Associate Chemist (Powder Formulation)

Revlon Corporate; Kenilworth (NJ); On-site; USD 66,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

3 weeks vacation

401k plan

Job summary

Revlon Corporate in Kenilworth, NJ is seeking an Associate Chemist to support development and commercialization of innovative cosmetic powders. The role blends hands-on in-house formulation with external collaborations to deliver pressed, loose, and hybrid powder products.

Working under senior R&D guidance, you will manage projects, ensure color and sensory quality, and coordinate with Marketing, Regulatory, and suppliers to meet performance, cost, and timing targets.

Qualifications

• BS in Chemistry or related field; 0–3 years of experience.
• Knowledge of basic principles of cosmetic science.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to communicate effectively in writing and speaking.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize pressed, loose, and powder formulations.
• Prepare laboratory batches and prototypes.
• Evaluate materials to understand shade, texture, and wear.
• Conduct shade development and matching across skin tones.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Safety, Regulatory, and Manufacturing.
• Provide feedback to external partners and manage documentation.

Skills

Cosmetic science knowledge

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

B.S. in Chemistry or related discipline

Job description

At Revlon, we create beauty innovations for everyone that inspire confidence and ignite joy every day.

Breaking beauty boundaries is in our company’s DNA. Since its game-changing launch of the first opaque nail enamel in 1932 (and later, the first long-wear foundation), Revlon has provided consumers with high-quality product innovation, performance, and sophisticated glamour. Elizabeth Arden made waves as a woman-led beauty company in the 1920s. In 1931, Almay became the original hypoallergenic, fragrance-free beauty brand.

Today, Revlon resiliently continues its legacy as a leading global beauty company. Our diverse portfolio—which consists of some of the world’s most iconic brands and product offerings in color cosmetics, skincare, hair color & care, personal care, and fragrances—sold around the world through prestige, professional, mass, and direct-to-consumer retail channels. These brands include Revlon, Revlon Professional, Elizabeth Arden, Almay, American Crew, CND, Cutex, Mitchum, Sinful Colors, Creme of Nature, Christina Aguilera, John Varvatos, Juicy Couture, Ed Hardy and more.

We honor our heritage, embrace change, and applaud diversity. We champion our employees and celebrate our consumers.

We are Revlon, together, transforming beauty.

This role is an Onsite Role: This role requires full-time presence at our Kenilworth, NJ office.

The Associate Chemist supports the development and commercialization of innovative color cosmetic powder products through a combination of hands‑on in‑house formulation and technical partnership with external manufacturers. The role supports products across pressed, loose, baked, slurry‑based, and hybrid powder formats, as applicable, including face powders, blush, bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow, and related complexion and eye products.

Working under the guidance of senior R&D personnel, the Associate Chemist applies cosmetic science, powder‑processing principles, structured experimentation, and competitive and consumer insights to develop high‑performing products from concept through commercialization. The individual partners closely with Marketing, Safety, Regulatory, Quality, Packaging, Manufacturing, Procurement, Innovation Operations, raw‑material suppliers, and external development and manufacturing partners.

The successful candidate will combine hands‑on laboratory capability with strong project ownership, technical curiosity, attention to color and sensory detail, and the ability to manage multiple internal and externally developed projects against defined performance, quality, cost, compliance, and timing requirements.

Specific Duties:

In‑House Powder Formulation and Technical Development

• Develop and optimize pressed, loose, powder formulations under appropriate supervision.
• Prepare laboratory batches and prototypes using powder blending, milling, pulverization, binder incorporation, pressing, and other relevant processing techniques.
• Evaluate raw materials and formulation variables to understand their impact on shade, texture, payoff, adhesion, blend ability, press ability, wear, sensory properties, and product integrity.
• Execute structured experiments, maintain complete laboratory records, analyze results, and recommend technically sound next steps.
• Conduct shade development and shade‑matching with attention to undertone, color consistency, coverage, finish, and performance across intended applications and skin tones.
• Identify and troubleshoot issues including glazing, cracking, chipping, dusting, hard pan, insufficient payoff, poor pan adhesion, shade variability, and processing inconsistency.
• Translate product briefs, competitive benchmarks, trend insights, and consumer needs into measurable formulation and performance targets.
• Evaluate competitive launches and emerging powder technologies, document findings and identifying opportunities for differentiated product performance.

External Development and Manufacturer Partnership

• Serve as the R&D technical contact for assigned products developed with external contract manufacturers.
• Translate technical briefs, including formula, shade, sensory, performance, testing, quality, regulatory, cost, and timing expectations.
• Critically evaluate external prototypes, formula disclosures, raw‑material information, test data, specifications, to Revlon Standard Protocols
• Provide clear and actionable technical feedback to external partners and track prototype revisions against agreed product targets.
• Coordinate the collection and review of required safety, regulatory, quality, claims, technical, and ingredient documentation.
• Identify & escape technical and commercialization risks early, communicate those risks to project stakeholders, and support development of practical mitigation plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with external manufacturers, suppliers, and technology partners while ensuring company technical and quality expectations are met.

Knowledge & Skills Required:

• Knowledge of basic principles of cosmetic science.
• Ability to apply interpersonal skills to resolve routine problems.
• Ability to conceptualize and apply innovative solutions
• B.S. in Chemistry or related discipline plus 0-3 years of experience.
• Strong organizational skills a must.
• Basic understanding of powder technology & R&D workflow
• Willingness to take ownership and accountability to drive projects forward in a timely and efficient manner.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• B.S. Chemistry or related science
• 0-3 years of experience

Revlon is unable to sponsor or transfer employment visas for this role; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa support.

The base pay range for this position is $66,000.00 - $80,000.00 / year; however base pay offered may vary depending on skills, experience, job‑related knowledge, and geographic location. Certain positions may also be eligible for short‑term incentives as part of total compensation.

Employees (and their families) are eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits. Employees are covered by the company‑paid basic life insurance policy and company‑paid short‑term disability insurance (the benefit commences upon hire and allows for a portion of base salary for up to 26 weeks if you are disabled). Other benefits offered to employees include but are not limited to the following: long‑term disability, supplemental life insurances, flexible spending accounts, critical illness insurance, group legal, identity theft protection, etc. Employees are also able to enroll in our 401k Retirement Savings Plan.

Employees will also receive 3 weeks of vacation, pro‑rated based on date of hire for the 1st year of employment and twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year. Vacation will depend on role.

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Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Revlon Corporate’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.