The surface skin lipids were estimated quantitatively (casual level and replacement sum) in 33 subjects using Brun’s osmic acid test and in 14 subjects using Schäfer’s and Kuhn-Bussius’s opaque glass test. Gravimetric estimation of surface lipids were also carried out on symmetrical areas of the upper back using Honsig’s method. Thin layer chromatography was used to analyse the composition of the surface lipids. The osmic acid test was found to be superior to the opaque glass test. The composition of the skin lipids had no significant effect upon either method.