silicone applicator for serums/sunscreen?
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free skin care · Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:19 pm

I'm looking for some kind of applicator to use for applying serums, sunscreen, etc to my face. I have a bit of (dry skin of some kind) on my index finger and don't want to keep rubbing stuff I use on my face into it.

I use various types of brushes for makeup/foundation and peels/masks, but don't want to use anything porous that will eat up my product and be a hassle to clean. Preferably something I can really rub into my skin, with a bit of give.

The thing I keep thinking of was a (silicone?) type shiseido product my friend got when we were 13 which she said was meant for massaging her face to improve circulation for her acne. It had a short black handle, was a couple of inches long and about the circumfrance of a quarter and brown/clear. No lucky finding one online. It looked smooth, firm, a little bouncy, and easily washable.

E-bay searches for "facial silicone massage" resulted in flat, little silicone scrubbies which look ok, but not gentle enough. I don't want to scrub product into my skin, and don't want to lose product in any grooves.

(I'm tempted to try some of those vacuum/suction cups though, but that's an entirely different matter... also some battery operated facial massage things with various attachments which looked interesting but certainly unreliable/disposable.)

Then there were these "baby soft silicone finger toothbrushes meant for helping babies teeth. Those might work.

Then everything started looking like sex toys, so I decided to call it a day. If I need to go that route, there's a toy store down the street I've been too shy to venture into... this could be the perfect excuse!

Does anyone have any suggestions? Am I overlooking something completely obvious?

free skin care · Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:28 pm

I ended up getting the equivalent to the silicone finger toothbrushes at a local japanese store. I think they're meant for people who do a lot of paperwork.
They came in a pack of 6 (are PINK!) and work fairly well. I had to apply a little more product than I normally would, but not to much more.

I'm still hoping to find the silicone face massage tool, so if anyone happens to come across them, please let me know.

free skin care · Tue Aug 07, 2012 4:12 pm

The way you described your friends tool makes me think of a Gua Sha tool.
Those are used to scrape/massage the face to help with circulation and to help prevent acne. They also use the Gua sha tool with lotion or oils to massage it into the skin.

The Gua Sha tool is smooth and flat and I have seen it made with Jade, a brownish type stone, bone, etc.

could this be similar to what you are looking for or maybe helpful to do what you want to do?

free skin care · Tue Aug 07, 2012 7:54 pm

Thanks Indium for your reply. I googled Gua sha which was really interesting! I want to look into it more.

The tool wasn't what I had in mind, but they also suggested the use of spoons. One of those chinese soup spoons with the rounded edges may not be half bad for an interesting massage!

Further googling into acu-pressure massage described a "jimmy" tool which I'd hoped would be it, but it turned out to be just a hard, rounded stick, for targetting specific points.

The shiseido tool my friend had looked more like one of those new fingernail art "stampers" with the cushioned top, but bigger.

I have these chunks of clear silicone I got to try as toe seperators as they're supposed to be good at taking the pressure off certain areas of your foot. I'm going to take the unused one and see how it works on my face!

free skin care · Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:24 am

How about finger cots? I think that is what they are called. They look like condoms for individual fingers and they sell them at the pharmacy for super cheap. They are one use and you could put them on 1-3 fingers to protect your dry fingers.
I use them at work when I have a cut on my cuticle.

free skin care · Wed Aug 08, 2012 1:02 pm

Thanks LauraLizzie - I've seen those, and though I may be wrong, they looked dry & absorbent. I really don't want to waste too much of my product.

I'm sure anyone reading here is rolling their eyes by now, LOL!

Anyway, the silicone fingers work fairly well, but it was actually a little tough just using the tips of my fingers. I think I normally also use the sides of my index fingers when spreading product - exactly where my dry patches are!

The clear chunk of silicone worked absolutely beautifully - smooth, soft, bouncy, perfect for massaging in product, and easy to clean. I'd love to find something similar that's larger (its only 1x1x.5"), or with a handle.

free skin care · Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:20 pm

LoriA wrote:

Thanks LauraLizzie - I've seen those, and though I may be wrong, they looked dry & absorbent. I really don't want to waste too much of my product.

I'm sure anyone reading here is rolling their eyes by now, LOL!

Anyway, the silicone fingers work fairly well, but it was actually a little tough just using the tips of my fingers. I think I normally also use the sides of my index fingers when spreading product - exactly where my dry patches are!

The clear chunk of silicone worked absolutely beautifully - smooth, soft, bouncy, perfect for massaging in product, and easy to clean. I'd love to find something similar that's larger (its only 1x1x.5"), or with a handle.

Hi LoriA, the finger cots that Lauralizzie mentioned a made of a kind of latex I think, so the will not absorb anything and they do go all the way up the fingers so you can use the sides of you fingers also. The only thing I can think of that is silicone is a mixing bowl scraper and I would think that is not what your looking for.
Or maybe you can use the long piece of the toe separator where the little knobs are attached. If it's the one I'm thinking of. What or those gel inserts made of for the toe or heel of shoes? Probably not stiff enough.

free skin care · Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:26 pm

right, it is like the finger of a rubber (latex or whatever) glove, just one finger.

free skin care · Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:28 pm

oh, what about a thin silicone cooking spatula or cut up one of those new baking silicone sheets?

free skin care · Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:12 pm

Thanks you guys! I feel a little embarassed bringing this thread up over and over since no one else seems to need anything like it!

I will look for the finger cots but this silicone chunk might be the perfect thing for now. Its like this one: http://www.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Toe-separator/p/sm/1032426160.htm

Its a little tough to grip, so I don't rub in product as much as when using my fingers, which for me is a good thing, since I find I've been a little too tough on my skin lately.

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