Synopsis A direct contact membrane inoculation technique for yeasts and moulds was used to evaluate the preservation efficacy and antimicrobial activity of Germall 115 and Germall II in pressed eye shadows. Test organisms on membrane filters were placed in direct contact with cosmetics at room temperature under humid conditions. Growth on membranes was removed daily, or as appropriate, and cultured on potato dextrose agar containing lecithin and Tween 80. Linear regression analysis was used to determine product preservation efficacy. Average D values of 1 and 3 days for Candida albicans American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 10231 and 17 and 29 days for Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404 were obtained on two eye shadows we prepared (in-house eye shadows) with parabens and either Germall II or Germall 115 as preservatives. A decimal reduction time (D value) of 6-7 days was calculated for the yeast on a commercial eye shadow preserved with parabens and Germall 115. A. niger multiplied on six of seven replicates of this commercial product to attain a nearly 3 log(10) increase in 20 days. On one replicate, A. niger showed a 1 log(10) increase in the first 10 days, and then decreased linearly (r =- 0.95) to <10 colony-forming units per membrane by day 24. The method used with C. albicans and A. niger was then used with bacteria. The method was sensitive enough to differentiate the antimicrobial activity of the Germall 115 and Germall II against fungi but not against bacteria. The in-house and commercial products were preserved most effectively against the three bacteria tested and least effectively against the mould.