Exfoliating Agents: Selection and Formulation Tips

What are exfoliating agents?

Exfoliating agents are ingredients used in cosmetic products to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin through a technique known as exfoliation. This process occurs in 3 steps:

New cells are born at the basal surface of the skin (stratum basale)
The new cells push the dead skin cells onto the topmost layer of skin (stratum corneum)
The dead cells are removed from the skin surface allowing the new layer of skin cells to come to the surface and grow

When you exfoliate, you are mildly abrading your skin and removing the surface layer of dead cells. Removing excess dead skin cells can reveal the younger and healthier-looking skin underneath. Exfoliants are gritty solids of varying particle size which provide sensory signals of cleansing when rubbed into the skin. The abrasive nature of these particles suspended in a suitable base provides a smooth after-feel.

Exfoliating cleansers, scrubs and skin polishes are popular among consumers who look for deep cleansing.

Why is it important to exfoliate your skin?

Exfoliation allows for cell turnover, which, in essence, is the removal of the old to make way for the new. This is also a way to protect the skin and assist it in the anti-aging process. The process goes on constantly, and the skin cells grow old & die as they become saturated with keratin.

As people get older, the process of cell migration from the lower layers to the topmost layers becomes uneven and can even slow down. This causes the skin to look dull and uneven and show signs of wrinkling.

Hence, proper and regular exfoliation allows the dead cells to shed away giving way to newer ones efficiently. This keeps the skin healthy and younger-looking because it promotes more even cell turnover by keeping the newer skin cells in a constant state of motion thus preventing the skin from looking and feeling old.

Key benefits of the exfoliation process include:

Aid rejuvenation of the skin
Prevent undesirable conditions such as acne scarring or ingrown hairs
Hide fine lines
Add glow and luster to the skin

Why are exfoliating agents used in exfoliation process?

Skin regeneration and renewal occur constantly with time. The natural process of shedding dead skin cells is called desquamation. The process of forming new cells while shedding the older ones depends on the age of a person. The cycle of skin renewable for different age groups is mentioned below.

Skin renewal in babies takes 14 days only
New cells for teenagers are formed within 28 days
Between 20 to 50 years the cycle lasts from 28-42 days
Above 50 years, this cycle can last up to 84 days

However, this process is slow and gradual. It does not provide the same level of exfoliation as external methods. Hence, there is a need for certain external agents that fasten the exfoliation process to achieve the desired result.

How does exfoliation happen?

Exfoliation is an important step used by consumers in skincare routines. It happens in two ways: chemical and physical (also known as mechanical).

Chemical exfoliation

This method uses chemical compounds to dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. This allows the old cells to shed more easily. Some of the most common are alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic, salicylic, or lactic acids.

At higher concentrations, these ingredients act as chemical peels and remove the topmost layer of skin. A chemical peel goes far below the epidermis into the dermis. This method of going deep into the skin stimulates new cell growth on a more rapid level, the same level as when the skin was younger and healthier.

Mechanical or physical exfoliation

With the use of scrubbing particles to physically scrub away dead skin cells. Examples include scrubs containing granules like salt, sugar, or beads, brushes, loofahs, and dry brushing. The manual action of these agents & tools helps to dislodge and remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells.

Mechanical Exfoliation with Abrasive Materials

The cosmetic procedures of dermabrasion and microdermabrasion are extreme cases of exfoliation. The surface layer of the skin is removed as if by sanding. These techniques fall under the category of mechanical or physical exfoliation.

Microdermabrasion is a less invasive and gentler form of exfoliation targeting only the outermost layer of the skin. It uses a handheld device that releases tiny crystals (typically aluminum oxide) onto the skin's surface, while simultaneously vacuuming them away, along with the loosened dead skin cells. Performed by dermatologists, aestheticians, or even at home with specialized devices to treat:
- Mild skin concerns such as dullness, uneven pigmentation, and clogged pores.
- Skin texture and fine lines.
Microdermabrasion causes minimal trauma to the skin. It has a shorter recovery time and requires no anesthesia.

Dermabrasion is a skin resurfacing technique that uses a rotating instrument with a rough surface to remove the outer layer (epidermis) and part of the middle layer (dermis). Generally used to treat deeper skin concerns such as:
- Acne scars, chickenpox marks, and scars resulting from accidents or disease.
- Age spots, fine lines, sun damage, pigmentation disorders, and certain types of skin lesions.
Dermabrasion causes significant trauma to the skin. The procedure requires a longer recovery period (usually 7-14 days) for the skin to heal. Performed under local or general anesthesia due to the intensity of the procedure.

