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Our mission: To advance cosmetic science

Our mission is to share scientific information, innovation, and research in the cosmetics and personal care and industry through education, events, and publications.  By setting high ethical, professional, and educational standards, we improve the qualifications and caliber of cosmetic scientists everywhere.

 

History of SCC

Building a community and expanding knowledge for more than 75 years.

The 1940s

On May 23, 1945, the founding meeting was held at the Lexington Hotel in New York City, and the Society of Cosmetic Chemists was formed as a non-profit professional Society.  It was the first and only Society of its kind, with a mission focused "To establish a medium through which scientific knowledge of the toilet goods industry can be disseminated, and to improve cosmetic and perfumery chemists' professional standing. Its purpose shall be limited to such as are scientific, professional, educational or charitable." 

The 1950s

Two more SCC chapters were formed:  the New York Chapter (1955) and California Chapter (1958).  For more than 60 years, these continue to be two of the largest and strongest chapters of the SCC.

The 1960s

This decade welcomed the first-ever female President of the Society, Sophie L. Plechner, in 1961.

Chapter formation was a strong focus in this decade, with four chapters being chartered:  New England (1960), Mid-Atlantic Chapter (1967), St. Louis Chapter (1968), and Ohio Valley Chapter (1969).

The 1970s

Chapter formation remained a focus for the SCC, with four new chapters being chartered:  Twin Cities Chapter (1972), Southwest Chapter (1975), Golden Gate Chapter (1975), and Southeast Chapter (1978). 

In 1976, the Frontiers of Science Award/Lecture was created to recognize a speaker who has achieved exceptional national or international stature in the scientific community and has been a part of the Annual Scientific Meeting talks since then.

The 1980s

The Society's Lifetime Service Award is created and bestowed upon those individuals who have given extraordinary service over the course of their membership. The first award was presented in 1986 to Robert A. Kramer.  The recipients are honored for their concern for the Society - its goals and its membership over the course of many years. Subsequently, in 1986 it was renamed the Robert A. Kramer Lifetime Service Award.

The SCC gained five more chapters that decade:  Carolina Chapter (1980), Lake Erie Chapter (1982), Connecticut Chapter (1983), Florida Chapter (1984), and Long Island Chapter (1987).

The 1990s

In April of 1993, the headquarters offices moved from upper Manhattan and downtown into the financial district at 120 Wall Street, which would be the Society’s home for the next 25 years.

The Society created the Young Scientist Award (1993), presented to recognize the outstanding achievements of cosmetic scientists under the age of 40 throughout the cosmetics and personal care industry.

This was also the decade that saw the introduction of Student Poster Awards at the Annual Scientific Meeting & Showcase (1995) to highlight and promote the work being done by graduate and undergraduate students pursuing careers in the industry.

These Chapters were also formed in this decade:  Ontario (1996) and Quebec (1997).

The 2000s

The Society launched its first website to reach a larger audience while extending enhanced services to our membership and chapter.

By digitizing our historic journals, we have an inventory of our evolutionary progress in developing new products based on sound standards.

One more Chapter was formed in this decade:  Intermountain West (2003).

The 2010s

The SCC hosted a successful international meeting of the IFSCC Congress in 2016 in Orlando, FL.  Nearing the end of 2017, the SCC hires a CEO and develops its first-ever formal strategic plan (2019) to focus on delivering value to members, chapters, and the industry.

In 2018, the Society moved the headquarters offices from the East River waterfront space into a smaller, more cost-effective space across the street from the world-famous New York Stock Exchange.

A year of big changes for the organization, 2019 saw the Journal of Cosmetic Science transition to a fully digital format; a robust digital media library and resource center was launched; annual meeting session recordings were made available for the first time; we began our transition to virtual education opportunities; and we created an award to recognize the contributions of women in the industry, The Florence Wall Women in Cosmetic Chemistry Award.

Chapters saw substantial increase in support from the HQ office – from accounting training support to local election management and rebate bonuses to contract review and negotiation.

The most recent SCC Chapter formed in this decade:  Michigan (2013).

The 2020s

Comprised of 6,000 members in 19 Chapters across greater North America, the Society celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2020!   And in 2021, we’ll celebrate the 75th Annual Scientific Meeting and Showcase.

In the year that brought us the COVID pandemic (2020), the Society executed its first-ever fully virtual annual scientific meeting and showcase, and also launched its traditional CEP courses and other education in virtual formats to great success.

We’re grateful for the continued support of the thousands of members who have called the SCC their professional home – for over 75 years!