a unitary applicator formed in a single mold , which may be formed with the container , filled , sealed and ready for packaging and shipping at a lower cost . the applicator head may also be manufactured for later attachment to a container , such as by fusing , welding or bonding , or by preconstructed mechanical connectors . a mold with movable parts allows construction of the applicator with two shots of material . the first shot forms structural parts of the applicator and container , and a subsequent shot of softer material forms the applicator surfaces . in addition , non - slip surfaces may be formed by the second shot on parts of the container that is hand held during applications of the flowable material to skin or other substrates or surfaces . the use of non - open cell materials to form the contact surface improves hygiene by reducing contamination of the applicator . the reduction of dead space in the cap minimizes waste by allowing almost all of the contents to be dispensed .