Sculpting with polymer

Whats the best way to hold/handle polymer clay while sculpting it? I’m having trouble because I’m doing a micro mini at the moment and I either keep squishing my project or getting finger prints and nail marks on it. I’ve tried placing it on a small flat holdable surface and on a small pin but it either the pin pokes right through or it moves and doesn’t stick to a surface. I’m a beginner but I have lots of tools already from previous projects I just can’t seem to get it to work.