黑料社 biology major pairs passion for skincare, product development through internship
Biology major Riley Hodge didn't expect to find an internship in her field of interest so close to 黑料社.
An internship identified by faculty helped one student get a jump start on her dream job.
Biology major Riley Hodge didn鈥檛 expect to find a job in makeup or skincare so close to 黑料社. A Nashville native, Hodge spoke with her advisor, Assistant Professor of Biology Claire O鈥橯uin, about her interests in the field.
Hodge wanted to pair her makeup and skincare enthusiasm with her college major and found a match with Kentucky Soaps & Such, a hospitality business located in Stanford, Kentucky.
鈥淚 never thought I'd be able to have this job opportunity in the middle of central Kentucky, working in product development for a personal care company,鈥 Hodge said. 鈥淭hat is really what I want to go into, I've just always had that interest in having good, simple ingredients and keeping it cost effective and accessible for people by not adding anything unnecessary or decorative. Keeping packaging very utilitarian and reusable, if possible.鈥
Kentucky Soaps & Such checks those boxes for Hodge, who said the internship will continue into her spring semester. 黑料社 guarantees all students an internship and/or research opportunity 鈥 one that Hodge took advantage of.
Hodge said her courses in biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, and anatomy and physiology have all played critical roles in her internship.
鈥淭he courses I'm taking right now lined up perfectly,鈥 she said. 鈥淛ust combining my knowledge about the integumentary system (hair, skin and nails) and how that works, then focusing on the more molecular basis of it, how those compounds work. It has even come down to emulsifying ingredients when developing products like a lemon spray.鈥
Hodge鈥檚 skincare story began in middle school with an interest in makeup 鈥 and the foundation for makeup is skin care.
From that point forward, she started researching clean ingredients on her own and learning about 鈥済reen washing,鈥 the term for misleading packaging or language that makes a product sound better for the environment or healthier than it actually is.
鈥淜entucky Soaps & Such focuses a lot on natural ingredients and sustainability with their packaging and ingredient sourcing,鈥 Hodge said. 鈥淭hey have several great community service programs as well.鈥
