Smartypants,
I use a fine paint brush and vaceline before I bought the mold release that is in a powder form. What you want to do is give a VERY LIGHT COAT, thats it. No clumps, no drips, no pools, no excess at all. It should look like the figure or part has just a slite gloss look to it. Besides, the vaceline is more to keep the silicon from sticking to itself than to the figure or part. Silicon sticks only to itself. By coating the figure/part you ensure that silicon will not get stuck in small crevious. Don't forget to put in your air vents and keys into your mold. Trust me, it will pay off.
Good Luck,
Jedi_Master_Ben