The team of Keerthana M and Sakthi S, final year M.Sc Cosmetic Science students, representing Division of Cosmetic Science, School of Life Sciences, JSS AHER, Mysuru, under the mentorship of Dr. Asha Srinivasan, were awarded the first prize for presenting their product, “Phytocollagen Sunscreen SPF”, a new product, targeted at pre-ageing and Sunscreen action, formulated for the Indian market, under the ‘Leave On’ category, during the Student Excellence Award 2025-2026, held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, NESCO, Mumbai, on 30 th April 2026. Student Excellence Award is instituted and organised by Vimal Lifesciences in association with HPIC India [a leading news magazine for the home and personal care (HPC) industry]. It challenges the students to create innovative formulations, identify new business opportunities, and propose out-of-the-box concepts in formulations design. The awards recognize ‘Excellence in Innovative Formulation Design’ across three categories every year. Our student, Ms. Keerthana M, has received this prestigious ‘Shivanand Shanbhag Young Cosmetologist of the Year 2025-2026’, award, in recognition of her excellent understanding and outstanding aptitude in cosmetic chemistry, applications, market trends, and soft skills.