Konjac Sponge Review: The Japanese Secret to Flawless Skin

If you haven’t already heard of the Konjac Sponge, today is your lucky day. Your cleansing routine will never be the same… this little squishy miracle is going to change your life skin.

What is the Konjac Sponge?

Well, to start, it might be interesting to know that konjac actually comes from a potato-like plant in Asia that is both cultivated and grows wild at high altitudes. The Japanese have used Konjac for over 1500 years as a food source and over the last century have been using the Konjac potato as a beauty treatment. The Konjac sponge has been handmade from the vegetable fibre of this plant along with French clays and some contain pure charcoal from bamboo. As a result, the Konjac sponge is extremely gentle and 100% biodegradable – you can compost it when it’s time for a new one.

What Does the Konjac Sponge Do?

The Konjac sponge is an extremely gentle cleanser for both face and body. I have two separate sponges, one for my body and one for my face. The sponge acts as a gentle exfoliator, rubbing off dead skin cells in the most delicate manner. The extra soft texture means that its ok for anyone to use,  babies included (they even have a sponge for babies too!). While this won’t replace your makeup remover (eye makeup more specifically) it can gently take off much of your face makeup in a matter of minutes.

How Do I Use the Konjac Sponge?

When you pick up your sponge it will be dry and hard. You will need to wet it under warm water until it’s completely soaked through and soft. Once it is wet and puffy, simply use the flat side in a circular motion around your face to exfoliate and remove dirt and grime. This circular massaging will stimulate tired skin & encourage skin renewal – and we can all use a bit of that!

Here is my sponge after it’s been soaked completely before use:

Once you are finished with your sponge, squeeze it between your hands to get the water out – never wring out your sponge, this will deteriorate the fibers and cause its life to end a lot shorter than necessary.

Do I Need to Use a Cleanser with a Konjac Sponge?

If you choose, you can also use a bit of your cleanser with the sponge, although this may shorten its lifespan. Since keeping your skin’s natural moisture intact is essential in anti-aging, I prefer to use my sponge in the morning (sans cleanser), as a facial cleanser can be drying and unnecessary after sleeping. While many have claimed to use it to take off makeup, I would reccommend using a proper eye makeup remover first, and maybe a cleanser too, as the sponge won’t take away your mascara and eyeliner.

Which One Do I Choose?

My konjac sponges (I use both the body & facial sponges) are dark red, which is a clay used for dry and sensitive skin. While I wouldn’t say my skin is sensitive, I like to keep things gentle. I recommend that you do too :-) Eco Diva Beauty has many varieties, so here’s my rundown on which type of clay addition you will need, depending on your skin type.

The Red Sponge is great for Dry & Sensitive skin, but also wonderful for anyone who doesn’t suffer from any particular ailments. While red clay cleans the skin by removing dead keratinized cells, it accelerates the regeneration process which improves blood circulation and makes the skin look radiant, and hydrated. This is your sponge if you’re worried about the appearance of wrinkles and broken capillaries.  A perfect pick for dryer and/or mature skin.

The Green Sponge is great for Normal to Combination skin. Green clay acts as a sterilizer, helping to keep acne-causing bacteria at bay. It is not uncommon to find green French clay at spas and other wellness centers. Green clay also contains micro-molecules which help to absorb dirt, oil, and bacteria, while gently cleansing the pores.

The Pink Sponge is your ticket if you have extremely sensitive skin. It is the most gentle of the sponges (while they all are, this combination of clays is quite calming).  Pink clay is a mix of red and white clay and is recommended for tired, sensitive & dehydrated skin. It is great for overly sun-exposed skin as the pink clay helps skin maintain its elasticity.

The Original White Konjac Sponge is 100% pure konjac with no added clays. As konjac is 100% alkaline, it will help balance the pH of your skin while still gently exfoliating and cleansing. You can use the pure Konjac sponge with your daily cleanser, instead of using a facial brush.

The Black Konjac Sponge gets its colour from bamboo charcoal. This sponge is for you if you’re a teen with oily skin or someone who is prone to spots, blackheads and outbreaks. Charcoal contains activated carbon and various minerals that enhance absorptive ability, which is perfect for removing excess oil. Bamboo Charcoal is also a natural anti-oxidant, so will help fight hard-to-reach, acne-causing bacteria.

For Body and Baby Too!

In addition to these sponges, there is also a Konjac Sponge for baby, and body. The baby version can be used for washing body body and hair. It is so gentle and cleansing that you don’t need any other shampoo or soap. The body sponge is bigger and more user friendly for the shower. Make sure, however, that your body sponge dries out completely after use (don’t leave it in the shower).

Where Do I Buy The Konjac Sponge?

The Konjac Sponge is best sought out online, but be sure that you’re getting the original Konjac Sponge when you do. There are imitations on the market and the quality can be a bit off. With a price like this; however, you can afford to get the original. The Konjac Puff Sponge for face retails for about 5 GBP (or about $8.50 – $10 USD) and the body sponge retails for about 8 GBP (or about $10 – $12 USD).

Shop the Konjac Sponge from Eco Diva Beauty from $8.50 USD

How Long Will My Sponge Last & How to Care for It?

Like all good things, it must come to an end, but not for at least 2 – 3 months depending on how you care for it. By ensuring that it completely dries out in between uses (there is a handy string for that) and that your sponge is never wrung out (always press between your hands to remove excess water during use), you will give your sponge a longer life.

Make sure that before and after each use, you rinse the sponge well – you can disinfect your sponge every other week by boiling it for a few minutes (but don’t do this too often, as again it will break down the fibers faster).

When it starts to break apart and deteriorate, it is time for a  new sponge. Simply compost this sponge (it is 100% natural material, and completely safe – and earth friendly – to do so). You can even put it in the bottom of a potted plant to help retain moisture in the soil – yes, it is that natural. 

I am in love with this product, so I would love to hear from any of you who have used the Konjac Sponge.

What’s your experience been like?

Healthy & pure skin – I love it!

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