Clare Durrant graduated from BSc Cosmetic Science in 2007, and is now with Molton Brown.

I started out on my career in the cosmetics industry, as what academically is known as a 'non-standard applicant'. Having always had a strong interest in cosmetics, but having not found science an easy subject at GCSE, I decided against the typical A-level route of science subjects, instead training as a make-up artist, undertaking a National Diploma course in hair and make-up at London College of Fashion. After qualifying I worked as a freelance makeup artist, eventually selling cosmetics in department stores. Whilst selling cosmetics, I became fascinated by how the products actually worked, and ultimately began rethinking my career towards the area of cosmetic product development.

An internet search led me back to London College of Fashion's (then newly started) BSc (Hons) Cosmetics Science course, and rather daunted, I went along with some trepidation to the open day. Here the course director Dr Danka Tamburic assured me that 'with the help of a special bridging study course', I would be able to join this new course with success, which had been designed specifically by experts with industry demands in mind. The course seemed to offer me an opportunity to turn my aspirations into a reality. In Oct 2003 I started back once again at London College of Fashion, where this time I suddenly found myself surrounded by many younger colleagues! At first, I was nervous about this, but I was fortunate to study with a great group of students and we all helped each other to learn.

The course more than met my expectations in terms of the delivery, content and more importantly the calibre of the fantastic full time and visiting staff, most of whom had enjoyed long and successful careers in the cosmetics industry. The CTPA and CPL Aromas are the major supporters and driving forces behind this unique specialist course, the CTPA very generously awarding annual bursaries for best student and best placement project during years one to three. To my great amazement I was awarded these three times during my student years. These bursaries apart from being financially so helpful in supporting me as a mature student, also gave a great boost to my self-confidence and ultimately, I believe, to my employability.

One of the most exciting parts of the course were my industry placements. At the end of year one I managed to secure a summer work experience with Croda, spending 10 weeks over the holidays in their product application laboratory in East Yorkshire. During year three I undertook my industrial placement with Creative Outsourcing Solutions International (now Budlepack-COSi) as a product development technologist. It was my great fortune during this time, to work with colleagues who freely imparted their deep and extensive knowledge of modern formulation techniques. This period enabled me to clearly put the academic theory of the course into real life operation.

My year three project involved developing a new range of products for a major high street retailer, in the challenging area of self-tanning products. When I returned for my fourth and final year to LCF, my industrial experience enabled me to tackle my final project with a high level of confidence and industry focus. The project, for me, offered an opportunity to bring together everything I had studied over the three years - including legislation, claim substantiation, formulation, stability, marketing, packaging and perfumery. My supervisor Dr. Danka Tamburic was incredibly supportive, giving me guidance and much inspiration throughout the challenging final project. After graduating, I returned to COSi as a junior scientist for another year, before deciding that the time was right to move on to a new position in R & D. My new job offers an exciting opportunity to utilise and expand my existing skill-set, and to gain more experience in both the technical and the retail side of the cosmetics industry.

In retrospect, it became clear to me how the course was so accurately focused on the demands of industry, which I know, is a view shared by my fellow students. The course aims at enabling students entering the cosmetics industry, to 'hit the ground running' and to ultimately gain employment and work successfully in the industry. The marketing units of the course were especially useful in helping me to put the whole global cosmetics industry in perspective, as well as enabling me to take a more commercial stance with the day-to-day business demands of this increasingly competitive industry. I know that without the firm foundation of the BSc Cosmetics Science course, I would not be where I am today, nor have gained such wide experience and knowledge. I thank all that have helped and advised me along my journey so far, and sincerely hope that those following in my footsteps will enjoy this unique and challenging course, and achieve success in their future roles.

Extracted from the CTPA Annual Report 2007.