'The scope of this book is as wide as cosmetic science itself.'; 'It is a book that was written in a balanced way, one that caters for both scientists and for the general public.'; 'Consequently, the quality of Discovering Cosmetic Science is a result of the breadth of fields of expertise shared by all contributors.'; 'Discovering Cosmetic Science is current, relevant and scientifically accurate.'; 'The book's content is of practical relevance; in this book, the reader will not find obsolete information or impractical theories, but instead will find established scientific knowledge that is used daily by cosmetic scientists for creating cosmetic products.' -- Diogo Baltazar * International Journal Cosmetic Science *
Discovering Cosmetic Science is the book that so many people have long waiting for. Who has never wondered why cosmetic products have so many ingredients? Who has never wondered how cosmetic products work or whether they are safe? This is the book for getting such questions answered. At just over 300 pages, which include many helpful illustrative pictures, tables, diagrams and other schematics, this book is long, yet succinct, enough to cover a variety of topics for those wishing to understand what cosmetic science is. The scope of this book is as wide as cosmetic science itself. It does not read like a textbook, although I will use it as an important reference in my teaching. It does not read like a novel, although one could easily read it from beginning to end in their free time. It is a book that was written in a balanced way, one that caters for both scientists and for the general public. However, having chemistry and biology principles from Advanced Level education will allow the reader to understand the book fully, and it is to these readers that I would mostly recommend it. Nonetheless, a great part of Discovering Cosmetic Science is easily accessible to those that do not understand chemistry or biology that well. The common text boxes with 'Did you know?', make the reading experience more intuitive, easier to grasp through examples and more fun; although fun is likely not seen as a requirement in a technical book, its value should not be understated. With this book, scientists of other fields of knowledge or anyone in the general public will be able to understand how their cosmetic products are made, how they interact with their body and why they are safe, to name a few. It is important to note, however, that this book is not for those who want to learn how to formulate cosmetic products, although some general understanding of how formulations are created is included, along with some explanations of how formulations are optimised for particular textures or functions. Contrarily, cosmetic scientists and other scientists that work with formulations somehow (e.g. pharmacists, chemists, food scientists), will be able to hone their formulation skills by learning from Discovering Cosmetic Science. Furthermore, this book is also not intended to aid those who would seek to set up their own business, although it may inspire some. The book's first edition was published in 2021 by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK, but its origins are in the Society of Cosmetic Scientists (SCS). The SCS's members are not only passionate about cosmetic science, but also share the endeavour of educating the consumer, so they can truly enjoy their cosmetic products and have confidence in their efficacy and safety. It is not surprising, therefore, that this book was written by members of the SCS. It was written by several cosmetic scientists currently working and contributing to the cosmetic industry in a variety of roles and fields, and co-authored by Steve Barton, Allan Eastham, Amanda Isom, Denise McLaverty and Yi Ling Soong. It is interestingly appropriate that several cosmetic scientists contributed to the creation of this book, as it is representative of the variety of roles within the cosmetic industry; all of them different, yet equally important. Consequently, the quality of Discovering Cosmetic Science is a result of the breadth of fields of expertise shared by all contributors. Discovering Cosmetic Science is current, relevant and scientifically accurate. In it, you will find 10 Chapters that will take you through many fields of the cosmetic industry. Chapter 1 serves as a book guide; whilst answering a few questions that many people have and introducing basic, yet crucial points like 'What is a cosmetic?', it indicates the reader to some of the information that will be presented in detail in later chapters. Chapter 1 also includes some basic chemistry concepts that will help those with no science background to make the most of the book. Moreover, Chapter 1 does a good job in steering the reader away from chemophobia, one of the greatest challenges the cosmetic industry faces to date. The following chapters (2 - 8) address the many areas of cosmetic science, like skincare, haircare, oral care, perfumery and decorative products. In these chapters, readers will be able to go deep into the makings of products and the science behind their function or efficacy. Many of the different chapter subheadings are written as questions, mimicking the many questions consumers ask cosmetic scientists; this leads the reader into unfamiliar subjects with familiar language, facilitating the reader's learning. The frequent figures and boxes with miscellaneous curiosities lighten the reading and keep the reader interested. The final chapters (9 - 10) contribute to making Discovering Cosmetic Science unique. Chapter 9 explains some of the often-overlooked aspects of product testing, safety assessment and the substantiation of cosmetic product claims; the latter theme could have a whole chapter dedicated to it, as the world of claim substantiation is vast. Chapter 10 is the one I would recommend everyone starts with, as it addresses some of the most prevalent myths on cosmetic products. There is a section on ultra-violet (UV) filters within Chapter 8, followed by around 3 pages of how UV protection is tested in Chapter 9. However, I was expecting to find a whole chapter on sun protection, considering not only that there is a lot to learn about it, but also because it is an ever (more) relevant field within cosmetic science. It is a subject of high importance that the general population should be more informed about, aside of being a subject of relevance to public health. Therefore, I look forward to finding a chapter on sun protection in the next edition, in addition to an expanded section on claim substantiation. The chapters in Discovering Cosmetic Science provide some references that are relevant. Nevertheless, more than drawing information from academic references, what this book does well is transmitting to the reader information directly from cosmetic industry experts. Therefore, the book's content is of practical relevance; in this book, the reader will not find obsolete information or impractical theories, but instead will find established scientific knowledge that is used daily by cosmetic scientists for creating cosmetic products. Discovering Cosmetic Science can be bought in common online retailers in the United Kingdom for about GBP20 - 30, with both paperback and electronic versions available. -- Diogo Baltazar * International Journal Cosmetic Science *
