To mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, Aroma-Zone is honouring eight female scientists and experts dedicated to health, wellbeing and personal care.

Their journeys demonstrate that scientific rigour and social impact can transform lives and pave the way for future generations.

Adeline Nalin, who holds a PhD in pharmacy and a Master’s degree in human toxicology, has been working for nearly 25 years in a variety of fields (vaccinology, cosmetics, medical devices and everyday consumer products), with one key objective: to ensure that products, their ingredients and their packaging present “no risk to human health or to the living world”. Her day-to-day work involves analysing and compiling toxicological profiles that identify potential hazards – such as skin or eye irritation, sensitisation, genotoxicity and effects on organs following repeated exposure – and then assessing in practical terms how consumers might be exposed to these risks, emphasising that bringing a wellness product to market constitutes “an extremely strong commitment to safety” with the objective of “zero risk”.

Her vocation began at the University of Montreal, where she discovered human toxicology, and was cemented during a defining moment in her fifth year of university hospital training in Lyon, when she was confronted with a case of severe methotrexate poisoning in a young patient, at which point she became fully aware of the importance of tailoring treatment and always assessing the balance between benefits and risks.

Adeline Nalin expresses the essence of her mission with simplicity:

“My role is to guide people towards products they can use without worrying about their health, including for their own children or the people they love. It’s a guarantee that no harm will come of it.”

This work, carried out in the run-up to Aroma-Zone’s product launches – often unseen but essential – protects human and environmental health even before the product reaches the consumer. She points out that she has never felt her legitimacy questioned on the grounds of being a woman throughout her career, having worked in international environments attentive to gender equality issues, and sees 8 March as a powerful symbol which can bring visibility to those women scientists whose contributions have been significant.

Pascale Ruberti, Director of Innovation & Products, has been steering Aroma-Zone's innovation strategy and product development for 13 years, “from the initial idea – which most often stems from requests from our community – right through to launch”, whilst ensuring a balance between quality, performance and affordability, in line with the brand’s DNA: “to offer natural, effective solutions that are safe for health, environmentally friendly and accessible to as many people as possible”.

Her day-to-day work involves liaising with the teams working on formulation, nutrition, toxicology, regulatory affairs, quality, sourcing and CSR; validating formulations; conducting product tests; keeping a constant eye on scientific developments; and travelling to major trade fairs to discover “the active ingredients of tomorrow and the latest innovations”, not to mention carefully analysing customer feedback with a view to continuous improvement.

Rather than a single turning point, she refers to “a series of experiences” which convinced her that “innovation must always serve a real purpose”, and that it is in “the tangible impact of a well-formulated product” that scientific rigour and everyday practicality come together.

Pascale Ruberti sums up what drives her commitment as follows:

“I feel particularly useful when we manage to make innovative active ingredients—usually reserved for very high-end products—more widely available. And to make them accessible to as many people as possible without compromising on quality.”

For her, being useful also means “providing transparency: explaining our formulation choices, reassuring people about safety, and enabling consumers to understand what they are applying to their skin”.

Whilst the cosmetics sector includes many women, she emphasises that “scientific and strategic leadership roles remain demanding, regardless of gender” and adds that she has never felt the need to position herself differently as a woman, approaching her responsibilities “with conviction and clarity”.

A chemical engineer by training, Emilie Jolibois is now head of the Ingredients & Nutrition division within Aroma-Zone’s Research & Development department, where she develops ranges of food supplements, superfoods and herbal teas, and contributes to the scientific expertise behind aromatherapy, plant extracts and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) cosmetics.

She describes her days as “intense and varied”, with regular cross-functional meetings, the assessment of client requests, scientific monitoring and in-depth analysis of raw materials based on their “origin, composition, method of extraction, activity and properties”, whilst keeping abreast of the latest publications so that innovations can always “be grounded in science”. All this with an unabashed delight in the sensory dimension: “whether it’s touching, smelling or tasting, I love testing ingredients!”

After starting her career in the pharmaceutical industry, she stumbled upon a job advert from Aroma-Zone seeking a “chemist with a passion for plants and homemade cosmetics” and recalls immediately recognising herself in the description: “When I read the description, I thought to myself, ‘That’s me!’”.

Emilie Jolibois says she feels particularly useful when she uses her expertise to help customers understand products and make informed choices:

“I enjoy helping our customers better understand ingredients and make informed choices about their products.”

Regarding her career path, she explains that she has never felt her position was called into question simply because she is a woman, having worked alongside managers who valued work above all else, and then at Aroma-Zone, where the teams were “predominantly female from the outset”, with their standing based primarily on their skills and commitment.

Orianne Valentin is a specialist in developing formulations based on natural ingredients. She coordinates the creation of new products and the improvement of existing ranges at Aroma-Zone, with a daily routine she describes as stimulating, with regular tasks including the design, fine-tuning and evaluation of formulations, the analysis of scientific data relating to raw materials, the search for new ingredients, managing projects and preparing formulas for large-scale production.

Her career is deeply rooted in her interest in skin biology and a detailed understanding of the mechanisms that regulate its balance, as well as in her fascination with cosmetic raw materials, their functions, their interactions and their ability to provide targeted solutions to skin concerns. An interest that Orianne sums up in a few words:

“What motivated me was the opportunity to transform my scientific knowledge into natural, effective and skin-friendly formulations.”

She sees the tangible impact of her work through user feedback, when the skincare products she has developed “improve the comfort of their skin, soothe sensitivity or resolve a problem”, and emphasises that every technical decision – from the choice of an ingredient to the adjustment of a texture – directly influences “the effectiveness, sensory experience and pleasure of use”.

