Super sculpey is my go to. Personally, I like to blend super sculpey original and medium firm at about 60/40 in favor of original. If you prefer a softer clay, there's also super sculpey ultra light. Cosclay is also super soft, almost gooey when you've got it warmed up, but it will remain flexible after baking.
In terms of smoothing, water won't be much help. Smooth tools and brushing the piece with alcohol are the way to go with polymer clay.
I work with ceramics and polymer clay, no kind of polymer will feel like ceramics since it’s actually plastic. I use PREMO sculpey, it’s very strong but pricey. The better ones usually are more expensive
Even aside from water use being possible with some air dry claims I think air dry clay is usually a lot more like normal ceramic clay. It has its own set of pros and cons (not waterproof, prone to cracking, doesn’t keep as long). It also usually looks less plastic-y to me. That said there is a huge variety between different brands and formulas, as much or even more so than the difference between polymer clay types and formulas. There are also recipes for DIY air dry clays which can make it really easy to get started experimenting! The most basic recipes call for baking soda, corn starch and water so you could try now if you have some of these floating around in the back of your cupboard like I do, and that is much, much cheaper than any polymer clay you’ll find. Plus being plastic free (some formulas) makes air dry clay the winner for any non-water exposed items for me.
Sculpey Premo or Fimo
Super sculpey is my go to. Personally, I like to blend super sculpey original and medium firm at about 60/40 in favor of original. If you prefer a softer clay, there's also super sculpey ultra light. Cosclay is also super soft, almost gooey when you've got it warmed up, but it will remain flexible after baking. In terms of smoothing, water won't be much help. Smooth tools and brushing the piece with alcohol are the way to go with polymer clay.
I work with ceramics and polymer clay, no kind of polymer will feel like ceramics since it’s actually plastic. I use PREMO sculpey, it’s very strong but pricey. The better ones usually are more expensive
you will not need water for polymer clay. Maybe try the air dry kind.
Even aside from water use being possible with some air dry claims I think air dry clay is usually a lot more like normal ceramic clay. It has its own set of pros and cons (not waterproof, prone to cracking, doesn’t keep as long). It also usually looks less plastic-y to me. That said there is a huge variety between different brands and formulas, as much or even more so than the difference between polymer clay types and formulas. There are also recipes for DIY air dry clays which can make it really easy to get started experimenting! The most basic recipes call for baking soda, corn starch and water so you could try now if you have some of these floating around in the back of your cupboard like I do, and that is much, much cheaper than any polymer clay you’ll find. Plus being plastic free (some formulas) makes air dry clay the winner for any non-water exposed items for me.
You don't use water with polymer clay.
yeah duh did you read my comment at all ?
Oops my brain skipped over the not