Women of Coschem, making the cosmetics industry look good

All women are unique and inspiring in their own way, whether they are mothers, working-class women, entrepreneurs, or company owners. In celebration of national Women’s Month, Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Review chatted to Charmaine du Preez, incumbent president of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists South Africa (Coschem) about opportunities for women in the cosmetics industry and within the society.

The core focus of the society is dissemination of scientific information with the emphasis on the upliftment of students through educating individuals within the cosmetics and personal care industry. Membership to Coschem is on a voluntary basis and the society is proud to advise that the majority of its member base and council members are female.

Learning and growing in the industry

“In my early career, I studied to become a beauty technologist, but soon discovered I preferred making lipstick and wash bases over anything else. Since I was always good at science, this possibility appealed to me,” Charmaine explains. “Initially, I worked as a laboratory manager at a manufacturing company. I then completed a cosmetic science diploma and went on to become a R&D chemist. At this point, I had also completed a packaging engineering diploma and did a bit of packaging engineering for companies. Together with these courses, I studied production management and gained a lot of experience working in quality, R&D, packaging engineering and technical sales roles.”  

Charmaine has continued to excel in various roles in the cosmetics industry, and says that “if you work hard, you will succeed”. She comments: “I always work hard and have never stopped learning. It’s true that you learn something new every day, no matter how old you are.”

An industry driven by supportive women

The cosmetics industry with its science and beauty inspires Charmaine.

“Our goal is to keep women feeling beautiful and creating solutions and products in order to maintain that feeling. We are a small industry with caring, supportive, hardworking and trusting women who work together as a family,” she says. “I strongly believe that supporting the youth and helping younger women achieve their career goals is the best way to support our industry as a whole.”

Every great skin care or beauty product starts with science. There is science behind the process of developing a lipstick or anti-ageing serum, in the selling of the raw materials and ingredients, in specifying and developing packaging – which people often don’t realise.

“As women in the cosmetics industry our job is to create unique products that satisfy the needs of women. I have grown close to all the women in our industry, and I have learned so much from them over the years,” she adds.

Be the best version of yourself

Judy Garland once said, “always be a first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else”.

Charmaine agrees, every woman, and men included, should always be the best version of themselves.

“There is nothing better than just being who you are and working hard to achieve what you want in life,” she explains. “Even though I am much older and a working mom, I am still studying to achieve my goals. Respect everyone, it’s not about titles. In life, no one ever remembers your title, but they do remember how you treat people.”