Microdermabrasion vs. dermabrasion – Key differences you should know

	Microdermabrasion	Dermabrasion
Procedure type	Non-invasive	Invasive
Target area	Outer layer of the skin	Outer and middle layer of the skin
Anesthesia	Not required	Required
Recovery time	7-14 days	Short - None

Types of Exfoliants: Chemical & Physical

Chemical exfoliants: Subcategories with examples

Chemical exfoliation involves the use of acids or enzymes to help dissolve away either the ‘glue’ that holds skin cells together (BHA and Enzyme action) or the actual skin cell itself (AHA’s).

Aged cells that remain attached for longer than necessary can give the skin a patchy, grey look, and can also trap dirt underneath them making comedones more likely. Gently removing these cells has an immediate brightening effect on the complexion while also leaving it feeling smoother and cleaner.

Chemical exfoliants include scrubs containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, fruit enzymes, citric acid, or malic acid, which may be applied in high or low concentrations as recommended by the dermatologist.

AHA’s or Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Alpha hydroxy carboxylic acids, or α-hydroxy carboxylic acids (AHAs), are a group of carboxylic acids featuring a hydroxy group located one carbon atom away from the acid group. AHAs can be quite powerful due to their ability to dissolve the whole skin cell, so care must be taken in their selection, formulation and application.

Structure of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
(Source: Wikipedia)

The following points should be noted with AHAs:

The smaller the AHA molecule the more mobile it is.
The lower the pH the faster it can travel across and through the skin.
The higher the concentration of the AHA in your formula the more complete the action across the skin surface.

Notable AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, and citric acid. Glycolic acid at a pH of around 3 in a concentration of 10% or more is about as strong as a cosmetic product gets!

BHA salicylic acid

A beta hydroxy carboxylic acid or β-hydroxy carboxylic acid (BHA) is a carboxylic acid containing a hydroxy functional group separated by two carbon atoms. The BHA salicylic acid has a more specialized action dissolving away the glue that holds skin cells together in sheets.

Structure of Beta hydroxycarboxylic Acid (BHA)
(Source: Wikipedia)

Salicylic acid is best formulated into the oil component of a formula, or in an oil-free environment can be pre-neutralized to a salt with sodium hydroxide before addition.

Alpha and beta-hydroxyacids - Select 20+ commercial grades available in our database

Enzymes

The final class of chemical exfoliants, enzymes are attractive to the formulator as they look much more natural on an INCI listing! The two of the more common enzymes used in cosmetic formulations are:

Bromelain and
Papain

These work in a similar way to the BHA by dissolving away the glue that binds the cells together. While these ingredients sound the best in terms of naturalness and purity, they are the most likely to cause a skin reaction.

Challenges you might face while working with chemical exfoliants

AHAs and BHAs, if formulated into a stable base, are unlikely to raise the risk of a formula, whereas enzymes can due to their reactivity (potential to degrade) and their carbon content. However, let's address the downsides of using chemical exfoliants in your formulation.

Being acidic in nature, AHA’s do pose for formulator, some compatibility challenges including being un-suitable for use with acrylate type thickeners such as carbomers. There are also some difficulties when working with AHA’s in organic formulations as some organic certification bodies don’t allow the use of sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH upwards to a safe level. Acids can also react with metal oxides (iron oxides) shifting their color and will reduce carbonates (pearl extract, sodium bicarbonate) to their salt plus water and gas (carbon dioxide).

One other important point to note when working with AHA’s is the fact that the use of formulations containing AHA’s will leave the skin more sensitive to sunlight. There are specific laws regulating how this risk is worded to the public, but as a formulator, care should be taken to balance the benefits of the AHA product with the risk of leaving premature skin-cells exposed to UV.

Salicylic acid use is restricted in cosmetic formulations due to its potential to be toxic within the body, and as such, we stick to concentrations of 2% or lower for adult formulations.

Enzymes are biologically active, and as such, these are not a good first choice for people with damaged or aged skin. The other down-side of enzyme technology is their bio-burden.

