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Naturally exfoliate for great skin with the Konjac Sponge
If you haven’t heard of a konjac sponge then you’d better get to know and quickly.
A small natural skincare tool that is becoming increasingly popular in the world of cleansing and exfoliation in an effort to get clearer and healthier skin.
What is a Konjac Sponge?
Konjac sponge is made with the natural antimicrobial fibers from the root of the konjac plant, which is Asian-cultivated, native to the regions of Southeast Asia and is 100% biodegradable, so can be composted when it is time for you to get a new one.
Asian cultures have used konjac for over 2,000 years and over the last century have been using it as a beauty treatment such as the konjac sponge. This cleansing sponge is softer than many other face exfoliators and sponges out there and it has a unique texture and feel.
What does it feel like?
It feels finer than a washcloth but has more texture than a dish sponge but it has a softer feel than a loofah.
When dry the sponges become extremely hard with a rough texture like a pumice stone and very lightweight. In this form they are not to be used, you must wait until it softens so that you don’t injure your skin.
When wet the fibers of the konjac sponge can absorb and hold a lot of water really well and becomes very soft to the touch. The surface of the sponge forms a water barrier giving it a slick slimy feel but in a good way. It is still slightly textured but incredibly smooth, it becomes dense and spongy and is very squishy against the skin. In this form it can be used to provide such a gentle exfoliation to the face and body, particularly around the delicate areas of the face including the eyes and mouth and is gentle enough to use on babies.
Benefits & Uses
As mentioned earlier, the konjac sponge is an extremely gentle cleansing sponge and exfoliating sponge in one for the face or body, depending on what size you get. It can be used as either your daily facial sponge or body sponge. The information and its benefits make it not like your usual washcloth or loofah, it cleanses and exfoliates in such a delicate manner and has some amazing benefits:
gently exfoliates, rubbing off dead skin cells
it won’t replace your makeup remover but can gently take off much of your face and eye makeup
can help naturally cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, moisturise and nourish your skin
increases blood circulation and cleanses pores
helpful for dry skin, acne, blackheads, and sensitive skin
contains minerals, antioxidants and naturally nourishes with vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, proteins, lipids, fatty acids, copper, zinc, iron, and magnesium
Honestly, adding a konjac sponge to your cleansing and exfoliating routine will amazingly improve your skin’s health and what’s even better is that it is soft enough to use every day.
You can use it with your favourite cleanser, but some people have success using it with just water due to its natural and cleansing properties, which is exactly how I like to use it.
I used the red konjac sponge on my face every day for 2 weeks and loved the way it helped clean my skin and left it looking brighter and softer and I still continue to use it as part of my weekly skincare.
There are different konjac sponges that have their own unique cleansing properties, depending on what your skin needs.
What colour Konjac Sponge to choose
Charcoal Konjac Sponge
Infused with natural charcoal ingredients containing activated carbon and various minerals that enhance absorbent abilities as well as being a natural antioxidant, making it ideal if you are prone to oily skin, acne, blackheads, and breakouts.
Helps to: control excessive oil secretion, gently exfoliates your skin, regulates moisture levels, removes dirt and oil, draws out impurities, fights and inhibits acne-causing bacterial growth, detoxifies and tightens your pores.
Green Tea Konjac Sponge
Infused with green tea extracts naturally packed with antioxidant benefits that can inhibit the formation of the damaging effects of free radicals, protecting the cells of your skin from being damaged by oxidation and UV rays. This is suitable for your sensitive skin and if you have mature and sunburned skin and you wish to protect your skin from aging.
Helps to: gently exfoliates and stimulates blood circulation to promote cell turnover, has soothing and moisturising effects, softens and plumps to improve your skins elasticity, balances your skin’s PH, improves skin tone and suppleness, promotes the health and longevity of collagen, refreshes the appearance of your skin.
Lemon Konjac Sponge
Infused with lemon extracts that is packed full of vitamin C. Enriched with natural AHA, a natural exfoliator, that will help to remove dark spots and acne. It’s ideal if you are prone to oily skin, acne, blackheads and outbreaks.
Helps to: prevent excess oil secretion, gently exfoliates your skin, adjusts water oil balance levels in your skin, removes dirt & oil, cleans blackheads, removes skin impurities, reduces the appearance of dull skin.
Red Konjac Sponge
Infused with French red clay that is great if you have dry, sensitive skin or mature skin but don’t suffer from any particular skin issues. It cleans the skin and improves blood circulation, accelerating your skin regeneration process, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and broken capillaries.
Helps to: hydrates your skin, gently exfoliates your skin, removes dead keratinised cells, and clears out pores making your skin look radiant.
Green Clay Konjac Sponge
Infused with green clay that is suitable for you if you have normal to combination skin. Green clay acts as a sterilizer, helping to keep away acne-causing bacteria and contains micro-molecules to help cleanse your pores for a clearer complexion.
Helps to: gently cleanse the pores, draw out impurities, absorbs dirt, oil and bacteria, detoxifies your skin.
Pink Clay Konjac Sponge
Infused with a mix of red clay and white clay and is suitable for all skin types, particularly if you have extremely sensitive skin. The combination of clays is quite calming and full of antioxidants as well as astringent and anti-bacterial properties, making it great if you have tired, sensitive and overly sun-exposed skin.
Helps to: maintain elasticity, fights free radicals, skin irritants and bacteria, controls excess oil secretion, hydrates your skin, controls acne, pimples, blemishes and blackheads, balances out your skin’s PH.
Original White Konjac Sponge
Is 100% pure konjac root fibers with no added clays. The main element of the natural konjac sponge is Glucomannan, an extract from the roots, and is suitable for all skin types. Konjac is alkaline which will help balance the PH levels of your skin. Its root fibers are super gentle so can be used as your go-to daily facial sponge and is ideal for use on babies.
Helps to: gently exfoliates dead skin cells, cleanses your pores, and leaves behind a colloid film that is nourishing, moisturising, and protection to your skin.
Lavender Konjac Sponge
Infused with lavender extracts containing positive characteristics such as antiseptic, astringent, antibacterial, relaxing, soothing, calming properties. Suitable if you have normal, oily, or acne prone skin as well as tired and irritated skin.
Helps to: radiate your skin, gently exfoliates your skin, helps cell regeneration and wound healing, fights skin aging, balance excessive oil secretion, helps to prevent blemishes and acne, removes dirt, oil, and bacteria, eliminates blackheads, improves your skin’s softness and complexion, detoxifies pores, helps to calm and moisturise your skin.