My silicone spatula left a weird taste on a client's face last week

I was doing a facial at my studio in Portland last Tuesday, using my usual silicone spatula to scoop out product from a jar. Halfway through the treatment, my client said her face smelled like a kitchen sponge. I was so embarrassed. I rinsed it between uses but it must have absorbed some old cleanser. Now I only use disposable wooden sticks for everything, no matter how much waste it creates. Has anyone else run into this with silicone tools?

2 comments

2 Comments

lucas_grant831mo ago

Oh man, that is such a nightmare! Ngl, I totally feel your pain on this one. Honestly, I had the exact same thing happen with a silicone spatula during a facial last fall. I scrubbed it religiously, but after a few months it started giving off this faint plastic-y chemical smell that transferred right to the product. It ruined a whole session for me. I switched to those disposable wooden spatulas too, and even though it feels wasteful, I'd rather toss a stick than have a client complain about a weird taste again. Tbh, I think silicone just traps odors no matter what you do, so you're not alone.

nancym341mo ago

Heard this from a chemist friend who works in cosmetics, she said silicone is basically a sponge for certain volatile compounds no matter how well you clean it. @lucas_grant83 nailed it about the chemical smell thing, I had the exact same issue with my spatula after a few months and it got worse over time. The wooden sticks feel wasteful but honestly client trust is way more important than a little extra trash. I remember reading somewhere that those silicone spatulas are great for regular home use but not for professional settings where you're switching between different products all day.