These factors can be successfully formulated around, and enzyme exfoliant products do have their place in the cosmetic market but it is important that the formulator and brand owner doesn’t overlook these points when putting a product together.

Physical exfoliants: Subcategories with examples

Plastic microbeads

Up to now, plastic microbeads have largely dominated the market. There are four main reasons why a brand might have come to decision to use plastic microbeads in a cosmetic product:

Face cleanser with plastic microbeads

They are cheaper than pretty much every other option. Cheaper by a huge margin, quite possibly only 1/10th of the cost.
They present a much lower micro bio-burden than the vast majority of their natural equivalents, especially the nutshell equivalents.
Nobody is allergic to plastic.
They can be colored, shaped, sized, and weighted to order - hard or soft, big or small.

But times are rapidly changing, and what was once a great idea now looks negligent and completely unappealing. Governments around the world have spoken, bringing in legislation to ban these tiny bits of plastic from cosmetic products, products that end up directly in our waterways and beads that ultimately wash into our seas.

There are plenty of alternatives, each having pros & cons. The challenge is to achieve microbially stable formulations with natural particulates without using ‘strong’ preservatives such as the parabens and formaldehyde donors. You can also use sustainable alternatives that are biodegradable.

Jojoba beads

Jojoba beads were early onto the market and remain popular, with many manufacturers now offering exfoliants based on Jojoba esters or hydrogenated jojoba oil.

Some key advantages of jojoba beads in cosmetic products include:

Naturally moisturizing and skin-compatible
High tolerance to oxidation making them very stable

The beads are perfectly spherical for a gentle scrub with a low irritancy potential, which is ideal for incorporating into products for sensitive, aged, or problem skin. However, jojoba isn’t the most cost-effective oil and as such jojoba beads won’t suit every application.

Lower cost alternatives to jojoba beads:

Ecobeads® from Cargill – A blend of jojoba, palm and candelilla. This makes the blend more cost-effective, but the palm content may raise question marks amongst the market even if it is sustainably sourced (trust in the supply chain for Palm remains relatively low).
Castor oil from Worlée
Rapeseed oil derivative from Koster Keunen

Polylactic acid (PLA) beads

Another sustainable alternative to plastic microbeads is the use of polylactide resins as exfoliants. This biopolymer is usually manufactured from corn or sugar-beet and are biodegradable. Bioplastics is a term that applies to both biodegradable petroleum-based plastics and plant-derived plastics that aren’t necessarily biodegradable as well as mixtures of the two.

Key benefits of PLA include:

Gentle abrasive properties
Adequate morphology and density
Available at an industrial scale
Cost-effective renewable option

PLA beads discolor over time and lower the product pH due to release of lactic acid causing issues with product stability.

Natural Particles

Natural particulates allow the formulator to really develop a story for the brand. Many of these plant-derived scrub agents come from sources known for their:

Antioxidants (Grapeseed, Olive, Cranberry)
Skin stimulating effects (Coffee, Guarana)
Moisturizing power (Oats, Sugar) or
Antimicrobial properties (Tea Tree, Sandalwood)

The table below shows the list of natural particles along with their level of exfoliation, key examples, physical form and risks associated with them.

Natural particles	Examples	Form	Risks
Grains deliver low to medium exfoliation	Rice Oats	Powder Fine particulate	Medium to low risk of oxidation High surface area and carbon content make them prone to microbial issues.
Fibers can achieve varying levels of exfoliation	Sandalwood Loofah	Fibrous Irregular	May oxidize High surface area and carbon content make them prone to microbial issues Difficult to suspend because of their irregular weight and surface area.
Botanicals deliver varying levels of exfoliation	Hibiscus Tea tree Guarana Bitter Orange	Irregular	Prone to oxidation High surface area and carbon content make them prone to microbial issues. May cause allergy Discoloration of formula
Nutshells possess a high level of abrasiveness	Walnut Argan Almond	Irregular with rough edges	Stable oxidation Highly prone to microbial attack Pose potential allergy
Soft minerals offer soft to medium exfoliation	Pearls Sodium bicarbonate	Powder Fine granules	Pearls could pose a risk for spores, but the high pH of bicarbonate makes it less risky for microbes Partially or wholly dissolve in contact with water Not recommended in acidic environments as they will react
Hard minerals deliver excellent level of exfoliation best suited to heavy-duty or deep-cleansing applications	Diamond Pumic Sand	Crystalline to rough depending on how they are ground May contain very sharp edges	Relatively low microbial risk May introduce dormant mold spores if not stored carefully Chemically non-reactivity and lack of sting-factor
Salts offer medium to high abrasiveness to the skin	Himalayan Rock Salt Sea salt Magnesium	Crystalline relatively regular or irregular granules	Less prone to microbial attack Salts sting open wounds & dry out the skin Limited formulating freedom
Sugars offer medium to high abrasiveness to the skin	Brown sugar White sugar Coconut sugar Palm sugar	Crystalline relatively regular or irregular granules	Very low risk of microbial contamination Moisture sensitivity can give a sticky feeling and low formulating freedom
Seeds and kernels deliver low to medium exfoliation	Strawberry Apricot Rosehip Grapeseed Olive Cranberry Lotus	Irregular with large surface area to volume and rough edges	Prone to oxidation Highly vulnerable to microbial degradation due to surface dynamics and high carbon content May discolor the formulation and allergy
Select from 700+ biobased exfoliants available in our database