Whilst she acknowledges that being a woman has influenced her approach to skincare and beauty, she points out that she has never had to prove her legitimacy, reminding young women that they have every right to be part of the world of formulation, where curiosity, scientific rigour and creativity are real assets.

Isabelle Jondo, a Doctor of Pharmacy and an expert in scientific communication and wellbeing, operates at the intersection of knowledge transfer, education and popularisation. Her days always begin with a careful review of industry trends and specialist news, before she moves on to her projects alongside the Aroma-Zone communications team.

Her commitment stems from a passion for sharing knowledge and human connection: “I’ve always loved sharing knowledge and meeting people”, something she was already doing through her own networks. But it also stemmed from a decisive personal moment: the birth of her first daughter, who suffered from skin problems, leading her to return “to the basics: a natural and/or organic routine and good-quality products”, at which point she began publishing her own recipes and was already using the products of the brand she now works for with a daily passionate commitment.

She realises the full impact of her work when someone she has advised comes back to her proudly saying “Can you see how radiant my skin is? It’s thanks to your advice”, and feels particularly useful when she takes the time to explain each product and each routine, correcting “without judgement the mistakes that are sometimes made without realising it”, convinced that seeing a customer understand how to achieve results is deeply rewarding. While at Aroma-Zone the issue of gender “has never been a topic of discussion”, she admits that, in a previous role, she had to prove that she hadn’t got there “just because she was a woman” or because of her appearance – a reality that now fuels her desire to pass on her knowledge.

Isabelle Jondo shares the words she wishes she’d heard at the start of her career:

“I would have liked someone to tell me: as a woman, you can do anything. I would have liked someone to assure me that motherhood isn’t a hindrance.”

To young women, she offers a message of confidence and clarity: believe in yourself, surround yourself with supportive people, and accept that the path won’t be easy, but that your skills will always pay off in the end. For her, 8 March should quite simply “exist every day”. In the meantime, this symbolic date serves as a reminder that every struggle is part of a collective endeavour, for oneself and for future generations.

Dr Agathe Aoun, a dermatologist based in Martinique, divides her time between medical consultations, dermatological surgeries and cosmetic procedures, beginning with the analysis of medical results and discussions with her patients, driven by a practice that combines both the technical and the deeply human approaches. Her move into dermatology was not an obvious choice at first: having entered medical school after failing to gain a place at an engineering college, it was in her third year, during a placement in dermatology, that the light bulb moment came, as she was captivated by “the staff, the procedures, the critical thinking and the highly clinical nature”, a genuine love at first sight that redefined her career path.

She gauges the impact of her work through the psychological transformation of her patients – when an improvement in their skin restores their self-esteem, or when a melanoma detected in time literally changes a life – recalling those moments when patients return “with a smile on their faces” even though they were in tears during their first consultation.

Dr Aoun has a clear message for young women:

“You have to throw yourself into it wholeheartedly! Being a doctor is a fabulous, exciting, all-encompassing, altruistic and incredibly rewarding profession. It isn’t always easy, but you have to give yourself the means to achieve your ambitions.”

Whilst dermatology is now a predominantly female-dominated speciality, she is keen to point out that misogynistic remarks still persist during medical training, with some women still having to go out of their way to prove their worth to their male colleagues.

A dermatologist, @docteur_skin practises medical, cosmetic and surgical dermatology, whilst having spent several years providing information and raising awareness amongst the general public on social media, fully embracing this dual role between her practice and public education. Her days, which she describes as “hectic and unconventional”, combine the treatment of inflammatory conditions such as acne, surgery to remove suspicious lesions or skin cancers, cosmetic dermatology (laser treatments, injections, chemical peels) and the creation of educational content, alongside the administrative responsibilities inherent in private practice.

Originally passionate about mathematics and enrolled in a science-focused preparatory course, it was a chance encounter in the library with a sixth-year medical student that changed the course of her life, leading her to discover in medicine a “profession of service” capable of “saving and changing people’s lives”, before choosing dermatology for its balance between independence and medical-surgical diversity. She observes the psychological impact of skin conditions on a daily basis, noting that treating the skin often amounts to restoring self-confidence and that early detection of cancer can save a life; she finds particular meaning in her work when she manages to “bring a smile back” to patients who have been left vulnerable by a change in their appearance.

Committed to raising awareness, Dr Dima Haidar emphasises the responsibility of healthcare professionals in the digital age:

“We are living in an era where social media is hugely important. And it is more urgent than ever to help distinguish fact from fiction.”

She highlights that she grew up in an environment that valued women’s independence, whilst acknowledging that, in certain hospital settings, it is sometimes necessary to prove one’s professionalism, noting that 8 March remains both a time for recognition and a call to continue the fight for gender equality.

A university lecturer and hospital practitioner at the AP-HM in Marseille, specialising in oncology and skin imaging, Dr Jilliana Monnier combines clinical practice, research into artificial intelligence and teaching medical students in her day-to-day work, which is divided between automated melanoma screening consultations, systemic treatments for advanced cancers and scientific research.

In her practice, she sees first-hand every day the tangible impact of non-invasive skin imaging, which enables the diagnosis of cancers at a very early stage, optimises surgery on sensitive areas of the face and improves prognoses thanks to therapeutic advances such as immunotherapy.

Dr Monnier speaks passionately about the richness and diversity of her specialism, which led her to onco-dermatology:

“The work of a dermatologist is very varied, as skin conditions affect all age groups. By choosing dermatology, you gain access to numerous sub-specialities such as surgery, paediatrics, allergy medicine or oncology...”

1. In-depth interviews with the 8 experts featured

2. 8 March 2025, International Women’s Day (Ministry for Gender Equality): https://www.egalite-femmes-hommes.gouv.fr/8-mars-2025-journee-internationale-des-droits-des-femmes