Since 2000, approximately 500 students have graduated from the Academy of Cosmetics and Health Care in Warsaw (WSZKiPZ). Our graduates work in the departments of technology, production and sales of the leading Polish and international cosmetics companies. Some of them become freelance consultants and entrepreneurs in cosmetics industry. And some of the best students choose teaching careers – they pass on their experience and passion to new generations of students. We are proud of the fact that some of our teaching staff are in fact our old students, who decided to continue their connection with the Academy.
The creation and growth of the Academy of Cosmetics and Health Care in Warsaw was motivated by the desire to educate young people about modern cosmetology, biotechnology and cosmetic chemistry. New solutions within these branches of knowledge that had been introduced in the European Union are also currently implemented in Poland. The new concepts offer the possibilities for creation of new professions connected to healthcare and health promotion. The development of the industry in Poland means that there is a growing need for trained professionals who could demonstrate a thorough knowledge of ingredients, usage, production, research and quality control of cosmetics, household, and pharmacy products.
The mission of the Academy involves teaching our students on the basis of our proprietary, state-of-the-art syllabuses, that are based on international industry-accepted standards. It is our priority to offer high quality education and to prepare our students to be competitive on both the Polish and international biotechnology and cosmetology job market. Our academic staff includes distinguished Polish specialists in the fields of cosmetology, pharmacology, medicine and cosmetic chemistry. The teaching staff comes from the Warsaw University of Technology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poznan University of Economics and some teaching posts are also filled by industry professionals, employed by the largest cosmetics companies.

Our Academy is located in the Old Town in the centre of Warsaw, which makes it easily accessible from all parts of the town. Our students enjoy studying in the beautiful historical surroundings.

The Academy has obtained a positive recommendation of The State Accreditation Committee and a permit to teach a first level programme in Cosmetology issued by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. After completing the first year, students choose one of the following five specialisations:

The dynamic development of biotechnology, connected with the departure from raw materials production in favour of end product production and the innovativeness of new technologies caused the launch of a new study field, which comprises two new specialisations:

The graduates from the two above specialisations will be prepared to work in quality control and product certification laboratories, research centres and production companies in the capacity of quality specialists and product specialists, sanitary controllers, sales, marketing, advertising, turnover and distribution specialists.

In the few years of the Academy’s existence, our academic staff has achieved many notable successes. Members of the staff published several dozen of scientific articles and conference papers, they have also organised and co-organised many scientific conferences and congresses both in Poland and abroad. Our Academy also conducts scientific research, and a review of our research activities is published annually in our own periodical entitled “Cosmetology Today”. Due to the fact that many of our teaching programmes are proprietary and interdisciplinary, we also publish our own textbooks and other study materials (they are published by our own publishing house). For several years now, the Academy is a member of the Polish Union of Private Employers in Cosmetic Industry (PZPPBK). We also work in close collaboration with the Polish Society of Cosmetic Chemists (PTK). The collaboration has resulted in organising several international conferences and symposiums, including “All for Cosmetics” (2003, 2005, 2007). Our academic staff also publish their articles in the PSCC Journal (Wiadomości Polskiego Towarzystwa Kosmetologów) (recently named “SOFW Journal” (Polish Edition)). Our staff’s publications can also be found in the following titles: “Cosmetic Reporter”, “LNE & SPA”, “Beauty Forum”, “Gabi”, “Kosmetyka Profesjonalna” “Spa Manager”, „Spa & Wellness”. The members of our teaching staff deliver papers in the fields of cosmetology, dermatology, podology, cosmetics chemistry and household chemistry on many internationally recognised congresses, conferences and trade fairs, including “All for Cosmetics”, International Cosmetics Trade Fair “InterCharm”, Science Fest, and an international cosmetics industry congress called Les Nouvelles Estetiques. Our students achieve the top prizes in makeup and styling competitions. The Academy also created special training programmes and conducted trainings for the employees of Johnson & Johnson, Henkel Polska and L’Oreal. Thanks to our cooperation with the Polish Association of Employers and Fair Participants in Cosmetics Industry we also participate in annual „beauty salon” events organised by the Association. Members of our teaching staff deliver papers and presentations during these events. Our deep care for the needs of society is proved by our participation in various charity programmes and campaigns. One of these programmes is “Look Good, Feel Better” organised by the Polish Union of Private Employers in Cosmetic Industry. The goal of the campaign is the improvement of life quality of women suffering from cancer, by offering them help in hiding the visible effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and in consequence, helping them to rediscover their self-confidence and improve their quality of life. The programme includes workshops in beauty care and makeup organised in women oncology wards.

The years of constant efforts to deliver the highest quality of teaching, to broaden the range of offered programmes and to develop our teaching resources have resulted in the Academy’s growing reputation in the cosmetic science and cosmetology industries. The Academy of Cosmetics and Health Care becomes a recognisable brand: and a visible proof of this is the growing number of applicants.
One of the assets of the Academy is the focus on practical experience. Our students have an opportunity to benefit from hands-on training. The Academy collaborates with many beauty salons and cosmetic raw materials producers (e.g.: Cognis, ISP, Akzo Nobel) as well as with cosmetics production and distribution companies (e.g.: Avon Cosmetics Polska, Johnson & Johnson, Bionatech, Dermika, Henkel Polska, Jadwiga, La Femme Cosmetics, Norel, Pollena Aroma, Sabell, Slandi, Supernowa).
In the times of increasing globalisation and employee mobility, we also offer our students the possibility of gathering valuable experience abroad. The Academy of Cosmetics and Healthcare has signed ”Socrates-Erasmus” programme partnerships with several foreign institutions including Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia, Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland and London University of the Arts. The exchange programmes offer our students the possibility to improve their knowledge of foreign languages and to benefit from learning a different approach to their chosen specialisation. The Academy strives to broaden its international contacts and proactively seeks cooperation with other international institutions.