Discover the range of exfoliating agents available in our database based on their origin.

Considerations for Formulating Exfoliating Particles

You need to pay attention to the following criteria when selecting your exfoliants:

Particle type, size, and concentration

The level of exfoliation or particle abrasiveness depends on the hardness of the material used, the shape & edge of the particles.

Particle type: Exfoliating particles can be derived from various sources including natural materials or synthetic materials. The choice of particle type depends on factors such as desired abrasiveness, cost, and compatibility with other ingredients.

Particle size and shape: The size and shape of the particles play a crucial role in determining their exfoliating effectiveness. Larger, irregular particles tend to be more abrasive and are best suited for body scrubs. Smaller, rounded particles are gentler on the skin and will be preferred in facial applications.

Particle concentration: The concentration affects the degree of exfoliation. It should be carefully balanced to avoid over-exfoliation or irritation.

Compatibility with your skin type & other ingredients

Exfoliating particles must be compatible with your skin type and other ingredients in the formulation.

Skin type: Different skin types may require different types and concentrations of exfoliating particles. For sensitive skin, gentler particles and lower concentrations are generally recommended.

Product type and ingredients: The exfoliating particles should be suitable for the intended product type (e.g., scrub, mask, or cleanser). They should also show compatibility with other ingredients including surfactants, thickeners, and preservatives.

Incompatibility issues with cometic ingredients can lead to stability issues or reduced efficacy.

Suspending power or yield strength

Viscosity (or thickening power) is not enough to hold back gravitational pull. A formula needs strength or suspending power and we measure that in its yield value – the initial resistance to flow shear applied stress. Yield value is measured in Dynes/cm². A dyne is a unit of measure that relates centimeters, grams and seconds so the distance travelled in cm by a certain weight over a set time.

The formulator has a choice of many thickeners including a whole range of natural gums and polymers but not all of these will have the yield strength necessary to hold exfoliant particles in suspension for a 30-month shelf-life. While the formulator can get some starting-point help from data sheets and values, getting this absolutely right for what might be quite a complex and unique formula involves experimentation, observation and quite possible a dash of centrifuge analysis!

The particle size, shape and weight of an exfoliant must be considered when selecting an appropriate suspending agent and in a mixed system it is entirely possible that one exfoliant holds while another ‘falls through the cracks’. This is one reason why some formulators choose to use two suspending agents – to form a more complex mesh structure with a synergistically higher yield. A combination of freeze/ thaw stability and centrifuge analysis helps to short-cut the R&D process in selecting the right suspending agent.

In a cream-based formulation, the yield value is often achieved through a combination of the emulsion structure as given by the emulsifier and any structuring waxes plus a water-phase thickener. While the formulator should consider the extra burden placed on these structures by the exfoliant particles the chances of failure are much lower.

Melting point, color, and exfoliant solubility

Other than yield value considerations, factors such as the exfoliant solubility, melting point, color and/or odor deserve a mention.

Melting Point: Some of the natural wax beads such as jojoba have a low melting point and can start to dissolve into the base if added at 40°C.

Color: Pearl exfoliant particles will react with any acidic material in the formula and some plant-based materials such as cranberry and hibiscus may partially dissolve and discolor a formulation turning it pink!

