Chanel Lipstick Formulation Scientist
- Location
- Seniority
- Mid-Level
- Posted
- Apr 28, 2026
About Chanel
Chanel is an independent global maison renowned for haute couture, ready-to-wear, accessories and prestige beauty. The brand’s cosmetics and fragrance divisions combine artisanal savoir‑faire with advanced scientific research to create luxury skincare, makeup and fragrances distributed worldwide.
Chanel in Pantin seeks a Lipstick Formulation Scientist (R&D Makeup) to develop and scale innovative lip products for Chanel's cosmetics range.
Role & Responsibilities
- Develop and optimize lipstick and lip‑product formulations from concept through prototype and industrial scale‑up.
- Design and execute stability, compatibility and performance testing (sensory, wear, transfer, colorfastness) and interpret analytical data to inform formulation decisions.
- Collaborate closely with colorists, packaging engineers, quality, regulatory and supply‑chain teams to ensure product safety, manufacturability and brand standards.
- Source and evaluate raw materials and suppliers, including alternative ingredients to meet sensory, safety and sustainability targets.
- Translate creative briefs into technical specifications and formulations, delivering required texture, payoff, longevity and shade reproducibility.
- Troubleshoot manufacturing issues during pilot and production runs and propose corrective actions for process control.
- Maintain detailed formulation records, technical dossiers and documentation for regulatory compliance (EU and international markets).
- Monitor market trends, benchmark competitive products and propose innovation routes for new textures and finishes.
Qualifications
- Degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Chemical Engineering or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- Demonstrable track record (typically 3+ years) in cosmetic formulation with specific experience in lip products (lipsticks, glosses, balms).
- Strong knowledge of raw materials used in color cosmetics: pigments, oils, waxes, film formers, emulsifiers and preservatives.
- Practical experience with stability and performance testing, scale‑up and manufacturing transfer in a regulated environment.
- Familiarity with cosmetics regulation (EU Cosmetics Regulation and international requirements) and safety assessment processes.
- Excellent cross‑functional collaboration and project management skills; ability to communicate technical information to creative and commercial stakeholders.
Skills
Experience
Typically 3+ years of hands‑on formulation experience within cosmetics R&D, with demonstrable projects focused on lip products and experience bridging prototype development to industrial scale‑up.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Chemical Engineering or related; Master’s or higher preferred.
Workplace
The role is situated in Pantin, Île-de-France, France — conveniently close to Paris.
Culture
Chanel’s cosmetics R&D blends rigorous scientific methodology with a strong emphasis on luxury sensory standards and creative collaboration. The workplace privileges craftsmanship, discretion and cross‑disciplinary partnership between scientists, artisans and design teams.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Chanel, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Lip Product Formulator», «Cosmetic Formulation Chemist (Lipsticks)», «Makeup R&D Formulator – Lip Products», «Lip Product Development Scientist», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.