Cosmetic Applicator and Method

Abstract

A tool composed of silicone to apply cosmetics to the skin is disclosed. The invention described here reduces waste and the effort required to re-use a foam or foam-like cosmetic tool by being composed of silicone material that does not absorb cosmetics and is resistant to stains from most liquid, gel, or cream cosmetics. This results in decreased effort, decreased waste, increased cleanliness and longer use of the cosmetic tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic applicator being made by molding of silicone of the platinum-cured silicone type in a mold that is surfaced to provide a resulting textured surface on the molded product. 
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1  wherein the silicone of the platinum-cured silicone type is made by combining a catalyst (part A) and a base material (part B), wherein the ratio of catalyst to base material is in the range of from about 50/50 to about 57/43. 
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 2  wherein the ratio of catalyst to base material is about 55/45. 
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1  wherein the resulting textured surface is a randomized distribution of indentations in the form of dots and lines. 
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 4  wherein the depth of texturing of the randomized distribution of dots and lines is in the range of about ½ millimeter to about ¾ millimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 4  wherein the width to depth ratio of dots and lines is in the range of about 4 to about 6. 
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 1  having a durometer rating in the range of about 30-45 on the type OO scale of the ASTM D2240 standard. 
     
     
         8 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 7  having a durometer of about 35 on the type OO scale of the ASTM D2240 standard. 
     
     
         9 . A cosmetic applicator comprising:
 a uniform and flexible material, wherein the material comprises randomized surface indentations, wherein flexing the material flexes surface indentations and the surface indentations can lift and hold an amount of cosmetic product, and applying pressure to the material held or rubbed against a skin surface deposits a portion of the amount of cosmetic product on the skin surface.   
     
     
         10 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the surface indentations comprise a surface area in the range of about 50% to 99% of the surface area of the uniform flexible material. 
     
     
         11 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the surface indentations comprise a surface area in the range of about 75% to 90% of the surface area of the uniform, flexible material. 
     
     
         12 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible uniform material comprises silicone of platinum-cured silicone type. 
     
     
         13 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 12 , wherein the silicone is made by combining a catalyst and a base, wherein the ratio of the catalyst to base is in the range of from about 50/50 to about 57/43. 
     
     
         14 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 13 , wherein the silicone is made by combining a catalyst and a base, wherein the ratio of the catalyst to base is about 55/45. 
     
     
         15 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the surface indentations range in depth from about ½ millimeter to ¾ millimeter from the surface of the flexible material. 
     
     
         16 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the surface indentations have a width to depth ratio in the range of about 4 to about 6. 
     
     
         17 . The cosmetic applicator of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible uniform material is shaped to comprise a finger hold. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a silicone cosmetic applicator comprising:
 providing a mold of a desired shape of the silicone cosmetic applicator, the mold having protrusions such that the resulting silicone cosmetic applicator will have indentations formed by the protrusions in the mold defining a textured surface on the silicone cosmetic applicator;   molding the silicone cosmetic applicator in the mold with a silicone based material;   wherein a product resulting from the molding will be the silicone cosmetic applicator having the textured surface formed by the indentations resulting from the protrusions.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the protrusions are of a form to result in the textured surface comprising randomized distribution of dots and lines on the applicator surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the dots and lines have a depth of from about ½ millimeter to about ¾ millimeter. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the molding results in the silicone cosmetic applicator having a durometer rating in the range of about 30-45 on the type OO scale of the ASTM D2240 standard. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the molding results in the silicone cosmetic applicator having a durometer rating of about 35 on the type OO scale of the ASTM D2240 standard. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the silicone based molding material is an addition cured platinum catalyzed two component silicone cure material. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the silicon based molding material is a tin cure silicone. 
     
     
         25 . A method of using a silicone cosmetic applicator of the type having a textured surface having a hollowing comprising:
 holding the silicone cosmetic applicator in one hand with a finger in the hollowing;   applying a cosmetic material to the textured surface;   moving the silicone cosmetic applicator so as to deposit the cosmetic material onto skin by performing a function selected from the group consisting of:
 a. stroking, 
 b. patting, 
 c. tapping, 
 d. swiping, 
 e. stroking and patting, 
 f. stroking and tapping, and 
 g. stroking and swiping.