Hot or Hype: Is the Konjac Sponge Really That Amazing?

Every year in the beauty world, something new hits the market, and companies jump all over it trying to get a piece of the latest and greatest. In 2014, the Konjac Cleansing Sponge was all the rage, and I don’t think it’s going away anytime soon in 2015..or ever. Since I am a slight skeptic in nature, the overload of this beauty product has me wondering: is the Konjac sponge all hype or the best skincare tool ever?

Since I have owned the coveted Konjac sponge for a while and haven’t tried it yet, I thought I would give it a go and see if it makes a difference with my skin. But before we talk about that, let me tell you more about what the Konjac Sponge is and what it does.

What is the Konjac Sponge

The konjac sponge is pretty amazing and has very few ingredients; they are made from the Konjac Potato found in Asia in high altitudes.  These potatoes have been used for 1500 years in China, Korea, and Japan for beauty and health benefits. Somewhere along the way, someone realized that this plant is rich in minerals and also PH Neutral, making it perfect for the skin. From there, the Konjac Potato was mixed with different types of clays and made into a sponge for skincare that is entirely bio-degradable.

Types of Konjac Sponges

White Konjac Sponge: This facial sponge is for anyone with super sensitive skin. It has no chemicals, additives, or coloring. (Try out the white Konjac Sponge from Boscia)

Black Konjac Sponge: If you have acne prone skin, this is the right facial sponge for you. It has the benefits of charcoal for a deep cleanse that helps to fight blackheads and clogged pores. (Check out the Boscia Bamboo Charcoal found at Sephora or the heart shaped Konjac sponge that’s so dang cute.)

Green Konjac Sponge: For those of us that have combo skin, the green facial cleansing sponge has green clay that helps to tighten pores and renew damaged skin cells. (Try out the Boscia Green Sponge)

Red Konjac Sponge: This is the anti-aging Konjac sponge (which is why I have it). It has red clay, which helps to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. (I love my Boscia Red Sponge)

Pink Konjac Sponge: While this is certainly the prettiest Konjac Sponge, it also does a lot for the appearance of the skin as well. It has pink clay, which is perfect for sensitive skin and improving elasticity for a more youthful look. (Get the Pink Konjac Sponge from Sephora.)

How to Use the Konjac Sponge

First, immerse the Konjac Cleansing Sponge thoroughly in warm water until it completely expands. Next, press it onto your skin and gently sweep in a circular motion around the face. If you want, you can use a cleanser along with the sponge, but it’s not entirely necessary when it’s infused with so many good ingredients. If you have makeup on, I would remove the makeup first with a makeup wipe and then use the facial sponge to deep clean the pores.
After you are done using the cleansing sponge, gently squeeze out (do not ring out) the extra water and allow it to air-dry. Your skincare sponge should last around 2 to 3 months.

My Experience

Honestly, I was excited to try this out…so opening up the package and holding the “holy grail” of skincare was a magical moment (there were unicorns and butterflies flying around too). Anyways.. I got it soaking wet and then applied the squishy mass to my face and gave my skin a good rub down in a circular motion. Once I finished, I patted my face dry, and felt my face to see if it was any softer than usual. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice any extra softness, but I was hopeful that (crossing my finger’s) my skin would look a little different the next morning. The good news is that my face did look brighter and more radiant the next morning, and I was excited to give the skincare sponge another go, and so I did.

The Honest Moment

Here the thing though, if the Konjac Sponge didn’t have the added benefits of clay etc., I don’t know that I would be that impressed. So, I would only buy a Konjac Sponge that has clays involved. Also, the next morning the Konjac Sponge wasn’t dry yet, and it grossed me out. I kept thinking about the invisible things floating in the air that were being sucked up into the sponge vortex that would soon be on my skin. If you find this disturbing too, you can always boil the Konjac Sponge for a minute to sterilize it (also- I am not usually a germaphobe).

So to answer the original question, “is the Konjac Sponge hot or hype”, I am going to have to say that it’s hot! I don’t know of another skin cleansing tool that is also eco-friendly, bio-degradable, and naturally packed with fantastic skin benefits.  So yeah, I saying it’s hot.

XO,

Kendra

note- This product was given to me for editorial consideration. There are affiliate links within this post. All thoughts and opinions are that of my own.