Solubility: Care must also be taken when using salt and sugar as any moisture in the formula including that from surfactants, actives or humidity can soften and deform these exfoliant particles.

Preservation strategy

The final point to consider with exfoliants either physical or chemical is preservation.

AHA’s will require a low pH, usually 4 or less to enable them to work effectively, this puts AHA formulations into a lower risk bracket microbially but doesn’t mean the product is necessarily risk-free. Preservatives selected must be able to work at this low pH and should also avoid reacting with the acids in the formula.

Enzymes in skin care applications, typically work well at pH 5-7 even though the enzymes themselves can sit in formulations with pH between 3-9. We tend to keep the formulations at pH 5-7 with enzymes to minimize the potential for irritation given that enzymes are already more likely to irritate the skin than a mild AHA. At this pH, microbial contamination is at higher risk, so a good broad-spectrum preservative plus other free-water binding and chelating strategies is wise.

Physical exfoliants are nearly always going to increase a formulations bio-burden due to the increased surface-area that is introduced. Sometimes it is appropriate to irradiate the exfoliant before adding it to the formula in order to introduce it ‘clean’.

Other times the only option is to follow a diligent whole-formula preservation strategy with chelating agent, free-water management, Good Manufacturing Practice and low-risk packaging choice to get you through. While working with exfoliants can be challenging, if potential problems are identified and tackled step-by-step it is more than possible to produce a wide range of safe formulations for our clients. What’s more, the amazing array of choice in terms of colors, textures, aroma’s and chemistry makes our job even more exciting, artistic and rewarding than ever before.

While physical exfoliants are less likely to give the formulator chemical problems in a formula they can be equally difficult to work with. What one is trying to do with a physical exfoliant particle is suspend it neatly in a fluid base – to hold it up against the forces of gravity. This is a challenge in itself!

Find Suitable Exfoliants for Your Formulation & Skin Type

Consumers recognize the vital role of skin in overall health. Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. A great majority of consumers perceive an almost immediate difference, if they start properly exfoliating their skin. Exfoliant particles by nature are abrasive and cause:

Potential to damage the epidermal layers
Produce irritation and
Aggravate some dermatological conditions such as Acne

This is because the gritty particles can break the walls of closed comedones beneath the stratum corneum. This thereby triggers the inflammation process.

Scrub products are a unique category of cleansing tools called Exfoliating Cleansers. They focus on: Cleansing, Conditioning, and Treating. Scrubs also called skin or body polishes have strong consumer appeal. They are perfect for removing makeup, skin debris, and dirt. This leaves the skin fresher, smoother, and more translucent look. Safety issues sometimes limit their use.

In general, scrub performance depends on the water-soluble or water-insoluble abrasives used in a scrub product. An additional benefit is the treatment of skin with conditioners such as minerals, natural oils, emollients, vitamins, antioxidants, anti-aging ingredients, and other nutrients.

Mild gentle scrubs contain natural botanical exfoliants suspended in a base of essential, often exotic oils and fragrances. The essential oils work toward a deep-down clean, while the small natural exfoliating grains smooth and rejuvenate skin texture.

Non-aqueous-based Exfoliating Cleansers

They provide complete cleansing while also focusing on skin conditioning and treating.

Water-soluble abrasives, such as brown or white sugar and salt, are generally used in non-aqueous-based formulas. Sugar is a natural anti-microbial agent that does not spoil over time.

Salt usually makes a slightly grittier product than the sugars, and it may also be drying for those with dry skin. Salt scrubs are generally not recommended for facial skin, but sugar scrubs are excellent choices. These abrasives are suspended or immersed in a wide range of carrier oils.

In salt scrubs, besides sodium chloride, other salts such as magnesium, calcium or potassium chloride and dead sea salts are used in the preferred particle size range of 150 - 800 microns.

Non-aqueous Formulas Containing Exfoliating Agents

Commonly used are natural or essential oils, esters, mineral oils, iso-paraffin, silicones, and glycols. Glycols are not suitable for sugar scrubs. Silicones are not used in products marketed under the natural umbrella. Some natural oils are used in oil-based scrubs. The choice of oils depends on whether the product is formulated for normal, dry, or oily skin.

A popular category of non-aqueous scrubs is Warming Scrubs.

