For the surface decoration of a cosmetic product (8), one proceeds as follows. One fills a non-shaped cavity (2) with a decorating product (3) and the shaving of the decorating product (3) that is input into said cavity (2) is carried out. A face (5) provided with shapes (6) of a pad (4) of yielding material is inserted and slightly compressed into the decorating product (3) contained inside said cavity (2) so as to make parts (3') of said decorating product (3) adhere to said shapes (6) of the pad (4). The pad (4). (4) gets then above the cosmetic product (8) to be decorated, positioned and slightly compressed onto the surface of the cosmetic product (8) to be decorated in order to leave on it said parts (3') of decorating product (3).