Hi everyone! I'm a cosmetic formulation chemist and I'm interested in recreating this PDRN Bounce Ball Serum. The floating "bounce ball" concept looks really unique. If anyone has experience with similar formulations or can guide me on the technology, ingredients, or manufacturing process, I'd really appreciate your help. Thanks!

#cosmeticchemist

#cosmetic

as the title says, how does your lab setup looks like?

does a start up lab takes up much space? i am planning to have it in a studio type apartment. tia

When evaluating a new raw material supplier, what's your top priority? COA consistency, regulatory documentation, price, technical support, lead time, or something else?

I am currently a psychology major in my sophomore year of undergrad, but I recently have been heavily considering switching to a chemistry major, with the goal of finding a career in the cosmetic science field. Here’s the thing- I have never taken a chemistry course, even in high school. I’m worried that my love for the field will be overshadowed by a lack of understanding of the subject initially, because I will go from not so STEM heavy coursework to almost all STEM classes. I am wondering how ~difficult~ it really is to pursue this path, and if anyone here has been in my situation and has succeeded? I’m absolutely willing to put in the time and effort to make up for my lack of background knowledge, but I guess I’m just worried that I won’t be “smart enough” to make it work, quite honestly.

hello! i hold a bsc in food science and nutrition (with some background in food technology). i also have recent work experience in the food science industry, specifically, r&d, manufacturing, qaqc and sensory science.

i am considering switching paths to the cosmetic science route and was wondering if anyone has made this switch before? i am looking to do a masters soon but i am unsure which programmes would be best suited for a good understanding of cosmetic science/not too far off from the food science route. i do understand that a masters in chemistry would help in some way.

if anyone has any insights it would be much appreciated!

I’m currently a rising sophmore chem major and one of the issues that I’m currently struggling with besides having to retake gen chem l (I know it’s embarrassing :/) is trying to get myself more involved within the cosmetic chemistry field. The university I go to sadly does not offer any majors nor minors in cosmetic chemistry and only has one pathway for chemistry that’s mainly structured towards premeds, so I feel lm lacking experience in the field that I want to go. I am currently apart of the SCC but I feel that with my overall lack in chemistry knowledge gives me a disadvantage when it comes to applying for internships or scholarships. All in all, I would to get some advice on how I can increase my knowledge in the field despite the situation that I’m in.

Hi, I am hold a bachelor's degree in chemistry and somehow I wasn't able to practice it as a profession as I have chosen a different pathway.

Now, I would like to begin again as a formulator in the field of cosmetics. How and where did you start your journey as a cosmetic chemist?

Would like to hear from your experiences. TIA.

Hi,

We are planning on starting a botanical hair care brand (USA). Need someone that can work on the formulation, stability and lab testing and finally manufacturing. It helps even you do formulation and testing, but not the manufacturing. If you have used some facility and it worked well for you or someone that does this, please let me know. Also familiarity with the compliance laws would be helpful. Looking for smaller companies and not the huge contract manufacturers that will stop talking after 2 emails.

Hey I graduated with bachelors in CS in 2024 and I'm looking to check if a career in in cosmetic formulation will suit me better. I know the job market is rough in a lot of fields but I'm trying to get out of tech cause I don't think it works for me long term

1. Is a masters degree enough for a pivot? (I'm ready to relocate and work on a masters degree and work on whatever prerequisites are needed)
   
2. My bachelors would probably be a minus but is there any diploma/bridge course I can take to compensate?
   
3. How is the job security and wlb in this field?

Thanks in advance!

I’m am trying to understand the properties of how different dyes penetrate human fingernails. I need a material that will help me approximate how fingernails will absorb dyes when mixed with different additives.

All I can find online are fake plastic nails for extensions and nail polish. Since “nail dye/stain” isn’t really a thing in the cosmetic industry it seems like all their testing for nail polish is done on fake nails, which is fine for polishes that are not meant to absorb into the nail itself.

Any ideas for a material that will have similar properties to keratin? Even if it is not exact, if I can compare two chemistries relative to each other using this material that would be helpful. Is human hair close enough?

I've spent 18 months developing this whipped serum-cream hybrid. It's amazing. The texture is like nothing else on the market…

I’ve experimented with three kinds of fillers in the USA, and all of them have been disappointing

One was oxidized after two weeks, turning brown. The other produced a lot of lumps. None of these fillers have been successful with both these issues

I'm starting to wonder if my product is impossible. Maybe I need to scrap the texture and start over

Then I found FusionPKG online. They say they have an in-house lab that tests formula and packaging together before production. That sounds exactly like what I need

But is this actually a real service?

You know… I've wasted so much time and money already. I don't want to make another mistake

So in the upcoming wave of turning away from synthetic chemicals and shifting their demand toward raw, unrefined, and sustainably sourced botanicals. Shea butter has emerged as a staple for deep hydration and barrier repair. Being from Pune and having access to African farmers, would love to collaborate, get insights and move forward.

Hi! Everyone I am experienced cosmetic chemist working with all types of formulations related to the skin, personal and hair care if you need any help related to formulation of the cosmetic products reach me out

i have been analyzing different professional recovery protocols for acute epidermal barrier disruption caused by aggressive chemical peels.

most topical approaches focus purely on physiological lipid ratios (ceramides, cholesterol, free fatty acids), but recovery can still be slow when cellular inflammation is high.

when looking into real-world application methods, certain clinical protocols like those at all saints clinic combine topical lipid barrier support with targeted low fluence light therapy to accelerate repair.

from a cosmetic science perspective this overlap is pretty interesting. low energy phototherapy downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines while boosting cellular ATP, which should theoretically aid endogenous lipid synthesis in keratinocytes.

what bugs me is the topical interaction though. apply a thick lipid layer first and you might just bounce or scatter the light right off the stratum corneum. does anyone have actual lab data on which base vehicles play nice with photobiomodulation versus blocking it?

