The Science Of Beauty - Beyond The Formula: Black Women in Beauty Science
What does it take to build a beauty product that's both scientifically rigorous and commercially resonant? Who are the scientists behind the formulas most people never think about — and what does it look like to build a career in beauty when you're one of the only people in the room who looks like you?
In this live conversation, The Science of Beauty’s founder Sakeya Donaldson sits down with Manessa Lormejuste to explore what it really takes to build beauty from the inside out. As founder of LORM·CO and a recognized leader across product development, innovation strategy, and beauty science, Manessa brings a rare perspective — one shaped by years at the formulation bench and sharpened by leading product pipelines for some of the industry's most recognized brands.
From her early career as a formulation chemist at L'Oréal USA, to driving innovation at Beautycounter and Farmacy Beauty, to launching her own consultancy in 2024, Manessa has spent her professional journey bridging deep technical expertise with the business strategy most scientists never get to touch. This conversation explores what paving that path actually looks like — and what it means to build beauty that's backed by science, designed for real people, and built to last.
Manessa will share what it's like to be one of the few Black women scientists at the table in an industry built to serve Black consumers — and why that gap matters. She'll walk us through how she approaches product development, why representation in STEM and beauty isn't just a values statement but a product quality issue, and what she's learned about building a career — and a company — on your own terms.
Come ready with your questions!
MANESSA LORMEJUSTE'S BIO
Manessa Lormejuste is a beauty scientist, product development strategist, and founder of LORM·CO — a consultancy that partners with brands and founders to build science-backed, commercially resonant products across skincare, hair, body, and color cosmetics. She began her career as a formulation chemist at L'Oréal USA, developing award-winning technologies before going on to lead product innovation at Beautycounter and Farmacy Beauty. In 2024, she launched LORM·CO to advise fast-growing founders and established companies on innovation strategy, technical development, and product excellence.
Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Beauty and a 2024 Top 30 Beauty Product Developer by Beauty Independent, Manessa holds a B.A. in Chemical Biology and an M.B.S. in Personal Care Science from Rutgers University. She also serves as Scientific Advisor to MMARA, a beauty tech company advancing personalized textured hair care through data and digital intelligence — and has been featured in New York Magazine, teenVOGUE, Ebony Magazine for her work at the intersection of science, strategy, and beauty.