These exfoliant cleansers feature a warming technology that instantly heats up when mixed with water to remove pore-clogging residue.
The warmth helps the scrub provide a deeper cleansing, deep down-to-the-pores, minimizing the pore appearance and leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth.
These formulations are often glycol based with zeolites. Glycols commonly used are PEG-8, ethoxydiglycol and butylene glycol.

Warming body scrubs unlike salt scrubs are less irritating and suitable for dry facial skin. Besides sugar and salt, there are products that use unique ingredients such as: Almonds, Oats, Orange Peel, Rose Powder, Pecan Powder, Nutmeg Powder, Clove Powder and other natural ingredients.

Aqueous-based Exfoliating Cleansers

These traditional scrubs continue to enjoy an upswing in the growing spa market. The soft massage beads dissolve as the cleanser lathers to gently polish away dull, lifeless skin to reveal its natural glow. These scrubs also have: moisturizing, skin nourishing, and antioxidant ingredients. Typical example is Dove Gentle Exfoliating Daily Facial Cleanser.

Gels, Creams, Pastes or Thick Lotions Containing Exfoliating or Scrubbing Agents

The basic types of aqueous formulas are gels, creams, pastes or thick lotions.

Paste-like formulas are mainly based on sodium stearate/stearic acid mixtures, which suspend the abrasive particles.
Gel-like formulas are anionic surfactant systems with additional gelling agents for suspending the abrasives.
Emulsion type is a thickened cleansing emulsion, which is capable of suspending abrasive particles. The abrasives used include:
- Polyethylene beads
- Pumice
- Nylon powder
- Polypropylene
- Cellulose beads

Natural shells or seeds include walnut, almond or cottonseed shells & jojoba beads; natural fibers such as Loofah (fibers from exotic cucumber) & Sisal; seeds such as sunflower-, grape- & watermelon seed; waxes and other items include orange peel, almond and oatmeal.

Micro Powders has an extensive and innovative product range of specialty micronized waxes designed to be used as exfoliating agents which are non-irritating to skin surfaces.

Select from 1400+ exfoliating agents present in our databse

Select from 1400+ exfoliating agents present in our databse

References:

About Amanda Foxon-Hill

Amanda Foxon Hill

Amanda Foxon-Hill is a consultant Chemist and Science Communicator with over 14 years of experience in the global cosmetics industry. She is a writer, after dinner speaker, strategist and lecturer in all aspects of cosmetic science and runs a successful consultancy practice under the name of Realize Beauty.

Amanda’s key skills are in networking and communicating ideas and opportunities both on a business to business and business to market level. She is an advocate for green science and through her team funds research into the development of more sustainable manufacturing practices.

About Nick Morante

Nick Morante is currently a Senior Chemist at IFC Solutions (formerly International Foodcraft) in New Jersey where he works with many types of colors and additives for both the food and cosmetics industries.

He has over 40 years of experience in the formulation of cosmetics, personal care products and makeup products. Prior to joining IFC, Nick was a consultant to the cosmetics industry for over 10 years providing custom formulations for clients as well as giving presentations and seminars to various companies and organizations within the cosmetics industry providing guidance in the practical use of color in consumer products.

He is current an adjunct faculty member at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s School of Natural Sciences in Hackensack, NJ where he is an instructor in the Master of Science Program in Cosmetic Science.

Nick also spent over 30 years in Research and Development at The Estée Lauder Companies where he was both a formulator and laboratory manager in the corporate makeup and hair care departments. He was also in charge of the Color Science Laboratory where he was responsible for color measurement and spectrophotometric analysis of finished products, ingredients and human skin as it relates to color that is used in various cosmetic products, as well as developing testing protocols and methodologies for many color applications.

Nick holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The New York Institute of Technology. He has taken numerous continuing education courses in the area of cosmetic science. He is a long time member of U.S. The Society of Cosmetic Chemists and has been active both on the local and national levels having served on the executive committee for the Long Island Chapter and on the National Board, serving as Area Director and National Secretary. He has been elected a Fellow of the Society and is an instructor for the Society’s Continuing Education Program (CEP) Program in the area of color and makeup formulation problem solving and troubleshooting.

He has given many seminars and presentations worldwide as well as to the SCC, CTFA and HBA. He has been awarded numerous patents and has contributed many articles and papers and authored chapters in numerous cosmetic, technical and beauty publications and texts.

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