Cosmetic Formulation Lead — Innovation & Launch

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary + bonus

Medical, dental, and vision

Employee discounts

Development opportunities

Creative work environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Formulation Scientist to lead innovation in our Cosmetics division based in Sandton. You will drive development of high-performance skincare, haircare, and makeup products from concept to market launch, leveraging expertise in cosmetic science and ingredient interactions.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of cosmetic formulation experience, strong knowledge of ingredients and regulatory requirements, and a proven track record in fast-paced R&D environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or master in cosmetic science, chemistry, pharmacy, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in cosmetic formulation development.
• Deep knowledge of cosmetic ingredients and their interactions.
• Experience with skincare, haircare and color cosmetics manufacturing processes.
• Understanding regulatory requirements and safety assessments for cosmetics.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication for the Sandton R&D team.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative and stable cosmetic formulations for skincare, haircare, and color cosmetics.
• Evaluate and select raw materials, understanding their properties and compatibility.
• Conduct formulation trials, optimize performance, and ensure efficacy and safety.
• Scale up formulations from benchtop to pilot and manufacturing batches.
• Conduct stability testing, compatibility studies, and performance evaluations.
• Collaborate with marketing, regulatory affairs, and manufacturing teams to ensure successful product development and launch.

Skills

Cosmetic formulation

Regulatory knowledge

Project management

Attention to detail

Education

B.Sc./M.Sc. in Cosmetic Science or related field

Tools

Stability testing equipment

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Formulation Scientist to lead innovation in our Cosmetics division based in Sandton. You will drive development of high-performance skincare, haircare, and makeup products from concept to market launch, leveraging expertise in cosmetic science and ingredient interactions.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years of cosmetic formulation experience, strong knowledge of ingredients and regulatory requirements, and a proven track record in fast-paced R&D environments.