I’m a little late to the Konjac Sponge party, but for those of you who haven’t heard of this product before, it’s a 100% natural face and body cleansing sponge made from the vegetable fibres of the Konjac plant.
The reason these little sponges are so popular is because they’re soft and extremely gentle on skin and, being a plant based and chemical free product, will not irritate delicate skin. I know some people find muslin cloths, even the softer varieties, can be a bit scratchy, this is a kinder alternative.
I was sent three varieties to trial from DBS, based in France.
•Natural
•Charcoal – Perfect for oily skin or acne-prone and problems. Recommended for men to help reduce razor burn.
•Violet – Violet has been used since ancient times for its many healing properties. Calms and soothes irritated skin.
Konjac is rich in vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, & E), proteins, lipids, fatty acids and natural minerals such as copper, zinc, iron and magnesium.
HOW TO USE
The Konjac sponge is packaged in a damp plastic bag.
For the very first use, rinse it well and wring it out.
When the sponge is moist, use either soap and water or your chosen cleanser.
Gently massage the skin, making slow circular movements.
CLEANING THE SPONGE
A good rinse, a gentle squeeze and hang it up by the string to air dry.
As it dries, the sponge will harden.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
Typically 2-3 months with twice daily use. Using cleanser will slightly shorten the lifespan of the sponge.
You’ll know when it needs replacing earlier if it starts to disintegrate and pieces break off.
TIP
If you’re not going to use it for a while, keep your sponge in the fridge to preserve its lifespan.
HOW DOES IT FEEL?
Once softened in water, the sponge feels soft and squidgy. It’s incredibly gentle on the skin which is why it’s become so popular for those with sensitive skin and people suffering from rosacea. You’re able to thoroughly cleanse and gently exfoliate, with minimal damage to skin.
CAN IT REMOVE EYE MAKE UP & MASCARA?
No, it’s too soft and the shape isn’t right.
REVIEW
I put a blob of NSPA Hot Cloth Polish cleanser onto the barely wet sponge and it sucked it up immediately. I then passed it over my skin in circular movements as directed.
It does feel very gentle and soothing, but I couldn’t see any trace of the cleanser. I persevered though and thought, I’ll run a damp muslin cloth over my face afterwards to do it properly, because my skin didn’t feel cleansed, I felt there wasn’t enough going on to remove my foundation.
Anyway, I did use a damp cloth and was surprised to find there was no make up residue on it. It’s funny, my skin didn’t feel clean, but it obviously was. The sponge cells act as the most gentle exfoliator and that’s what lifts the make up off.
I think we’ve all suffered from red, irritated skin at some point in our lives, and one of these sponges would be the gentlest and less painful way to clean that raw skin using water.
People with dry, scaly skin would also be able to benefit by using this sponge. They’re ideal too for babies, teens with acne and older people with thinner skin – I get the hype now !
Anne Marie Wilson from Unfading Beauty UK
Konjac sponges DBS from Dermo Technic £6-8.00.
