Pictured above (left to right): Ava Perkins and Manessa Lormejuste during a fireside chat at Inolex.

At its Philadelphia office, The Hall, Inolex recently welcomed two dynamic voices shaping the future of beauty science and communication, Ava Perkins and Manessa Lormejuste, for an intimate fireside chat. The discussion explored the evolving intersection of cosmetic chemistry, content creation, sustainability, and more. It gave attendees a look at how science and storytelling coexist in today’s beauty industry.

Lormejuste, a beauty scientist, product developer, and founder of LORM·CO, traced her journey from studying chemistry at Rutgers University to interning and working full-time at L’Oréal. After time in the lab, she transitioned into skin care and later joined startups in California before launching her consulting business in 2024. Today, she works closely with emerging brands, helping them refine positioning, claims, and innovation strategies. She holds a BA in Chemical Biology and a Master of Business & Science in Personal Care Science from Rutgers. Lormejuste is regarded as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Beauty and was named a 2024 Top 30 Beauty Product Developer by Beauty Independent.

Perkins, currently pursuing her PhD, described her path into cosmetic science. She earned her BSPS in Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design at the University of Toledo. She returned to academia to deepen her research focus. Along the way, she recognized a disconnect between classroom learning and conversations happening on social media. Her goal is to bridge the gap between industry knowledge and consumer understanding in the cosmetic space.

Where to Network

Both speakers emphasized the importance of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) in their careers. Perkins credited her first New York SCC Suppliers’ Day in 2021 as a pivotal experience, noting that staying involved fuels her passion while social media amplifies that engagement. She taught the Future Chemist Workshop last year, which included nearly 150 formulation chemists. Lormejuste similarly highlighted the SCC as an accessible entry point for young chemists, recalling early technical seminars and later supporting NYSCC social media marketing efforts.

The conversation shifted to digital engagement strategies. Lormejuste, who has 24K+ followers on LinkedIn, captures content live at trade shows such as Cosmoprof, then refines it to spotlight innovation and behind-the-scenes insights. With an audience that includes 35% chemists, she balances technical depth with broader commentary on beauty and lifestyle. “It’s a tough game,” she noted, underscoring her attention to impressions and engagement metrics.

Perkins plans content quarterly across educational, authority-building, and “who needs to hear this” series buckets. Her focus is on resonance, creating shareable conten,t and promoting meaningful conversations. Both agreed that translating complex science into digestible narratives is critical.

Sustainability and Relationships

Sustainability emerged as a central theme during the discussion. Lormejuste sees opportunity in upcycled ingredients but stressed that brands must clearly articulate benefits. Perkins added that sustainability must be transparent to avoid greenwashing, encouraging brands to define what sustainability means for them, whether raw materials, packaging, or process improvements, and quantify impact wherever possible.

The discussion concluded with reflections on misinformation and regulatory evolution. From defining “clean beauty” to educating consumers about chemical sunscreens and upcoming UV filters like BEMT, both speakers agreed that evidence-based storytelling remains essential.

Inolex is an ingredient design firm for health, beauty, and wellness. Guided by the Principles of Green Chemistry, Inolex is inventing the future of sustainable ingredient platforms. The event reinforced a shared commitment: advancing innovation while empowering the voices translating science for the next generation of beauty consumers.