About the Webinar

As artificial intelligence tools become more common in labs and product development, the cosmetic science community faces an important question: will AI ultimately support or sideline the role of the cosmetic chemist? In this live debate-style webinar, we’ll tackle that question head-on. One side will champion AI’s potential to boost efficiency, accelerate formulation, and deliver personalized beauty at scale. The other will offer a more skeptical lens—examining what AI can and can’t actually do, the quality and biases of its training data, the gap between marketing hype and technical reality, and the overlooked environmental costs of widespread AI adoption. We’ll explore whether these tools truly complement human creativity and problem-solving or whether they signal a deeper shift in what employers value. After the presentations, we’ll open the floor for a moderated Q&A to let the audience weigh in. Come ready to think critically about the future of your profession.

About the Speakers:

​​​​​​​Marisa Plescia is an experienced cosmetic chemist with extensive expertise and education, having received degrees and completed coursework in both the USA and Europe. She has earned four graduate degrees in Cosmetic and Fragrance Science, Business, and STEM education, graduating from both the University of Cincinnati Cosmetic Science program and ISIPCA in France. As the founder of FemChem Beauty, a formulation and R&D consultancy, Marisa leverages her years of experience as a formulator to innovate, create, and deliver high-performance personal care products. With her deep understanding of the industry, she partners with brands, contract manufacturers, and ingredient companies, to bring concepts to market, from ideation and ingredient strategy to final formulation and scale-up. Marisa is passionate about bridging science with creativity, ensuring every formulation meets both consumer expectations and technical excellence. A dedicated member and volunteer in the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, she will serve as the President of the Board of Directors for the SCC in 2026 and was previously the Twin Cities SCC Chair (2020-2022). Additionally, Marisa teaches courses and seminars for cosmetic science programs, has written articles on cosmetic chemistry as seen in trade publications, and has been quoted and featured in media, including in the Washington Post, NPR, and New York Times. Marisa is extremely passionate about cosmetic chemistry and living her childhood dream of a career as a cosmetic chemist.

​​​​​​​Patrick Weyland-Smith is an early career Cosmetic Chemist and Product Developer in Melbourne, Australia. With an expansive cosmetics retail experience across multiple brands, Patrick is a passionate storyteller and problem-solver when it comes to Product and Formulation. His key focuses are consumer education, accessible beauty and upcycled cosmetic ingredients.
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