Building a Career in Cosmetic Science | British Science Week with No7 Beauty Company
British Science Week is a celebration of curiosity, creativity and the people behind scientific innovation — and in the beauty world, science is at the heart of everything we do at No7 Beauty Company. From developing cutting-edge skincare technologies to creating high performance makeup, our Product Technologists combine chemistry, artistry and problem solving every single day.
In this blog, we shine a spotlight on Helen, a Product Technologist at No7 Beauty Company, as she shares her journey, what inspires her, and why she believes science is an exciting and meaningful career path.
Tell us about your career journey and how you became a Product Technologist?
My career all started after I did a week’s work experience in the formulation labs with Boots. My dad worked for Boots at the time as an industrial engineer, and he was able to help me secure a placement. I loved it so that much that a year later after my GCSEs I applied and was successful in getting on the apprenticeship scheme. I studied part time with a day at college for two years to gain a Science GNVQ.
After my apprenticeship I got a full-time position at Boots and carried on studying part time for a further five years to gain a degree in applied chemistry from the University of Nottingham. It was hard work studying and learning how to formulate at the same time, but I don’t regret it one bit. After my degree, I moved into the colour cosmetics team as a Formulation Technologist, formulating No7 foundations and mascaras.
After 12 years I left to raise my family. During this time, I worked as a science technician in a secondary school, but I always felt a passion for product development, and as the children grew up, in 2025 I came full circle and came back to No7 Beauty Company to start my career as a Product Technologist. I was very lucky to slot straight back into the colour cosmetics team, and with some old colleagues I had worked with originally — in some respects it felt like I had never been away.
What does a typical day look like for you as a Product Technologist?
Every day can be different. Some days I can be in meetings or checking technical documents sent from suppliers about new products we are going to launch, to ensure they meet our high standards. Other days I can be on my feet all day in the lab, making batches of new products we are developing or colour-matching foundation shades on the spectrophotometer for a foundation we are going to launch or doing stability checks to see if our products are stable and not falling apart. I also help to look after and review our factory standards to ensure products we already have out on the market maintain the same standard as they were when we first launched them.
What does working for a brand like No7 mean to you?
No7 is one of the most recognisable skincare and cosmetics brands in the UK, originally developed by Boots in 1935 and now part of the No7 Beauty Company under The Boots Group. Knowing that what we produce is science-led beauty, good quality, can be trusted, and knowing that the people behind it have a genuine passion for what they do and have worked hard to achieve it. My latest product to launch is the new No7 Pro Artist Instant Impact Mascara, even though I’ve seen lots of my products on the shelves I still get the feeling of pride when I see it in store.
How does No7 Beauty Company support your career growth and development?
We have something called Formulation Fundamentals where we cover different aspects of formulating. The core purpose of this is to share formulation information among the whole team to up-skill and embed best practice. This ultimately means we can formulate better products for our consumers.
This year I want to complete the Skin School course to grow my own knowledge of the skin and look wider than colour cosmetics. We are also given the opportunities to do diplomas with the Society of Cosmetic Scientists if we wish.
In celebration of British Science Week, we'd love to know why you'd recommend a career in science?
There is always something new to be discovered in science and when we do it can be pretty amazing. I love working in this industry because nothing beats walking into a store and seeing a product you have helped develop sitting there on the shelf. I also do a lot of career fairs and go out to schools to deliver workshops, and it is always great to see students’ reactions when we talk about what we do, sometimes they have no idea how the products get onto the shelves in store. When I talk about products I have worked on and they stop me mid-sentence and say, “Wait you developed that!”, I use that product, it’s like they suddenly feel inspired. I’d like to think I have had an impact in helping inspire the next generation and future of science.
What advice would you give anyone exploring a career in science or anyone who might want to become a Product Technologist?
Science is a big subject with many different branches but they all ultimately appeal to people who have a desire and curiosity to find out how things work and what happens if you change some of that science and discover something new!
For a Product Technologist in the cosmetics industry a passion for beauty and skincare helps. Attention to detail is essential when it comes to checking documents like artworks. Resilience is also important for when things don’t quite go to plan and being able to think outside the box to resolve a problem. Being able to work at a fast pace and make decisions quickly to keep up with trends in the market helps.
Helen’s journey shows how science can open doors to unexpected opportunities, creative problem-solving and the chance to make a real impact. Whether it’s formulating a new mascara, mentoring students or shaping the future of beauty innovation, her passion is a reminder that science is for everyone — especially those who are curious, determined and ready to explore.
As British Science Week celebrates the power of scientific thinking, we hope her story has inspired you to follow your interests, ask questions and possibly consider a career in science or product development.