Vantage supports powerful women-owned beauty brands

Empowering women is central to the success of the personal care and cosmetics industry. Over the years, Vantage Specialty Chemicals (Vantage) has successfully been involved in many projects working with South African women-owned beauty businesses such as Essel, Naledi Babies, Serenity Lux, Fontis and Ebony Shade. The company has also assisted many female students with their university research work.

Vantage is a leading producer of naturally derived, speciality ingredients focused on personal care, food, consumer care and industrial end markets. It is extremely proud to be a supplier to many women-owned businesses in the personal care industry, in South Africa and abroad, including Skoon Skin, Skin Functional and Floratt Cosmetics.

Leading ladies in the lab

The cosmetics industry really is one where women can make a difference. This is particularly true at Vantage South Africa, which employs a team of dynamic women in various areas of the business, including the laboratory.

Wanda Posthumus, the laboratory manager, has been with Vantage since 13 August 2012 and will be celebrating 19 years with the company just after Women’s Day. Posthumus is proud to have worked on so many projects over the years and says she has “probably developed every type of product imaginable”.

Phemelo Motseokae has been with Vantage for just over three years and has truly come into her own as a confident research and development chemist, who successfully runs projects independently. Both Posthumus and Motseokae make a valuable contribution to the company and its customers.

An industry filled with opportunities

Women are time jugglers and multitaskers – they are mothers, wives, grandparents, care givers, home makers, chefs, entrepreneurs, ambitious employees and so much more.

“Most of the women in our industry landed up here by accident. We all generally started out with an idea of something completely different, but we’ve made it in the personal care industry and are doing what we love. There are so many opportunities in this industry, especially for women,” says Kim MacCallum, sales and marketing at Vantage. “Don’t be afraid of your ideas, be brave enough to speak up and put it out there. There are many people who started out with something simple – mixed in the kitchen – so keep going.”