R&D Professional – Skincare Product Development

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Research and Development (R&D) professional specializing in skincare product development to lead the entire product lifecycle—from ideation and formulation to testing, scale-up, and commercial launch. This role demands a deep understanding of cosmetic ingredients, formulation science, product efficacy, stability, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to create innovative, high-quality skincare products that meet market needs and brand positioning.

Responsibilities

• Product Conceptualisation & Development
  Drive end-to-end development of skincare products across categories such as moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, cleansers, toners, exfoliants, and face masks. Translate consumer needs, market trends, and brand positioning into innovative product concepts and formulations. Research emerging skincare ingredients, actives, technologies, and formulation trends to develop differentiated products.

• Formulation & Ingredient Research
  Develop, optimize, and refine formulations based on product performance, sensorial attributes, efficacy, safety, and cost targets. Demonstrate strong knowledge of cosmetic ingredients, active ingredients, emulsions, preservatives, surfactants, and ingredient compatibility. Evaluate raw materials and identify suitable ingredients and alternatives in collaboration with suppliers. Address formulation challenges related to stability, texture, absorption, fragrance, pH, and product compatibility.

• Testing, Validation & Quality
  Plan and execute product stability, compatibility, and performance testing. Coordinate with internal teams and external laboratories for safety assessments, microbiological testing, preservative efficacy testing, and efficacy validation as applicable. Analyze test results, troubleshoot formulation issues, and incorporate feedback to improve product quality. Ensure products meet defined quality specifications before commercialization.

• Regulatory & Compliance
  Ensure formulations, ingredients, product claims, and labeling comply with applicable cosmetic regulations, including Indian regulatory requirements. Maintain product documentation, formulation records, ingredient specifications, safety data, and technical dossiers. Collaborate with regulatory and quality teams to validate product claims and ensure compliance with relevant standards.

• Packaging Development
  Collaborate with packaging teams to select suitable primary and secondary packaging for skincare products. Conduct formulation–packaging compatibility assessments to ensure product stability, safety, and usability. Evaluate packaging materials, dispensing systems, and their impact on product performance and shelf life.

• Scale-Up & Commercial Manufacturing
  Transfer laboratory formulations to pilot batches and commercial-scale production. Work closely with contract manufacturers or in-house manufacturing teams to ensure consistency between laboratory samples and production batches. Troubleshoot scale-up and manufacturing challenges and establish standard operating procedures and product specifications. Monitor trial batches, process parameters, and quality outcomes before final production approval.

• Cost Optimisation & Vendor Management
  Develop formulations within defined cost targets without compromising product quality or performance. Work with raw material suppliers, ingredient vendors, testing laboratories, and contract manufacturers. Evaluate ingredient alternatives and optimize formulation costs and sourcing feasibility.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Product Launch
  Collaborate with Product, Marketing, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, and Supply Chain teams throughout the product lifecycle. Support product sampling, consumer trials, product feedback analysis, and formulation iterations. Ensure timely delivery of approved formulations, technical documentation, and manufacturing-ready products for launch. Provide technical inputs for product positioning, ingredient communication, and substantiation of product claims.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Relevant experience in skincare, cosmetics, beauty, or personal care R&D and formulation development.
• Hands-on experience in developing and commercializing skincare formulations from concept to launch.
• Strong understanding of cosmetic ingredients, active ingredients, formulation techniques, stability testing, and product safety.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and managing product scale-up and commercial production.
• Familiarity with cosmetic regulations, quality standards, and product claim substantiation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and cross-functional coordination skills.

Experience

• Proven track record in skincare product development and commercialization.
• Experience in formulation optimization, stability testing, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage scale-up processes and collaborate with manufacturing partners.

Key Success Metrics

• Number of products developed and successfully commercialized.
• Formulation success rate and adherence to product development timelines.
• Product stability, quality, and performance outcomes.
• Cost optimization against target product costs.
• Successful scale-up with minimal formulation deviations.
• Compliance with applicable regulatory and quality requirements.