Award-winning Cosmetic Chemist Rides the Wave to Success

By: Jean Allured, Freelance Writer and Editor

Posted: November 1, 2006, from the November 2006 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

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In 2006, SCC membership numbers reached 3,800, and of all the cosmetic chemists in the United States, only 44 have been awarded the SCC Medal Award, now known as the Maison G. de Navarre Medal Award, since its inception in 1948. Rieger is one of those 44, receiving the award in 1974 for his work in both the industry and the society.

In addition, the SCC Lifetime Service Award only has been awarded to six members since its inception in 1986, and Rieger is among them. He received the award in 1998 for nearly 50 years of service to the society—he is the only person to have received both of these awards.

A lover of information and knowledge, Rieger has spoken regularly at SCC meetings and published numerous scientific articles and chapters in Cosmetics & Toiletries, the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists and other publications. He received two SCC Awards for best paper in 1982 and 1983.

One of the most intriguing and important projects of his career, according to Rieger, was editing the eighth edition of Harry’s Cosmeticology in 2000, which was and is “an important summary of the current knowledge of cosmetic information.” He also worked on several editions of the CTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, in particular on nomenclature.

When asked what he thought was exciting in the industry today, he replied, “The trend toward resolution or repair of photoaging shows promise. We’ll just have to wait and see whether it is successful.” Sol Gershon was Rieger’s mentor, and Charles Fox remains a good friend. He has been married to Audrey Rieger for 63 years, has a daughter and a son and four grandchildren. Today he reviews professional literature as it pertains to cosmetics and his reviews are published in Cosmetics & Toiletries.