Skin-safe silicone rubber for bodycasting

If you ever want to life-cast a hand, face, or another body part, you will quickly encounter one crucial question: which material is safe enough to apply directly to the skin, yet accurate enough to capture every detail? The answer is RESION skin-safe silicone rubber. This type of silicone rubber is specifically developed to temporarily come into contact with the skin without compromising strength, flexibility, or detail reproduction.

In this article, you will read what skin-safe silicone rubber is, how to work with it, and which applications bodycasting silicone rubber is suitable for.

What is skin-safe silicone rubber?

Skin-safe silicone rubber is a two-component addition-cure silicone (RTV-2) specifically formulated for applications where skin safety and comfort come first. After mixing the base and hardener, a brushable mass is created that easily applies to the skin. The material flows smoothly around fine details, stays in place even on vertical surfaces thanks to its thixotropic properties, and cures into a flexible, tear-resistant mold that removes easily from the skin.

This combination of properties makes it ideal for lifecasting: the process of creating a negative mold of a body part to subsequently produce a positive cast.

How does bodycasting silicone rubber work?

Working with this type of silicone rubber requires a precise approach, but is very manageable even for beginners:

1. Stir both components thoroughly in their individual packaging before use.
2. Weigh the base and catalyst in an equal 1:1 weight ratio (1 part component A to 1 part component B).
3. Ensure all tools are clean, dry, and grease-free.
4. Mix both components thoroughly, scraping well along the walls of the mixing cup, until a uniform pink color is achieved.
5. Apply the skin-safe silicone to the body part or surface within the working time. Note: certain petroleum-jelly-based products can inhibit curing. If in doubt, always test on a small patch of skin first.
6. Allow the material to cure and carefully remove the body part from the mold.

Applications of skin-safe silicone rubber

The combination of skin safety, high detail reproduction, and flexibility makes this silicone rubber suitable for a wide range of fields.

Special Effects (SFX) and Animatronics

In the film industry, TV productions, and theater, skin-safe silicone rubber is widely used to create realistic skin textures. Because the material captures the finest skin details (such as pores, wrinkles, and scars), it forms the ideal foundation for convincing prosthetic makeup, masks, and lifelike animatronic figures.

Prosthetics and Medical Simulation

In the medical sector, skin-safe silicone rubber is used to create anatomically correct models and training phantoms, such as practice models for surgical procedures or components of external prostheses. Its skin-safe formulation allows prints to be taken directly from the patient or model, resulting in a precise fit.

Bodycasting and Skin Replication for Artists

Visual artists use bodycasting silicone rubber to mold body parts for sculptures, installations, and skin replications. Because the material flows smoothly around contours without sagging on vertical sections, even complex molds of a face or torso can be achieved easily.

Masks and Cosplay

This silicone rubber is also popular in the cosplay and mask-making communities. The high detail fidelity produces masks and prosthetic pieces that blend seamlessly with the user's skin, delivering a natural look unattainable with less detailed materials.

Key Features at a Glance

• Safe for temporary skin contact.
• Thixotropic, making it suitable for vertical surfaces.
• High tensile and tear strength.
• Ultra-precise detail reproduction.
• Flexible and comfortable during use.
• Excellent aging resistance.
• Simple 1:1 mixing ratio by weight.

With a Shore A hardness of 22, the material remains nice and pliable after curing, contributing to comfort during application and flexibility in the finished mold.

Getting Started with Bodycasting

Ready to start bodycasting with silicone rubber? Make sure you determine what you are molding beforehand so you can choose the correct package size. Work in a well-ventilated space, use appropriate protective equipment, and always perform a small skin test if you have sensitive skin.