The 3rd edition of the Natural Cosmetics International Meeting (NCIM) took place in Kielnarowa, Poland (25–27 September 2025), gathering more than 170 participants from 20 countries – researchers, students, and industry representatives working on the future of natural cosmetics.

Science, Business, and Young Researchers

The meeting’s mission was to connect academia with the cosmetics industry. Sessions covered topics such as extraction and isolation techniques, new technologies, global trends in natural cosmetology, and the vision of young researchers for the future of natural cosmetics.

One of the highlights was the strong involvement of master’s and PhD students, who competed for awards sponsored by the Phytochemical Society of Europe (PSE) and the conference organizers.

• Karolina Czech (WSIiZ) and Matylda Grzelecka (Medical University of Warsaw) received the awards for Best Scientific Posters.
• Leonor Teixeira da Costa (iBET, Portugal) won the prize for Best Oral Presentation.

Lectures, Panels, and a Mongolian Yurt

The scientific program included five panel sessions, 93 posters, and three practical workshops on bioferments in cosmetics, EpiOcular eye irritation tests, natural cosmetic formulations, and counter-current chromatography. The opening lecture was delivered by Prof. Günther K. Bonn (Austrian Drug Screening Institute, Innsbruck), who discussed advanced analytical and biological techniques for quality control of plant-based products.

Beyond the formal sessions, NCIM offered unique exhibition spaces. The most remarkable was a traditional Mongolian yurt, set up among the greenery by Baigal Med. Inside, participants discovered herbs and cosmetics rooted in Mongolian medicine, which views healthy skin as a mirror of a healthy body. In collaboration with WSIiZ researchers, Baigal Med is developing innovative products such as the Multi-Active Cream. The yurt quickly became one of the most visited and talked-about places of the meeting.

SUNRISE Participation

SUNRISE partners were strongly present at NCIM 2025:

• Prof. Enrico Lodolini (Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy) delivered his invited lecture
• Dr. Mohamed Koubaa (Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France) joined the entire program and actively contributed to discussions.
• From Cyprus, three Erasmus+ participants – Andri Andreou, Despo Iordanou, and Pavlina Efthymiou – took part in all conference activities and workshops, adding their perspectives to the international exchange.

Looking Forward

For SUNRISE, NCIM 2025 was both a chance to follow cutting-edge research and an opportunity to strengthen collaboration with partners across Europe and beyond. With record participation and inspiring contributions, the meeting clearly demonstrated that the future of natural cosmetics lies in innovation, cooperation, and global perspective.

The next edition of NCIM is already planned for 2027 – and SUNRISE looks forward to being part of it once again.