Isabelle Castiel-Higounenc (L’Oréal) is passionate about science and cosmetics. Even better, she wants to communicate her experience with you in our next webinar on Wednesday 29 May where she will focus on understanding and managing skin tone and pigmentation disorders.

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The skin is a fundamental organ of the human body, reflecting the diversity and uniqueness of each individual. Melanin is a natural pigment that contributes to the coloring of hair, eyes and skin. All skin types follow the same complex melanin production process, called melanogenesis. Each skin tone is a unique blend of eumelanin (dark, brown pigments) and pheomelanin (yellow, orange pigments), in varying quantities, which are responsible for the vast spectrum of human skin colors. Studies have shown that there are certain qualitative and quantitative specificities in the distribution of melanin in the skin, depending on populations of different origins. Many biological as well as external factors influence the physiological production of melanin. People who do not protect themselves from the sun are more prone to pigmentation disorders. The same applies to people suffering from hormonal imbalances or severe inflammation, as pigmentation disorders are more frequent in these people than in those who do not. Left untreated, these phenomena can lead to skin pigmentation problems such as age spots, brown macules and post-inflammatory marks. These pigmentation issues affect a major part of world’s population whatever their natural skin tone. As research delves deeper into the understanding of pigmentation in all its diversity, a holistic approach seems essential to targeting pigmentary disorders. In this presentation, we will decipher the various biological mechanisms that need to be addressed when taking a cosmetic approach to the specific problems of melanin over-production or accumulation, responsible for dark marks and skin tone heterogenicity.

TIMES
Wednesday 29 May
​​​​​​​8h West Coast USA • 10h Mexico City / Chicago • 11h East Coast USA / Bogotá • 13h Sao Paolo • 16h London • 17h Central Europe / West Africa • 18h Tel Aviv / South Africa • 9h30 New Delhi • 0h Singapore / HK / China / Taipei
Thursday 30 May
​​​​​​​1h Korea / Japan • 3h Melbourne • 5h Wellington

BIOGRAPHY
Isabelle Castiel-Higounenc graduated as a pharmacist Doctor from the University of Paris XI and has gathered 33 years of experience in the Dermo-cosmetic Industry. After a 3 year PhD in collaboration with Leiden University (Holland) and Galderma, focused on Skin Barrier function and skin lipids, she led the skin pharmacokinetic Department of Pierre Fabre Cosmetic for 4 years.
From 1997 she took several positions at L’Oréal R&I in France: in turn as Manager of a Skin Care Research Laboratory (ceramides, stem cells), head of the collaboration program on menopause with Laval University (Quebec), head of Oral Cosmetic Research for L’Oréal (Innéov portfolio, Nestlé/L’Oréal joint venture) and head of all collaborations with Galderma (Nestlé/L’Oréal joint venture). These years with research teams led to the release of 28 scientific publications.
In 2014 Isabelle joined the R&I Communications & Engagement Department, in charge of the group scientific experts’ communication strategy. She focuses mainly on skin health related topics such as Photoprotection, Pigmentation, Microbiome and Aging. In 2022 she has been appointed as IFSCC Praesidium committee member on behalf of (Société Française de Cosmétologie (SFC). She is organizing the 2025 IFSCC Congress in Cannes as Chair of Science.