It is necessary to make clear that there are several different methods of shining rubber and that the ones described below are just the most well known ones. Depending on where you live and what is available, there might be other methods more appropriate.

Let me start by giving you an example of a great shining method that should never be used. Oily liquids, like olive oil or lamp oil, give an excellent gloss. But as you may have read in the Basic Care and Precautions article, any natural or mineral oil will deteriorate the rubber. So never use oil, butter, fat or grease (Vaseline or the likes) to shine up your favourite clothes.

The simplest way of getting a gloss on rubber is to get it wet with water. And perhaps a little soap. But water will drip off the rubber as quick as it has been poured on it, so the gloss is not very long lasting. A few small drops will remain on the rubber, reflecting the light, but they will evaporate quickly when there is a warm (or even hot) body underneath the rubber.

The next simplest method is to smear any water based gel over the rubber surface. Hairstyling gel will do, as will personal lubricants or water based massage gels. Anything transparent. Never use so called water based creams, because they are very likely to contain oily substances. Smearing a gel on rubber is a pleasurable thing to do and to have done to your own rubberised body. But the shine is very irregular and will always have stripe-like smearing traces.

This brings us to the silicone family. Silicone is a wonderful substance that comes in many forms. As a liquid to fill fake boobs with, as a spray, as an oil. I will name a few forms and the way you can use them to shine up.

Silicone Spray For Keeping A Shine On Rubberwear

It comes in very expensive aerosol-cans especially made for fetish rubber clothes. Any fetish company will be able to sell you some. The only advantage of this purpose made sprays is the smell that is neutral or even fruity. The spray itself is exactly the same silicone spray that you can buy for a quarter of the prize at a hardware store, or a shop for car-accessories and maintenance. But this spray will often smell like a garage. Some are also mixed with aggressive anti-corrosive chemicals that are very unhealthy for both your rubber and yourself. Be careful with those.

Silicone spray can be used in different ways. To get a lasting, smear-proof shine you can spray some on and buff this out with a soft and dry cotton cloth. This will result in a somewhat matted shine. A real mirror-like shine can be obtained by spraying the silicone in liberal amounts on the rubber. This is the best shine you can get, but if you touch it, it will smear and everything you sit on or rub against will get slippery. (Never drive a car with hands with silicone on them. You will have very little grip on the steering wheel!) No need to say that whenever your rubbery body is touched, the silicone gloss will be less.

Silicone Oil For Keeping A Shine On Rubberwear

This is better known as Dimethicone oil. It is a silicone derivate, used as a base for pharmaceuticals, in ointments and syrups. It is also sold as massage oil (at least it is where I live). This oil can be applied directly to the rubber with bare hands, or with a piece of cloth. It will give a somewhat matted gloss. It can also be applied using the warm-water trick and it goes like this:

Fill a bucket or a washtub with hand warm water. Put the (clean) rubber item in. Squeeze a few drops of silicone oil in the water. Rinse the rubber thoroughly. You will notice that the silicone forms a slippery layer on the rubber and your hands. By rubbing the rubber against itself, the silicone will spread, aided by the warm water and your hands. Hang the item to dry. The silicone will spread evenly on the surface, both on the inside and outside. The result is a nice gloss on the outside and a non-sticking surface on the inside. With a bit of luck you will not need any talcum or lube to get into the rubber as well. That is a secondary benefit of this method.

Some Notes On Shiny Rubber

Rubber is a natural product that will eventually loose much of it initial attractive qualities like the elasticity, the colour and the shiny surface. There is no method of re-shining a damaged and worn down surface. Not even the shining methods above. They only work on pristine surfaces. When the shiny side of the rubber gets in contact with sand, leather, or textile, after a while, the gloss will be grinded off. But if a rubber garment is treated with love and care, and shined up regularly, you will have many shiny hours ahead of you.