What Touches Your Skin: The Role of Laundry and Personal Care Products

LISCC/NESCC/NYSCC/CTSCC/SCC: What Touches Your Skin: The Role of Laundry and Personal Care Products. 10:00 – 10:40 am: Peter Tsolis 10:40 – 11:20 am: Dr. Huifang Li 11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Lunch 12:30 – 1:10 pm: Marisa Plescia 1:10 – 1:50 pm: Valerie Gendelsman 1:50 – 2:15 pm: Break 2:15 – 3:00 pm: Keynote Q&A, moderated by Anushka Nadkarni Event Moderator: Chris Burger Keynote: Ellen Shepard Senior Director, R&D Personal Care North America, Unilever, Trumbull, CT Hosted by Anushka Nadkarni Ellen Shepard is Senior Director of R&D for Dove and Dove Men+Care, North America, at Unilever, where she leads the scientific innovation behind some of the industry’s most trusted personal care brands. A chemical engineer by training, Ellen earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from UConn’s College of Engineering and later returned to Storrs for her MBA. Over a 25-year career at Unilever she has grown from process engineer to technical leader, working across skin cleansing, deodorants and skin care — translating fundamental skin science into formulations, claims and products that reach millions of consumers. Her work has delivered a series of firsts for the category: Unilever’s first mass-marketed micellar water cleanser; Dove’s first body wash reformulation in 17 years, featuring 24-hour Renewing MicroMoisture™ technology; and Dove’s first-ever Women’s Wellness Range, bringing expert, science-backed care to women navigating perimenopause and menopause. In 2025 she was named an inaugural CEW Innovator in recognition of her contributions to beauty science. Beyond the bench, Ellen is a committed mentor and advocate for the next generation of scientists and engineers. She serves as a board member of UConn’s Gouin Women in Leadership Initiative, supporting the university’s next generation of women engineers and leaders. She is based at Unilever’s R&D site in Trumbull, Connecticut. Speaker: Peter Tsolis Vice President of Research & Development, Skincare Category, The Estée Lauder Companies Rethinking Skincare: The Evolution of Our Relationship with Skin Our relationship with skin is evolving alongside advances in technology, shifting consumer behaviors, and changing perceptions of beauty and wellness. Technology is giving consumers new ways to understand their skin through AI driven analysis, personalized products, biotechnology, and at home diagnostics, while cultural and social influences continue to shape expectations for skincare and the products we use. These changes are pushing formulation science into new territory, creating opportunities to rethink how polymers, emulsifiers, delivery systems, and multifunctional ingredients can work together to deliver greater efficacy, stability, personalization, and sensorial appeal. By connecting the evolution of consumer behavior with advances in formulation technology, this presentation explores how the industry can move beyond simply responding to emerging skincare trends and instead formulate for what comes next. Peter Tsolis is a globally recognized leader in cosmetic science. With a distinguished career spanning some of the world’s most prestigious beauty brands, including La Mer, Clinique, Estée Lauder, M.A.C, and Tom Ford Beauty, Peter has led the creation of breakthrough products, technologies, and innovation platforms that have helped shape the future of skincare and color cosmetics. He is widely respected for bridging cutting edge science with consumer driven innovation, translating emerging technologies and advanced materials into transformative beauty experiences. A prominent voice in the global scientific community, Peter is Past President of the U.S. Society of Cosmetic Chemists and serves as President Elect of the International Federation of Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC). He is also an Adjunct Professor at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, where he teaches graduate level polymer science. Peter serves on boards and advisory boards across academia and the beauty industry and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chemistry from NYU, as well as an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. An inventor and prolific contributor to the field, he holds multiple patents and is a sought after speaker at leading global industry and scientific forums. Speaker: Dr. Huifang Li Research Fellow, University of Rhode Island Huifang Li, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and an assistant director in the Botanical Bioactive Research Laboratory (BBRL). Her work bridges academic research and cosmetic-industry needs by developing mechanistic approaches for evaluating cosmetic and natural-product ingredients. She uses cell-based models of extracellular matrix remodeling, ferroptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and skin aging, together with analytical chemistry, quantitative proteomics, and molecular target validation. Dr. Li has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and contributes to collaborative projects with cosmetic and ingredient companies. She is also actively involved in teaching and mentoring students. Her work aims to translate molecular insights into scientifically rigorous, practical strategies for cosmetic ingredient evaluation and evidence-based product innovation. Bridging Academia and Industry: Advancing Cosmetic Science through Collaborative Research and Education Collaboration between academia and the cosmetic industry provides unique opportunities to translate fundamental skin biology into innovative approaches for ingredient evaluation and product development. At the Botanical Bioactive Research Laboratory (BBRL) at the University of Rhode Island, we have established partnerships with cosmetic and ingredient companies, including local startups, to address emerging research needs in skin health and cosmetic science. This presentation will introduce our collaborative model and highlight research using cellular models of extracellular matrix remodeling, ferroptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and skin aging. These models support ingredient evaluation and help clarify the mechanisms of action. We will also discuss how advanced analytical and multi-omics approaches can strengthen ingredient characterization, biological assessment, and evidence-based decision-making. Beyond research, these collaborations create valuable opportunities for student education, interdisciplinary training, and workforce development. Together, academia and industry can build an integrated platform that advances scientific innovation while training the next generation of cosmetic scientists. Speaker: Marisa Plescia Founder, FemChem Beauty Sunscreen as a Second Skin: How SPF Formulation Influences Your Skin Beyond UV Protection Sunscreen is often evaluated primarily for its ability to provide UV protection. Yet once applied, it becomes more than a photoprotective system. Sunscreen forms a persistent layer on the skin that can influence hydration, transepidermal water loss, occlusion, comfort, and the overall skin microenvironment. In this sense, sunscreen can function as a temporary “second skin.” This presentation will examine how the complete sunscreen formulation, including film formers, emollients, preservatives, and UV filters, can help shape the way the product interacts with the skin barrier. By viewing sunscreen as a second skin, formulators can move beyond evaluating UV filters alone and consider how the entire formulation affects both protection and skin performance. Marisa Plescia is an experienced cosmetic chemist with extensive expertise and education, having received degrees and completed coursework in both the USA and Europe. She has earned four graduate degrees in Cosmetic and Fragrance Science, Business, and STEM education, graduating from both the University of Cincinnati Cosmetic Science program and ISIPCA in France.