5 California The California Chapter had another packed year bringing members together. Eight monthly meetings were held in various locations throughout California with the hottest topics in the industry being discussed. Pickering emulsions and a preservation double feature opened the year in the Valley. February and March in Manhattan Beach provided insights into new product development and plant active sustainability, with lessons on importing cosmetics into the EU and rheology modification. Hair and Scalp dominated April in Orange County with two talks on hair - mechanisms on anti-pollution and the chemical and physical mechanisms of re-bonding in hair. May was the ever-popular meeting at Duke’s in Malibu, where the skin microbiome and biotechnologies for plant extraction were reviewed. In June, Cali SCC took the meeting on the road to members in San Francisco, where Rodan + Fields’ Dr. Bob Bianchini mapped the 3D hydration content and changes in the stratum corneum. Members returned to Orange County in September, where the newest K-Beauty technologies were discussed, and the impact of solvent and emulsifier selection on UV absorption Chair Valerie George presents an award to Speaker Shabnam Nejand at the January meeting were analyzed. October in Universal City was a CBD double-feature about the role of cannabidiol in the body, and how-to bring CBD- containing products to the market. The November meeting in Manhattan Beach included a discussion from the Palm Free Council, just as the New York Times published an exposé about palm oil and the environmental impacts. The educational programming for the year was supplemented with the biennial Scientific Seminar, themed California Dreaming, A Seminar for Emerging Technologies. The program featured scientists from academia and industry leaders from non-cosmetic disciplines, where innovations and their potential in cosmetics were discussed. SoCal is notorious for its good vibes, and members experienced them through two social events, the 80s-themed Dinner Dance in May at Huntington Beach, and wine-tasting during the summer event at San Antonio Winery in Downtown LA, one of the only wineries allowed to operate during Prohibition in the United States. The Annual Golf Outing held in conjunction with SCIFTS was also a huge success, selling out. The California Chapter is looking forward to an equally exciting year in 2019, which will be highlighted by the biennial Suppliers Day exhibition in Long Beach. See you there!

6 Carolina Looking back, 2018 was a year filled with fun and education for the Carolina Chapter of the SCC. I would like to thank the speakers who lead us forward in our knowledge of the cosmetic industry and those that attended each and every event. The year started with a Spring Technical Seminar by Nelson Ayala, Ph. D., Distinguished Toastmaster on Wine, Roses, and Chocolate at Restaurant Forty Six in Kannapolis, NC. Nelson has worked to create new consumer products that either taste good, smell good, or feel good on the skin. He has worked in new product development on consumer products at Unilever, Westwood Chemical, Carter Wallace, Fleet Labs, and Prestige Brands. He has patents on taste masking, oral rehydration, anti-itch, antiperspirants, and deodorants. He has authored several papers in major journals. Nelson has been a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists in the New York and Virginia sections. As a member of Toastmasters International since 1990, Nelson enjoys making presentations on topics related to health, beauty, and career/personal development. He gave a wonderful presentation where we explored sensorial aspects that make products successful. We had the opportunity to taste wines, chocolates, and smell flowers from around the world which allowed us to learn more about the art and science of evaluating scents and tastes. In October, the Carolina Chapter held its Naturally Kiawah Symposium, which is held every other year, at the beautiful Kiawah Island. We were excited to have a record number of attendees. It began with a CEP course which had knowledgeable SCC Members relax before the ever-popular meeting at Duke’s in Malibu begins, overlooking the Pacific Ocean speakers on Breaking Down your Benchmark from Marketing, Selecting the Right Preservative, Natural Fragrance Overview, Safety & Claims Product Testing, Processing Challenges, and Natural ISO Certification Overview. The next day was followed by two tracks of speakers, which spoke on topics ranging from Marketing and Product Development, Regulations, Hair and Skincare, and Niche Category. We had two nights of cocktail parties and finished off the event with a day of golfing and spa. And the last successful meeting of 2018, our installation meeting, was held at The Palisades Country Club in Charlotte, NC. We had the privilege of hearing from Hemali Gunt, Head of Clinical and Scientific Affairs at Burt’s Bees (A Clorox Company), where her focus is to demonstrate scientifically based skincare benefits through clinical testing, laboratory investigations and instrumental assessment. As sensitive skin continues to be a concern to the majority of the world population, Hemali presented on “New and Natural Solutions for Sensitive Skin”, showing findings of a study which showed that nature-based sensitive skin regimen provides both the performance characteristics necessary for the management of sensitive skin as well as addresses a growing demand for the nature-based skincare formulations. As we begin 2019, we would like to invite you to come and attend our meetings this year. Bring your friends, bring yourselves, and let’s have another year together of learning and fun.