John Woodruff started his career in cosmetics when he joined Smith & Nephew Research in 1960. Three years later he joined International Flavours & Fragrances as Applications Chemist and in 1966 he became Toiletries Development Manager for Sterling Winthrop.

From 1968 to 1988 he was Technical & Operations Director of a contract manufacturing company and established his own Consulting Laboratory in October 1988. John Woodruff's Consulting Laboratory is well equipped for the formulation and development of all toiletry and cosmetic products. Emphasis is given to producing products that meet individual customer requirements and full test results and documentation is presented with every formula developed. He has worked with a computer programmer to develop Creativity, a unique programme written for formula creation and cosmetic manufacture with special emphasis on compliance with cosmetic legislation and which has received world-wide recognition.

John has been a member of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists since 1962, has forty years experience in the industry, for many years was Cosmetics Consultant to Manufacturing Chemist and now writes regular features for Soap, Perfumery and Cosmetics magazine. He has frequently lectured and had two books and many articles published on cosmetics. He has twice appeared as an expert witness and was three times Chairman of the European UV & Sunfilters Conference, Paris; he chaired Cosmo Amman 2000 and has twice chaired a session at In-Cosmetics conferences.

He sails whenever possible