Formulation Technician — Makeup (Lip Category) (Fixed-Term Contract)

Posted Mar 16, 2026

Chanel — Pantin: Formulation Technician (Makeup, Lips) on a fixed-term contract. Join Chanel's Beauty R&D to develop lip products and manage lab-to-scale transfer.

Overview

Chanel is an independent, globally recognised French luxury house operating across fashion, leather goods, watches, fine jewellery, fragrance and beauty. The Beauty & Fragrance division is renowned for marrying artisanal savoir‑faire with stringent scientific and regulatory standards, delivering prestige cosmetics and makeup innovations worldwide.

Role & Responsibilities

Develop and optimise lip makeup formulations (lipstick, lip gloss, balms), from lab prototyping through pilot batches to industrial transfer.
Design and conduct stability, compatibility and performance testing (rheology, wear, sensorial evaluation) and interpret analytical results to refine formulations.
Collaborate with colorists, analytical labs, regulatory affairs, packaging and production to ensure formula robustness and industrialisability.
Manage documentation for development projects: technical specifications, batch records, change reports and regulatory dossiers.
Liaise with raw material suppliers and external laboratories to secure materials, resolve technical issues and evaluate new ingredients.
Contribute to sensory panels and instrumental testing for colour matching, texture and application performance.

Qualifications

Degree or technical diploma in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Technology or equivalent.
Practical knowledge of cosmetic raw materials and excipients used in color cosmetics, especially pigments and waxes.
Familiarity with stability testing protocols and cosmetic regulatory requirements (EU cosmetic regulation preferred).
Strong laboratory discipline, precision in experimental execution and rigorous documentation practices.
Capacity to work cross-functionally and manage multiple development streams in a deadline-driven environment.

Skills

Cosmetic formulation for color cosmetics (lipstick, gloss, balms) Stability and compatibility testing methodologies Pigment dispersion and rheology control Analytical interpretation of instrumental and sensory data Technical documentation and batch record management Cross-functional project coordination Microsoft Office (Excel, Word); familiarity with LIMS or laboratory data systems is advantageous

Experience

Approximately 2–4 years of hands-on experience in cosmetic formulation or product development, preferably with direct experience in lip products or color cosmetics and exposure to pilot scale-up and industrial transfer.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent technical diploma in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Technology or related discipline.

Culture

Chanel fosters a culture that blends artisanal creativity with scientific rigour; teams operate with attention to detail, high standards and a commitment to innovation. The working environment values cross-disciplinary collaboration between R&D, regulatory, production and creative teams to deliver premium beauty products.