Cosmetic Chemist

Coffee Brewery; Bengaluru; Hybrid; INR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Coffee Brewery invites a Formulation Scientist / Cosmetic Chemist to lead color cosmetics development for lips, cheeks, and eyes. Location is Bengaluru with hybrid lab access, and 2–4 years of India-market experience is preferred.

You will formulate, shade-match, test stability, and work with manufacturing to scale up products from concept to launch. Strong knowledge of wax/oil systems and pigment dispersion is essential.

Qualifications

• Hands-on color cosmetic formulation experience, especially lips and sticks.
• Experience with shade-matching and pigment dispersion.
• Stability testing and packaging compatibility knowledge.
• Degree in chemistry/cosmetics or related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize lipstick, lip gloss, and lip-balm formulations from brief to batch.
• Shade development, pigment dispersion, and effect on wear time and finish.
• Create and maintain formula sheets, batch records and tech-transfer packs.
• Coordinate with packaging, QA, and procurement to meet timelines.

Skills

Color cosmetics

Lip products

Shade development

Stability testing

Education

B.Sc / M.Sc Chemistry, Cosmetic Science or related

Diploma in Cosmetic Science

Tools

Pigment dispersion techniques

Wax/oil/butter formulation

Job description

Formulation Scientist / Cosmetic Chemist – Color Cosmetics (Lips & Face)

Experience band that works well in India for this scope: 2–4 years

Location: Bengaluru (or “Bengaluru / hybrid with lab access in a small commercials pace”).

About the role

We are building a premium color-cosmetics line (lips, cheeks, eyes, and overnight lip care) with a strong focus on texture, wear, shade performance, and cleaner/natural-leaning ingredients (butters, oils, film formers, pigments). We need a hands‑on Formulation Scientist / Chemist who can take concepts from lab bench to stable, manufacturable products.

This is not a theoretical R&D role. You will formulate, iterate, shade‑match, stability-test, and work with manufacturing and packaging so products can actually launch.

Product categories you will own

• Classic lipstick (bullet)
• Tinted lip balm
• Lip gloss
• Blush stick
• Cream eyeshadow stick
• Contour stick
• Lip sleeping mask

Key responsibilities

• Develop and optimize formulations from brief to lab batch to pilot/scale‑up.
• Work on payoff, slip, melt, transfer, wear time, comfort, shine/matte finish, and shade accuracy.
• Build and refine bases for anhydrous sticks, oil‑wax systems, emulsions (where needed), and film‑forming liquid lips.
• Shade development and pigment dispersion (organic/inorganic pigments, lakes, pearls, iron oxides).
• Select and evaluate raw materials: waxes, butters (cocoa, shea), oils (castor and others), esters, film formers, polymers, preservatives/antioxidants, flavor/fragrance, actives for lip mask.
• Run and document stability (RT, 40/45°C, freeze‑thaw, cycle), compatibility with packaging (bullet, doe‑foot, pencil, twist‑up stick), and basic performance tests.
• Prepare formula sheets, batch records, specs, and tech‑transfer packs for CMO / in‑house production.
• Support claims language that is honest and regulation‑safe (India CDSCO/BIS; awareness of EU/US if we export).
• Benchmark premium Indian and global lip/face products and close gaps.
• Work with packaging, procurement, QA, and marketing on cost, sensory, and launch timelines.
• Keep a clean lab notebook and digital formula library.

Must‑have experience

• Hands‑on color cosmetics, especially lips and/or stick formats (bullet lipstick, liquid lip, gloss, balm, twist‑up sticks). Face sticks (blush / bronzer / highlighter / cream shadow) is a strong plus.
• Comfortable with wax‑oil‑butter systems, pigment wetting/dispersion, and stick moulding or filling.
• Stability and packaging compatibility for makeup, not only skincare lotions.
• Degree: B.Sc / M.Sc Chemistry, Cosmetic Science / Technology, B.Pharm / M.Pharm, or related. Diploma in Cosmetic Science is useful.

Good to have

• Clean / natural / “no nasties” formulation experience without sacrificing wear.
• Work with CMOs or tech transfer in India.
• Knowledge of FSSAI is not required; cosmetic rules (Schedule S / BIS / labeling) are.
• Sensory evaluation and shade library discipline.
• Interest in luxury positioning and Indian skin‑tone ranges.

What success looks like in 6‑12 months

• Stable hero SKUs in lipstick + at least one liquid lip / gloss / balm.
• 1‑2 face stick formats (blush or highlighter) ready for pilot.
• Documented formulas that a factory can repeat.
• Clear shade architecture for Indian undertones.

Employment

Full‑time. Compensation commensurate with color‑cosmetics experience (not generic pharma/FMCG lotion experience). Lab‑first role.