90 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS organisms recovered. The results show that the types of organisms recovered were fairly consistent, but the numbers varied as much as 30-fold. S. epider- midis and diphtheroids were the two organisms recovered consistently from most of the subjects. It should be mentioned, however, that in this and another study (11), the wearing of nonmedicated or regular face and eye make up did not affect the flora of the subiects studies. As noted earlier, only S. epidermidis was recovered from subject 23. The use of the medicated cleanser may account for the absence of other flora. On each sampling, P. aeruginosa was found on the outer eye of sub- ject 22, and subsequent swabbing of her cheek and forehead showed this organism to be predominant. Further investigation revealed a history of chronic ear problems manifested by itching and occasional dis- charge. Swabbing of her ears and subsequent streaking directly on TSA plates showed heavy confluent growth on the agar surfaces after 24 hours. Isolation and differentiation of the microorganisms revealed a fiourescent and a nonfiourescent strain of P. aeruginosa. Since this subject had a chronic ear infection for several years, undoubtedly P. aeruginosa was a part of her facial flora for some time. Yet this organism would not be considered normal flora since it disappeared from her facial area upon relief of the infection of the external auditory canals. Further study of this subject is presented elsewhere (12). A knoxvledge of the normal flora is important to the cosmetic microbiologist when developing preservative systems. Cosmetic products may receive a daily inoculation over a considerable period of time. Considering geographical distribution of these products and other factors, the inoculations may consist of yeasts, molds, and both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Tran- sient organisms should not be overlooked as possible product inocula. (Received September 10, 1974) REFERENCES (1) D. W. Anderson, Jr., and M. Ayers, Microbiological profile of selected cosmetic products with and without preservatives after use, ]. Soc. Cosmet. Chem., 23, 863- 73 (1972). (2) D. W. Anderson, Jr., J. F. McConvil]e, and C. B. An.•er, Son•e c-•ments on the microbiological profile of used automatic eye cosmetics by examination of both applicator and product, Cosmet. Perfu,m., 88, 8, 29-30 (1973). (3) D. W. Anderson, Jr., J. F. McConville, and C. B. Anger, Microbiological pro- file of used eye cosmetics by examination of product only, Ibid., 88, 8, 25-27 (1973). (4) L. A. Wilson, J. W. Kuehne, S. W. Hall, and D. G. Ahearn, Microbial contamina- tion in ocular cosmetics, Amer. ]. Ophthalmol. 71, 1298-1202 (1971). (5) C. E. Myers and F. M. Pasutto, Microbial contamination of cosmetics and toiletties, Can. ]. Pharm. Sci., 8, 19-23 (1973). (6) M. J. Pickett, University of California at Los Angeles, Personal communication, 1974. (7) C. A. Evans, W. M. Smith, E. A. Johnston, and E. R. C,i]bert, Bacterial flora of the normal skin, ]. Invest. Dermatol., 15, 305-24 (1950).

AEROBIC MICROFLORA OF THE EYE 91 (8) (9) (lO) (11) (12) D. M. Updegraff, A cultural method of quantitatively studying the microorganisms in the skin, Ibid., 43, 129-37 (1964). E. A. Pachtman, E. E. Vicker, and M. J. Brunner, The bacteriologic flora in seborrheic dermatitis, Ibid., 22, 389-96 (1954). L. A. Wilson, D. G. Ahearn, D. B. Jones, and R. R. Sexton, Fungi from the normal outer eye, Amer. J. Ophthalmol., 67, 52-6 (1969). D. W. Anderson, Jr., J, F. McConville, and C. B. Anger, Further comments on consumer contamination of cosmetics as related to preservative evaluation, Pre- sented at SCC-FDA Joint Scientific Conference, Los Angeles, Calif., May 19, 1973. J. F. McConville, and D. W. Anderson, Jr., Occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in the orbital area, J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem., accepted for publication.