The University of Toledo, home to the nation’s only undergraduate program in cosmetic science and formulation design, will host a virtual summer camp for high school students who wish to learn how makeup and personal care products are made.

The two-day camp is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23, and Thursday, June 24. Registration is open until Friday, June 4.

Created and led by Dr. Gabriella Baki, director of the Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Program and associate professor of pharmaceutics in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the camp will offer interactive sessions and hands-on activities in which participants will learn the science behind their own health and beauty products.

The camp also will provide an overview of both the industry and UToledo’s unique baccalaureate program.

Established in 2013, the Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Program teaches students how to design, produce, test and market cosmetics and personal care products.

“Our program is truly a mixture of science, art and business. We really focus on preparing our students for a wide variety of jobs within the industry,” Baki said. “This virtual camp is a great way to introduce high school students to the many opportunities this field provides.”

The camp also will feature presentations and virtual facility tours from several nationally known brands and major industry players, including Bath and Body Works, Estée Lauder, Wacker and Elevation Labs, as well the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

“Since the camp is virtual, we are recruiting high school students from all states of the U.S,” Baki said. “This allows the college and the cosmetic science program to cast our net wider and spark students’ interest in chemistry, specifically cosmetic chemistry, from a broader region.”

Camp activities will include a virtual scavenger hunt and a panel of alumni of the Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Program who will share their academic and professional experiences.

Each participant will receive a camp box that will include supplies and samples used in interactive and hands-on sessions and a camp T-shirt.

The camp registration fee is $100 per camper, with financial assistance available.

For more information about and to register for the 2021 Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Virtual Summer Camp, visit the camp’s website.