Chemist, Skincare Formulation Development - Luxury Division, L'Oréal Research & Innovation - Clark, New Jersey
Life is too short for a boring career, so build an extraordinary one with us. We believe your career should spark the same thrill and curiosity as your personal interests. Creativity drives everything we do, turning ideas into meaningful impact. With opportunities across brands, markets, and divisions, your growth knows no boundaries.
Who We Are
Join us at L'Oréal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.
At L'Oréal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 3,500 L'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people's lives.
Our Skincare Luxe Development Laboratory team is where scientific discovery meets the art of luxury. We transform breakthrough technologies, formulation science, and emerging consumer aspirations into skincare products that don't just meet expectations — they exceed them. As part of a global network of scientists collaborating across L'Oréal's research ecosystem, our team develops and elevates skincare formulas destined for some of the world's most iconic Luxe brands, working at the intersection of deep formulation expertise, sophisticated consumer understanding, and rigorous regulatory excellence.
We are seeking a Chemist to join our Skincare Luxe Development team at our Clark, New Jersey facility. In this role, you will create new formulas and textures, collaborate with internal and external partners and fellow scientists, and help bring to life the next generation of blockbuster skincare products for our most prestigious brands — building the foundational formulation skills and expertise that will define your career at L'Oréal.
A Day in the Life: As a Chemist on the Skincare Luxe Development team, you will:
- Develop innovative skincare products across diverse galenic forms, exploring new ingredients and formulation strategies to create unique, sensorially exceptional textures that deliver outstanding efficacy for our Luxe consumers.
- Collaborate across functions and geographies, partnering closely with cross-functional R&I teams, business stakeholders, and industrial partners to ensure optimal formula design, on-time project delivery against well-defined milestones, and rigorous adherence to quality, safety, microbiology, and regulatory standards.
- Design and support robust research and testing strategies, working alongside a global network of engaged researchers to substantiate product quality and performance and ensure every formula meets L'Oréal's exacting standards.
- Build your formulation expertise every day, learning directly from senior scientists and gaining hands-on exposure to the end-to-end formulation process — from early-stage concept development through to launch-ready products.
- Bring curiosity to every experiment, staying attuned to emerging market trends and consumer insights, and learning how to translate these signals into strategic, forward-thinking formulation approaches.
- Maintain rigorous laboratory standards, prioritizing daily responsibilities, organizing experimental data meticulously, and contributing to a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
We Are Looking For: You're a great match for this role if you are an innovator, entrepreneur, integrator, and problem-solver with a research-minded approach, eager to build your career at the intersection of science and luxury beauty.
- Education: A completed Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related scientific discipline is required.
- Experience: 1-3 years of experience in a laboratory or research setting is required. This is an entry-level role — while prior formulation research experience is a plus, specific experience formulating skincare or personal care products is highly desirable but not required.
- Technical Expertise:
- A strong desire to develop deep expertise in cosmetic science, with the learning agility to quickly absorb new formulation concepts and techniques.
- A project-oriented mindset, with the ability to support the development of robust, innovative, and functional products under the guidance of senior scientists.
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage daily laboratory responsibilities, and work effectively within a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
- Soft Skills & Attributes:
- An Innovator — you challenge the status quo and strive for excellence in everything you do.
- An Entrepreneur — you take ownership of your projects and research with courage, curiosity, and transparency.
- An Integrator — you foster cooperation and agility across projects, actively encouraging communication and collaboration across teams.
- A Problem-Solver — you demonstrate sound judgment and thoughtful decision-making, grounded in results and supported by all available expertise.
- Research-Minded — you enjoy digging into detailed analysis and measurement, applying the scientific method rigorously to support formulation efforts.
- A genuine curiosity for market trends and consumer insights, with an eagerness to learn how these shape strategic formulation decisions.
- Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent, ongoing basis is required. No immigration support/sponsorship offered for this role.
- The ability to be onsite, in the office 5 days a week, as this is an essential function of the position (required).
What's In It For You
- A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you'll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
- Real responsibility from day 1, there's no sitting on the sidelines at L'Oréal
- An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
- A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal/environmental causes to make concrete difference
- Base Salary Range: $65,400 - $91,500 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level)
- Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)
- Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
- Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L'Oréal's Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
- Learning and Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
- Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
- Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs
Don't meet every single requirement? At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We're committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual's gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.