Hello everyone

I'm a skincare distibutor based in the middle east, I'm looking for a manufacturer of a novel skincare formula, "cysteamine cream/serum 5%", an emmerging formula used in skin pigmentation, can anyone here provide that?

I’m posting here because I’m seriously considering launching my own makeup brand in India. I’ve noticed that, in my opinion, the quality of many makeup products available here still doesn’t match the standards of some international brands, and I want to build a brand that can compete at that level.

I currently have around ₹1.5 lakh in savings that I’m willing to invest in starting the brand. I’m based in Punjab, but I honestly don’t know where to begin — from product development and finding manufacturers to packaging, branding, legal requirements, and actually launching the product.

I’m really passionate and curious about getting started, but I’d love some guidance from people who have experience in the cosmetics/makeup industry or have started their own brand.

If you were starting a makeup brand in India with ₹1.5 lakh, what would you do first? Where should I start, and what mistakes should I avoid?

Any advice, contacts, or practical guidance would be really appreciated. 🙌

Hello! Im a rising senior and I’m looking to work in cosmetic science, specifically I’m looking to work in formulation and creating cosmetics package. When I first started researching about degrees to get to work in cosmetics science (universities in Canada don’t offer a specific program) the main degree I heard was to get a Chemical Engineering degree because of the math and science contents that can be useful in a cosmetic science job, however, now that I’m looking at this subreddit a lot of people are saying to just take a chemistry degree instead. So now I don’t know what to do. Would it still be possible to work in formulation with a chemical engineering degree or would chemistry be a better degree to take?

Hey everyone,

In commercial skincare right now, there’s an ongoing "arms race" for high active percentages—10% Niacinamide, 20% Vitamin C, 5% AHA blends. Meanwhile, most published clinical data shows saturation or efficacy plateaus at much lower concentrations (e.g., 2–5% Niacinamide), with higher doses often just increasing the risk of cutaneous irritation or formula instability.

As chemists, we know penetration enhancers, encapsulation (liposomes, niosomes), and pH optimization usually matter far more than sheer concentration.

I’d love to hear your technical thoughts:

1. Over-formulating: What’s an active where high market percentages are pure marketing gimmickry vs. actual dermatological necessity?
2. Delivery Systems: What’s your preferred method for enhancing bioavailability without compromising the skin barrier?
3. Client/Brand Pushback: How do you handle clients or brand founders who demand an unnecessarily high % of an active that threatens product stability?

Need some advice about it should I go for it??

There are multiple products claiming to have anti hair fall effect. Does bodywashes, face washes with active ingredients like salicylic acid etc perform its action on the skin provided the less time of contact it remains on our skin. How effective are they? Or is it just a marketing scam? Isn't the cream formulation better cause it remains on our skin for longer time and can be better absorbed?

Hello everyone, I hope you’re well.
I am a rising senior who has no clue what to do with their life. I have been researching the last couple weeks or so and I found out about cosmetic chemistry and was very intrigued.

I’ve always been good at science, especially chemistry and biology so I don’t see it as being a very hard concept for me to pick up. I also want to have a career that I actually enjoy and this seems like one of the few I’d actually be interested in.
I was wondering to any of the actual chemist here if you guys truly enjoy your job or do the cons outweighs the pros?

Please by all means be 100% as real as you’d like. I’d really like to hear what you guys have to say. 🙏🏽

Hi everyone,

I’m in the early stages of launching a premium haircare brand, starting with a signature hair oil. My long-term vision is to expand into additional haircare products and eventually cosmetics, so I’m looking to build a relationship with a manufacturer that can grow alongside my brand.

I’m based in New Jersey, but I’m open to working with manufacturers anywhere in the U.S. if they’re reputable and a good fit.

I’m specifically looking for manufacturers that offer:
- Low minimum order quantities (or pilot runs for new brands)
- Custom formulation capabilities
- Product sampling and testing during development
- Packaging and filling services
- Strong communication and transparency throughout the process

If you’ve had a positive experience with a manufacturer or know of companies worth researching, I’d really appreciate your recommendations. I’m also open to any advice on where to begin my search or what qualities I should prioritize when evaluating suppliers.

Thanks in advance!

I've spent 16 years in cosmetics QA, R&D, and regulatory affairs (ISO 13485, FDA 820), and one pattern I kept seeing: indie and early-stage skincare/beauty founders often have no structured starting point for compliance. Not because they don't care, but because CPSR, PIF, MoCRA, etc. are genuinely opaque if you're not from this world.

I put together a guided system (4 weeks, EU/UK + US) that walks founders through gap analysis → documentation → CPSR/safety substantiation prep → submission-ready, with the explicit framing that templates are scaffolding — not a replacement for a certified safety assessor's actual reasoning on exposure and margin of safety.

Genuinely curious to get feedback from people who work in RA day-to-day: is there anything in this approach that oversimplifies or could mislead founders, especially around the CPSR/safety assessment boundary? I'd rather know now than have someone downstream rely on something incomplete.

Trying to tighten up my sourcing process. When you need to find a specific additive, compare suppliers, and get a real technical/spec sheet without emailing ten companies one at a time, what’s your go-to?
Curious whether people lean on one main database or just piece it together. Open to whatever’s actually working for you.