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Spotlight – Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design

photograph of Gabriella Baki

Gabriella Baki, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutics
Director of BSPS Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Program
Department of Pharmacy Practice
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH, United States
http://www.utoledo.edu/pharmacy/depts/deptpharmpractice/phpr/gbaki.html
E-mail: Gabriella.Baki@utoledo.edu

Dr. Baki’s main research focus lies in the area of topical delivery for active ingredients and cosmetic actives, and sensory testing of cosmetic products.

The Cosmetic Science Research Group is involved in designing, optimizing, and testing of cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical topical formulations, including creams, lotions, gels, and ointments. In silico modeling is used in optimizing formulations and selecting the best ingredients for a particular purpose. The goals are to formulate aesthetically appealing products and to achieve better delivery of active ingredients/cosmetic actives into the skin and, as a result, improve consumer satisfaction/patient compliance.

The sales potential of cosmetic products is greatly determined by skin feel and skin sensory performance. In order to please the target audience, it is important to gather information about consumers' perception of products' sensory characteristics. Several projects involve sensory testing of cosmetic products using a texture analyzer and panelists. The aims are to better understand the relationship between rheology, texture, and human perception as it relates to product appearance, rub-out, pick-up, and skin feel.

The research group also studies various emulsion stabilization mechanisms and emulsification techniques to understand the relationship between emulsion structure as well as quality and performance.