The Academy of Cosmetics and Health Care in Warsaw (WSZKiPZ) offers its students a complete range of highly advanced learning facilities. The academy has at its disposal auditoriums, lecture rooms, and seminar rooms furnished with professional multimedia equipment, as well as computer rooms with access to the Web. We also have our own library and reading-room.

The Professional Cosmetics Learning and Research Centre includes four professional cosmetics studios in which specialist cosmetic treatments are performed as a form of practical training. Students, under the supervision of an instructor, perform skincare treatments for seborrheic, aged and problematic (dry, couperose, melanodermal, or sensitive) skin, and acne (normalisation of sabaceous gland function, moisturising, soothing, and mechanical face cleansing). The treatments performed in the professional cosmetics studios employ, among other equipment, ultrasound devices for cavitation peeling and sonophoresis. The facilities also enable the performance of diamond microdermabrasion (layer-by-layer epidermis exfoliation), needle-free mesotherapy, brushing, and iontophoresis.

The Aesthetics and Make-up Studio features professional make-up stations as well as manicure milling machines, paraffin heaters, and sterilisers. When performing the make-up, pedicure, and manicure, the students use high-quality cosmetics, brushes, pliers and nail-files.

The Medical Subjects Learning and Research Centre includes two podology studios, a massage and physiotherapy studio, and a physical education studio. The podology studios are a perfect facility for learning the specialist foot care techniques (rough skin removal, elimination of calluses, corns, treatment of ingrown nails and heel fissures). The studios offer fully-equipped work stations with pneumatic chairs, drills with dust-absorbers, and drills for wet treatment, accessories such as pliers, bits, correction clips.

The Cosmetic Chemistry Learning and Research Centre features three cosmetic chemistry laboratories, and one cosmetic efficiency testing laboratory. The cosmetic chemistry laboratories are furnished with equipment used for the production of various physical and chemical forms of cosmetics on a laboratory basis. The work stations are equipped with laboratory scales, magnetic and mechanical mixers, water chambers, and homogenisers. The evaluation of cosmetic stability is enabled through the use of a heater, refrigerator, centrifuge, vortex mixer, and microscope equipped with an image-capturing camera. Moreover, the laboratory has at its disposal an exhaust system, and a sound fluid, allowing various technical experiments. The cosmetic chemistry laboratory conducts research on the trans-epidermal penetration of cosmetic actives. Air-conditioned rooms, and diffusion chambers (Flynn, Franz) enable the measurement of the rate of trans-epidermal transportation, using stratum corneum-analogical lipids and swine skin as model membranes. The laboratory also has its own dermatome. Research activities are also pursued at the cell culture laboratory where the influence of cosmetic substances on vital skin functions (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) is studied. Using specialist techniques, the irritating potential of substances is assessed, as well as their influence on cell proliferation and vitality; and many other tests are run in order to evaluate the influence of given substances on human skin, and study the details of their actions.

The cosmetic efficiency testing laboratory enables, in controlled temperature and humidity, the identification of skin parameters such as hydration, oiliness, trans-epidermal water loss etc., and thus the assessment of efficiency of particular cosmetics. For this purpose, the following devices are used:

• Corneometer – a device used to indirectly determine the skin’s hydration level by assessing the water content in surface areas of stratum corneum
• Sebumeter – a device used to indirectly determine the sebum content of skin surface
• Tewameter – a device used to indirectly determine the condition of epidermal barrier, by assessing the humility and temperature gradients above the skin surface
• Visioscan – a device used for the observation of skin and hair surface under magnification, in both normal and polarised light
• pH-meter – a device equipped with a flat electrode measuring the pH of the skin surface and its changes under the influence of various cosmetic products
• Chromameter – a device used for the assessment of skin chromaticity on a three-colour scale, in the L*a*b system; it allows a very precise evaluation of skin and hair colour

The launch of a postgraduate programme in Cosmetic Chemistry (in cooperation with The Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University of Technology) has been an important event for the Academy. The new postgraduate programme is very popular with our graduates.
In order to help in the improvement of professional skills and to ensure the conformity with EU standards that put stress on the strong links with the medical profession in the field of health care and health protection, and in recognition of the holistic concept of health care in the modern spa establishments, we have also launched a new two-semester Spa & Wellness postgraduate programme.
In the coming academic year of 2009/2010 we also plan to launch a new two-semester postgraduate programme called “Cosmetology in Medicine” (in cooperation with the Section of Aesthetic Medicine of the Polish Medical Association). The “Cosmetology in Medicine” programme is addressed to all medical school graduates (medical doctors) interested in cosmetology and aesthetic medicine.
The postgraduate programme offers an interdisciplinary syllabus that covers the following fields: qualities of cosmetic products, effects of cosmetic products, active ingredients, recommendations and methods of usage and methods of efficiency evaluation. Furthermore, the students study the legal aspects of the use of cosmetic products and learn to evaluate the actual efficiency and usefulness of cosmetic products on the basis of the information provided on the product label.

Our main objective for the future is first and foremost the broadening of the range of courses and programmes offered. We also endeavour to continue our attempts to increase the standards of graduate vocational education. One of our most cherished plans is the launch of a Master’s degree programme in Cosmetology. The further growth of the Academy of Cosmetology and Health Care is also connected with the increase of our research activity. Furthermore, we plan to develop our international student exchange and to attract a growing number of foreign students.