The New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists (NYSCC) stands as the premier professional association for the cosmetics and personal care sector in the New York tri-state area. Annually, the organization hosts the highly anticipated NYSCC Suppliers’ Day, a flagship event renowned as a cornerstone of the North American beauty industry calendar. This year, the event took place on May 1-2 in New York City at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, marking its largest edition ever in the 45-year history.
With 450 exhibitors showcasing innovations, it drew over 8,000 attendees, including formulators, chemists, researchers, and marketing experts. Among them were familiar faces representing the Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree’s Personal Care Science concentration, such as Abbe Rosenthal, MA, PCC, DYL Certified Coach, Jay Goldring, Ph.D., Alycia John, MA, ACC, and Kelly Montgomery, Program Coordinator for Events.
Throughout the event, students walked the floor filled with hundreds of booths, explored the latest products from leading brands, spoke to CEOs of indie companies, and also brought home plenty of free merchandise.
For MBS students like Arshi Samol, stepping into the venue was like entering a whole new world. “It’s my first time at the Suppliers’ Day,” she said. “I’m hoping to make a lot of connections and learn about what’s going on in the market.”
One highlight of the day was the Future Chemist Workshop, which welcomed 108 students from over 32 colleges and universities. This year’s workshop was led by Jane Tsui, a dedicated professional in the industry and a prominent beauty influencer also known as Jane The Chemist. The goal was to demonstrate formulation techniques in an engaging and inclusive way suitable for all levels of expertise. Wearing lab coats, safety glasses, and gloves, students immersed themselves in a simulated professional lab environment, tasked with making an antioxidant primer. Students even got to package their products to take home as souvenirs.
“So far, I’ve met a ton of people and I hope to keep meeting more, and then just learn from what Jane has to tell us,” said MBS student Saselah Heywood. Heywood further emphasized the workshop's invaluable experience, noting its relevance to her career aspirations in product formulations.
But Suppliers’ Day wasn’t just about business; it was about community. At the MBS booth, we hosted a student-alumni meet and greet, which has become a yearly tradition. Students and alumni came together to meet in person, sharing stories of their post-MBS journey and future career advice. And, of course, no reunion would be complete without capturing the moment in a group photo.
We also reconnected with MBS alumna Jessenia Castro and inquired about the program's impact on her.
“I loved it,” said Castro. “I started the program to get into the industry and did a career switch. My favorite part was being able to grow my network. The people you get to meet, it does help you in growing your career and accelerating it.”
As the day ended, students left Suppliers’ Day not only armed with insights into the industry’s latest trends but also with an expanded network of valuable connections.
The event will be held again in June 2025, and we can’t wait to return!
