and Black women’s contributions to the cosmetic sciences.
“This experience impacted my future plans by inspiring me to continue learning about how I can contribute through research. I aim to pursue a master's degree in cosmetic science and conduct research with my professors at Spelman on the materials in our hair to understand how to properly care for it,” said Delaney Brooks, C’2026, a chemistry major with a concentration in cosmetic science at Spelman.
“This intensive made me realize how passionate I am about giving back to younger generations who aspire to become cosmetic chemists. In the future, I would love to host workshops or summer camps, similar to the lab intensive, to expose young girls to the Chemist community and the sea of opportunities it has to offer.”
In March, Spelman announced the expansion of its STEM programming to include a concentration in cosmetic chemistry for those majoring in chemistry, and a minor in cosmetic science for those majoring in other areas. The program, scheduled to be offered in the fall, is the first of its kind at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).
The new program aims to translate Spelman’s success into a culturally relevant model for skill development in under-explored STEM fields, namely cosmetic science. By focusing on cosmetic science, an area lacking the type of intersectional knowledge women scientists of African descent can provide, the College hopes to produce strategies for nurturing leaders, experts and scholars in beauty.