SKIN & INTERFACES Decoding the living network

20^TH EDITION

08 – 09 December 2026

PARIS

Welcome to this new edition of the SFC International Symposium. All the presentations, delivered in English, will offer a unique insight into the intersection of the latest scientific advances and technical innovations. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to our speakers, whose work is actively helping to shape global innovation in the cosmetics industry.

Cosmetic industry experts, PhD candidates, and postdocs — you submitted a total of 56 abstracts this year! Selecting the 17 finalists was a major challenge for the Scientific Committee… Meet the speakers for the 2026 edition now.

Theme of the 2026 Symposium

SKIN & INTERFACES
Decoding the Living Network

An exploration of the skin, a living network of communication in constant dialogue with its environment:

Tissue interfaces and the dialogue between the host and the microbiota
The scalp-hair ecosystem
The skin-brain axis and the contribution of neuroscience
Nature as a partner

They will be attending the 2026 Symposium

Marc VOCANSON CIRI (International Center for Infectiology Research) / Immunologist FRANCE
Thierry PASSERON CHU NICE / Professor, Head & Chair of Department of Dermatology FRANCE
Gordy PLEYERS UCLouvain & Mind Insights / Professor & Scientific Coordinator BELGIUM
Nicolas VERMEULEN UCLouvain / Professor BELGIUM
Rached ISMAIL CBSA & Cosmetomics@URN / Associate Professor & Scientific Lead FRANCE
Michel GRISEL University LE HAVRE NORMANDIE / Professor FRANCE
Julie PERSON CEA / Industrial Partnership Manager FRANCE
Marta BERTOLINI QIMA / Managing Director GERMANY
Pierre BONETTI AD Cosmetics / Founder & CEO SWITZERLAND
VijayKumar PATRA L’ORÉAL R&I / Skin & Scalp Microbiome Scientist FRANCE
Marc FEUILLOLEY University ROUEN NORMANDIE / Professor Emeritus FRANCE
Jean-Marie BOTTO EDENAE Phytoconsulting / Scientific Director FRANCE
Silvia BENITO PROVITAL / Science Communication Manager SPAIN
Lauriane IMBERT-ROUX GREENTECH / Head of the Biology Laboratory FRANCE
Laurie VERZEAUX SILAB / Scientific communication manager FRANCE
Geoffroy TOUSCH SOLABIA / Scientific Project Manager FRANCE
Mayoura KEOPHIPHATH DIVA Expertise / Founder & CEO FRANCE
Élodie GRAS LAVIGNE NEURON EXPERTS / COO & Head of Neurodermatology FRANCE
Catherine ZANCHETTA GIVAUDAN Active Beauty / Strategy & Innovation Manager FRANCE
Valéria BARROS CÂMARA CHEMYUNION / Business Development Director – EMEA SPAIN
SETHIC HONG-KONG
Emmanuel COSTE EXSYMOL / Scientific Communication Manager MONACO
Tatiana KONDAKOVA CRODA BEAUTY / Research Pole Leader In Vitro Research Department FRANCE
Damien TRUFFIN ROQUETTE / Health & Pharma Senior Research Manager FRANCE
Arthur DERVILLEZ LORETTA BIOTECH / Founder & CEO FRANCE
Laura BERTRAND VYTRUS / Business Development Manager SPAIN
Gaëlle BELLEMERE INNOSYA COSMETIC INGREDIENTS / Cosmetics R&D Director FRANCE
Clémence MARTIN University LE HAVRE NORMANDIE / PhD FRANCE
Marielle LTEIF University of ORLÉANS / PhD FRANCE
Lucia RICCI University of NAPLES FEDERICO II / Postdoctoral Researcher ITALIA

> Find out who are our Speakers

2 days of conferences
and scientific sessions!

For twenty years, the Symposium has established itself as the premier French scientific event, featuring a rigorous, fast-paced two-day program conducted entirely in English, comprising plenary lectures by international experts and scientific sessions. Each session is followed by a Q&A period with the participants.

Access to the conferences

The International Symposium is being held in a hybrid format to reach a wider audience:
– In person: at the Cinéma Pathé Alésia, 73 avenue du Général Leclerc, Paris 14th arrondissement
– Remotely: via a dedicated online portal.

An ambitious programme to imagine and build together the beauty of tomorrow

A sponsorship scheme designed to increase partners’ visibility and offer industry stakeholders a greater opportunity to showcase their commitment to the scientific and cosmetics communities.

Attending the Symposium

Thank you to our sponsors

> Learn more

Different perspectives on the 2025 International Symposium

Below is a summary of the feedback we received from our speakers and participants at the previous event.

Estelle LOING, CEO of NÆMOS

‘The conference programme is excellent – both comprehensive and varied, and of a very high scientific standard.’
‘The venue is spacious and welcoming, and this setting encourages further discussion with the speakers.’
Neïla HAJEM, Head of the Skin Biology Laboratory at Sisley Paris

‘The Symposium provides a creative boost; the presentations are very inspiring.’
Andrea CAVAGNINO, COO of OxiProteomics

‘ncRNAs, microbiomes, longevity, AI and exosomes captivated the audience; the topics were right at the forefront of current scientific research.’
‘What struck me most of all was the quality of the concepts and technologies presented – a real source of inspiration, rich in possibilities.’
Eloïse DEWITTE, Marketing Manager Europe – Cosmetic Actives at ASHLAND

‘As we explored new areas, innovation was very much in evidence, with the introduction of groundbreaking concepts such as pyroptosis.’
‘Networking is at the heart of the event; the breaks are crucial for scientists to get together and explore topics in greater depth.’
Valérie CENIZO, Skin Biology Manager at L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE

‘With such rich content and a variety of approaches, the lectures are of a higher academic standard than before – that’s exactly what I’d expect!’
Céline PAILLIER, Managing Director of CÉZAME CONNEXIONS

‘The presentation by Kosé made a strong impression on me with its sound scientific basis, offering a valuable perspective from outside Europe.’
‘I particularly appreciated the structure of the sessions and keynote speeches, which progressed from the fundamentals to disruptive concepts.’
‘The ‘Out of the Box’ conference fulfilled its purpose: it was a truly stimulating experience.’
Camille GEORGELIN, Head of the Innovation Assets Portfolio at Groupe Rocher

‘The standard of the presentations is “extremely high”, perfectly in line with market expectations.’
Céline DELAGE, freelance R&D consultant in the life sciences sector

‘Networking is at the heart of the event and offers a wonderful opportunity to meet lots of people.’
‘The programme is very interesting, covering a broad scientific spectrum and a wide variety of topics presented by top-class speakers…’
‘Open science combining cutting-edge technologies and new concepts.’
Corinne REYMERMIER, R&D Project Leader for Innovation at BASF Beauty Care Solutions

“Le Symposium est un lieu de connexion, je salue son format à échelle humaine et son unité de lieu.”
Gallic BEAUCHEF, Life Sciences Innovation Manager at LVMH-Recherche

‘The Symposium is a strategic tool that helps to consolidate approaches already being developed or to foster future collaborations.’
‘There’s a very supportive atmosphere; you feel at ease presenting your work.’