Science of Beauty: Spelman's Cosmetic Science Program

Black women creating beauty industry blueprints.

The beauty industry has undergone major shifts over the last decade, with increasing demands for inclusivity, clean ingredients, and science-backed solutions. Yet, many mainstream products still fail to meet the unique needs of Black women. Spelman College's Cosmetic Science program answers that need by preparing women of color to lead the next wave of change.

Spelman College’s Cosmetic Science program is more than a response to industry trends—it’s a declaration that Black women belong at the forefront of science, beauty, and innovation. Students learn cosmetic chemistry, dermatology, and product formulation, all while examining the cultural, social, and economic impact of beauty standards on communities of color. With graduates entering roles in research, product development, and corporate leadership, Spelman is building a pipeline of Black women who will shape the beauty industry from the inside out.

Leading this program is Dr. Leyte Winfield, Ph.D. is a distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Spelman College, where she is also the Division Chair for the Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM), Director of the Cosmetic Science Program, Co-Director of the Internal Steering Committee, Center of Excellence for Minority Women in STEM Chemistry and Biochemistry. Dr. Winfield is a synthetic organic chemist with experience in academic, industrial and military laboratories. From the combined experiences she has gained expertise in the various aspects of medicinal drug design, instrumental methods and synthetic techniques. Her efforts have been recognized by the American Association of Cancer Research and the Council for Undergraduate Research and partly funded by the National Institutes of Health.

To learn more about Dr. Winfield, click here.

More Works by Dr. Winfield:

• Moving Beyond the Experiment to See Chemists Like Me: Cultural Relevance in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory

• Journal of Chemical Education: Special Issue on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect in Chemistry Education Research and Practice

• Role of International Research Experiences in the Development of Women of Color in Chemistry

• Celecoxib and LLW-3-6 Reduce Survival of Human Glioma Cells Independently and Synergistically with Sulfasalazine

• Celecoxib and Bcl-2: emerging possibilities for anticancer drug design

Season 2 Episode 26

Running Time:  31 minutes