Konjac Sponge

Lately I’ve been hearing more and more about konjac sponges, it seems like their popularity has finally reached the Netherlands. In my recent “What’s In My Shower” post I mentioned I have one in my shower but rarely use it. One of my lovely readers asked if I could talk about it a little more, so that’s just what I’m going to do today! My konjac sponge came in an organic product sample box, and it’s natural, meaning it hasn’t been infused with extra active ingredients. I know some are infused with activated charcoal or clay for example to help purify the skin, but mine is pure konjac.

Konjac sponges are facial cleansing tools made from konyakku plant fibres. The konyakku (or konjac potato) grows in hight altitudes in Asia and has been used for hundreds of years as a medicinal plant. Nowadays it’s being used to make into sponges suitable for very sensitive skin, babies and elderly people. It’s hugely popular in Asia, and now it’s gaining ground in the Western world as well.

The konjac sponge is hard when it’s dry (like a sea sponge) and expands when it’s wet.

The konjac sponge, when wet, has an extremely soft and gentle surface. It gives a very odd sensation, it’s so smooth that it feels almost slimy to the touch, although it’s not and no residue comes off. It’s extremely soft on the skin, when I use it on my face I can pretty much only feel the pressure from it, no abrasion whatsoever. It does claim to provide a gentle exfoliation, however, but one that is so subtle that the sponge can be used on sensitive skin twice a day with absolutely no problem. I believe that in an instant, in fact I rather doubt that this does more for exfoliating the skin than just rubbing it with your hands would, so exfoliation is definitely not something I’d use this for. It works really nicely in combination with a facewash to remove make up and cleanse the skin.

I think this would be a great tool for people with skin problems that call for extra gentle cleansing, but for me personally it doesn’t do much beyond being a sponge. I prefer to use my electric face brush to clean my face as my skin can use a bit of a rougher tool and benefits from daily exfoliation.

I do like that the konjac sponge is available as a natural, cruelty-free option, and I’ll definitely be keeping it to use when I’m in need of a facial sponge. You can sanitize it by boiling it by the way, which should be done regularly as with any sponge, to get rid of bacteria. The konjac sponge does have a shelf life, for hygiene reasons but especially when you use it on very sensitive skin. The fibres break after a while of use and can become more abrasive than they were at the time of purchase. I’d advise you to replace it after 2/3 months of daily use or when you feel like the sponge has changed or starts to smell funny.