Brains + beauty: how L'Oréal's Rocio Rivera built her 'Prince Charming' career

EvenDirector of Science Communications L'Oréal Rocio Rivera succeeded in itScientific research in school, eventually earning a PhD in neuroscience, she always felt something was missing. It took the discovery of her passion for skincare and makeup to help her find her true calling in her career. We recently caught up with Rivera to talk about her background in neuroscience, how she transitioned into cosmetics atL'Oréal and the Holy Grailskin care ingredients she can't live without. Rivera's story teaches us that combining your passion and career is maybe - and all it takes is a little perseverance and strength. Read on and get ready to be inspired.

Tell us a little about your experience in cosmetic chemistry and how you got started in the field.

I studied biology at the university and received my doctorate in neurology in Madrid. I then moved to the US and attended NYU School of Medicine and Columbia University to complete my PhD and advance to the next level. When I joined Columbia, L'Oréal collaborated with the Department of Neurology and Dermatology for one of the products the company was launching, so I started working on the project and when we were done, L'Oréal hired me!

I wanted to work at L'Oréal because I grew up in a family of pharmacists in Spain, so I grew up with formulas and this duality of science and beauty. When we did a collaboration at Columbia University, I realized that people like me with higher education and Ph.D. do to have a place in the cosmetics industry, and for me it was like finding Prince Charming, so to speak.

Did you manage to just jump?

In fact, when I first joined L'Oréal with my background, I didn't know how to phrase it. My first boss said to me, "I want you to look at the formula and you can tell if it's a cream or a serum, if it's going to work on dark spots, etc." I thought the woman was crazy that she didn't look at my resume. I had no idea how to do what she asked. But L'Oréal saw this potential in me and saw that I had this passion, so I spent the next three years studying how difficult it was to get a product to market in terms of formulation.

I've seen my peers work so hard to create the best cream, the best mascara, the best shampoo, and it taught me that people take it as seriously as I did when I studied neuroscience. To see the same seriousness and rigor in data collection and experimentation applied at L'Oréal amazed me. After those three years and realizing how difficult it was to articulate, I was offered the position I hold today in marketing.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My work today is mainly related to market science. I work on a product from concept to what consumers see on the shelves, making sure that the ingredients we add, in the percentages you see, are the ones that are needed. From the moment we come up with a product, develop a formula, and test it, I train beauty consultants, appear on television, and do my best to make people really feel that these products work for a good. them.

How has working in the cosmetics industry affected your life?

Cosmetics is a place where I can be myself because I have always been very interested in beauty, but I am also an avid scientist. I have always felt that the "serious" part of me is always at odds with beauty, because to some people it seems superficial from the outside. I never felt that way, but I always thought I had to hide this version of myself. Once I started working at L'Oréal, it made sense.

What advice would you give yourself when you were young about your career in cosmetics?

My advice is to listen to your intuition and keep pushing because you never know where things will go. I remember the moment in the lab when I told my peers that I was going to leave to pursue a career at L'Oréal and they asked me why I want to do this if I'm so good at what I do. It really came down to the fact that I could work hard at anything - I just didn't have the same passion behind it.

What is your favorite skin care ingredient right now?

Ingredient number one - SPF! You should have SPF in your repertoire because you can definitely age prematurely if you don't use the right SPF at the right time. I would also name glycolic acid because it works very well with your skin to exfoliate and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And, of course, hyaluronic acid is another favorite of the moment because it is a natural molecule that our body makes and loses over time.

Tell us about your skin care and makeup?

What does it mean to you to work in the cosmetics industry?

I remember a pivotal moment in my life when I went to a career seminar and the person leading it said to us, “I want you to think about what you did last night. What was the last time you read before bed? Now write it down and it should tell you what your passion is." And I remember when I was in the Ph.D. office at New York University School of Medicine, one of the best schools in the world, and what I wrote down, I felt that I could not share with my peers - what I read, was a beauty section. in Vogue. And now it's ironic because I feel empowered at L'Oréal to do what I do and I'm grateful to them for allowing me to combine my passion with my training. There will always be a place where you will be paid for what you love, you just have to find it.