Young Scientist Essay Prize
Maison G de Navarre Young Scientist Essay Prize
First awarded in 1988, this prize is now awarded annually to enable a young cosmetic scientist to attend an IFSCC Congress.
The 2025 prize will be an invitation to attend the 2025 IFSCC Congress in Cannes, France, with the cost of travel, accommodation and registration fees up to, but not exceeding, 5000 Swiss Francs, being reimbursed by the IFSCC. Any member of a member society of the IFSCC may apply, if they are no more than 35 years of age when they submit their essay (note: this means the Author can be 35 years, 364 days old when they submit their essay).
Applicants requirements
- Essay submission
Applicants should submit an essay of between 500 and 3,000 words on one of five topics chosen below. The winner is determined by Committee, which receives blinded copies of all submitted essays. - Interview Process
The top three essays chosen by the prize committee will undergo virtual interviews with questions on their essays. These interviews will be conducted by a group of members of the IFSCC Praesidium. The individual who provides the most exceptional answers, as collectively agreed upon by the prize committee, will then be declared the winner.
How to apply
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Essay submission
Download form
The applicant enters the competition by emailing a copy of the essay (in English only) and the entry form by 1 April 2025 (extended to May 1, 2025) to secretariat@ifscc.org (subject line: MGdN 2025 submission)– cc’ing the office of the Member Society to which the applicant belongs. - By the time of submission, applicants must be members of good standing in their Society, which in turn must be current in its Federation subscription.
*Note that the Award winner must attend the Congress and accept the Prize in person.*
- Bio-Inspired and Biomimetic Cosmetics: Learning from Nature for Beauty Innovations
Explore how biotechnology and biomimetics are inspiring the development of cosmetic products that mimic natural processes and biological structures. Analyze how research in marine biology, plant genetics, or the structure of natural materials is influencing formulations that are respectful of and adaptable to the human body. - The Science of Healthy Aging: Cosmetics for Skin Longevity
Investigate the development of cosmetics focused on “healthy aging” and how science is redefining perceptions of anti-aging. Discuss how new active ingredients, such as peptides, growth factors, and epigenetic modulators, are used to keep skin healthy and balanced over time. - The Era of Regenerative Cosmetics: From Repair to Rejuvenation
Explore innovation in regenerative cosmetics, including products aimed at stimulating cellular repair and tissue regeneration. Analyze the impact of new technologies like stem cell therapy, growth factors, and biomaterials, and how they are revolutionizing skincare with products that go beyond surface repair. - Inclusive Beauty – Addressing Diversity in Cosmetic Science
Investigate how fragrances are formulated to offer benefits beyond scent, including therapeutic and wellness properties. Analyze the use of essential oils, functional aromatic compounds, and neuroscience techniques to create fragrances that influence consumer mood and behavior. - Smart and Active Packaging Technologies for Cosmetics
Explore how smart packaging is transforming the consumer experience and product safety in cosmetics. Discuss innovations like packaging that releases active ingredients in a controlled manner, freshness-monitoring systems, and interactive QR labels that provide personalized, sustainable information, reducing waste and promoting transparency.
As an example, these are the topics for the 2025 prize
Past winners
- Congratulations to Jun Miao of China’s Pechoin, our 2025 winner with his essay ‘The Science of Healthy Aging: Strategies for Skin Longevity’. We had a record number of valid essay entries this year so this really is a brilliant achievement. We presented the award on stage during the Opening Ceremony of the FSCC 2025 Cannes Congress on 15 September.
- Congratulations to our 2024 winner, Kerry-Anne Viljoen (nee White) from Environ, South Africa. Her essay choice was ‘Sustainability and Circular Economy in Cosmetic Formulations: Life Cycle Thinking’. Kerry-Anne has an MSc in Chemistry and has previously worked in Materials Science, Failure Investigations and Vendor Management roles. She has also completed the Coschem Cosmetic Science Course.
- Dr Marta Gonçalves from of the Department of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering at Korea’s Sungkyunkwan University was the winner of the IFSCC 2023 Maison G de Navarre Young Scientist Essay Prize. Dr Gonçalves completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Porto and her master’s degree at the University of Lisbon in Portugal before moving to Korea’s Sungkyunkwan’s Institute of Nanoscience and Technology (SAINT) to complete her doctoral studies.
- The winner of the 2021 IFSCC Maison G de Navarre Young Scientist Essay Prize is Jin Hui Zuo of China (Shanghai Pechoin Daily Chemical Co Ltd). He was presented with his award virtually at the 2021 IFSCC virtual Cancun Conference in 2021. A formal award presentation will be done at the 2022 IFSCC Congress in London.
- The winner of the 2019 IFSCC Maison G de Navarre Young Scientist Essay Prize was Yan Liu of China (Shanghai Pechoin Daily Chemical Co Ltd). He was presented with his award at the 2019 IFSCC Conference in Milan.
MG de Navarre Young Scientist Prize Winners
Jun Miao’s essay, The Science of Healthy Aging: Strategies for Skin Longevity was assessed through our blinded review process and was recognized as the best following interviews.
Kerry-Anne Viljoen’s MG de Navarre winning essay Sustainability and Circular Economy in Cosmetic Formulations: Life Cycle Thinking sees her heading to the 2024 Brazil Congress courtesy of the IFSCC
Dr Marta Gonçalves won the 2023 Maison G de Navarre Young Scientist Essay Prize with her essay Evolution of Clean Beauty: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future. Her prize was a fully paid trip to the 2023 Congress in Barcelona (4-7 September 2023)
Jin Hui Zuo won the 2021 Maison G de Navarre Young Scientist Prize with his essay New anti-aging strategy of cosmetics, from skin physiology to skin “psychology”. His prize was a fully paid trip to the 2022 Congress in London (19-22 September 2022)
Yan Liu won the 2019 Maison G de Navarre Young Scientist Prize with his essay The Human Skin Microbiome: A New Way to Beauty. His prize was a fully paid trip to the 2019 Conference in Milan (30 September – 2 October 2019)
2017 Franziska Wandrey (Mibelle) won the prize with her essay, How science, technology and social changes influence the cosmetics of the future. Her prize was a fully paid trip to the 2017 Conference in Seoul
2015 Chaikriangkrai Amata (KOSÉ Corporation, Japan) won the prize with his essay From an Eco-friendly to an Eco-improving World of Cosmetic Science: Addressing Water Pollution in Emerging and Developing Societies. His prize was a fully paid trip to the 2015 Conference in Zurich
Here are the most recent winning essays
2025 Maison G de Navarre Winning Essay
2024 Maison G de Navarre Winning Essay
2023 Maison G de Navarre Winning Essay
2019 Maison G de Navarre Winning Essay
2017 Maison G de Navarre Winning Essay
2015 Maison G de Navarre Winning Essay
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