Because They鈥檙e Worth It: 海角社区 BE, ChE Students Intern with L鈥橭r茅al Cosmetics
June 22, 2021
BATON ROUGE, LA 鈥� 海角社区 Biological Engineering junior Miller Dickerson loves makeup
just as much as the next woman, but her main interest as a summer intern at the L鈥橭r茅al
plant in North Little Rock, Ark., is to save the environment.
Dickerson, who hails from Hot Springs, Ark., is interning in L鈥橭r茅al鈥檚 Environmental Health & Safety Department and says she has had an amazing experience so far.
鈥淚鈥檓 learning about industrial wastewater treatment, plant safety, employee training, and L鈥橭r茅al鈥檚 sustainability initiatives,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 working on a huge waste reduction project in conjunction with the packaging engineers that will potentially save tons of waste annually, as well as money. I鈥檝e been able to do lots of different things so far, and I can鈥檛 wait to learn more.鈥�
L鈥橭r茅al is the world鈥檚 largest cosmetics company that develops products concentrating on hair color, hair care, skin care, sun protection, make-up, and perfume. The company, founded in 1909 by Eugene Schueller in Paris, sees billions of dollars in revenue each year. Some of the company鈥檚 subsidiaries are Lanc么me, Maybelline, Garnier, Urban Decay, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, and more.
Over the years, L鈥橭r茅al has committed to creating less waste, managing water sustainability, fighting climate change, respecting biodiversity, preserving natural resources, foregoing animal testing, and investing in nature.
L鈥橭r茅al NLR is the company鈥檚 largest global manufacturing plant. The facility is one of five in North America, with its 450 employees producing more than 250 million color cosmetics annually. The 800,000-square-foot facility uses a nearby hydroelectric plant for its energy and, in 2017, installed a 3,528-panel solar array that provides the plant with 10 percent of its power. The plant has also attained a 100 percent waste recovery rate, meaning nothing is sent to a landfill.
鈥淚 am so impressed with L鈥橭r茅al鈥檚 commitment to our environment,鈥� Dickerson said. 鈥淚 think seeing a large company take the initiative to make a difference is so amazing. The average person can do their part and it might not make a huge difference, but a big company can make positive changes at mass. As L鈥橭r茅al is a leader in sustainability, I believe other companies are following, and this is a great step towards a cleaner future.鈥�
Dickerson鈥檚 internship is also a way for her to combine her love of femininity with STEM studies.
鈥淚 am a member of Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at 海角社区, Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, Delta Gamma sorority, and a campus representative for Victoria鈥檚 Secret PINK,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 STEM role in the beauty industry was super appealing because it bridged my diverse interests.鈥�
After she graduates in 2023, Dickerson hopes to pursue a medical degree or PhD, even though she is enjoying her time in the cosmetics field this summer.
鈥淚 applied for this internship to see how I could use my degree outside of the classroom,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been on the fence about what field I want to go into after I graduate, and I figured this would help me narrow that down. I am so thankful for the opportunity to explore the STEM field further, especially within the beauty industry.鈥�
海角社区 Chemical Engineering senior Ololade 鈥淟ola鈥� Adeola is also interning with L鈥橭r茅al,
though her summer internship is taking place at the L鈥橭r茅al Research and Innovation
facility in Clark, New Jersey. Adeola has always had an interest in the cosmetics
industry and is working on a makeup remover formula that is more effective and eco-friendly.
鈥淭his has been one of the best internship experiences I鈥檝e had thus far,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 innovating a makeup remover formula to increase the efficacy of the removal of makeup while sticking to ingredients committed to protecting the environment and enhancing sustainability.鈥�
Adeola, who is from Baton Rouge, wanted to apply for an internship with any cosmetics company at first but said L鈥橭r茅al鈥檚 dedication to protecting the environment was a huge attraction.
鈥淚 was really drawn to L鈥橭r茅al after learning the history, mission, and vision of the company,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e already been inspired just in the past few weeks of working here. I鈥檝e modified my daily practices. Instead of buying multiple plastic water bottles, I鈥檝e switched to using a canteen. I鈥檓 more mindful of my plastic and paper use now.鈥�
Over the past year, Adeola, who is also a biology major, has served as an 海角社区 Thermodynamics student instructor and tutor, as well as a L鈥橭r茅al USA 2020 Diverse Future Leader.
鈥淎s an SI and tutor, I enjoy communicating scientific content to those with little knowledge on the subject matter,鈥� she said. 鈥淪pecific expertise includes mentoring black and minority students in STEM, collaboration and team building on various group projects, and teaching complex engineering concepts to students who struggle with the subject matter.鈥�
In 2020, Adeola was one of 50 candidates chosen from 400 to participate in the inaugural L鈥橭r茅al USA Diverse Future Leaders Sophomore Fellowship, where L鈥橭r茅al develops a unique community of diverse students from across the U.S. and provides them with access, education, and mentorship within the business world so they may become future leaders of the corporate world.
Lucky for the cosmetics world, Adeola plans to work in the cosmetics industry after graduating.
鈥淗opefully I鈥檒l work full-time for L鈥橭r茅al,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 truly enjoy what I鈥檓 doing and can鈥檛 see myself working in any other field.鈥�
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