First things first – what is Konjac?

First of all, let’s get it clear – what’s Konjac? No, not Cognac but Konjac. The Konjac potato or Konnyaku is a perennial plant native to Asia and can be found growing wild at very high altitudes. A totally natural food source, Konjac is 97% water, rich in mineral goodness and low in calories. The plant is naturally alkaline, which leaves skin perfectly balanced.

Konnyaku has been used in Korea, Japan and China for over 1,500 years as medicine, food, a dieting aid and a beauty product.

What about the sponge?

Imagine a dehydrated dome of sponge cake and you’re somewhere close to this kooky sponge’s texture. Made from natural Konjac root, Konjac sponges were first created as a way for Japanese farmers to cleanse a baby’s skin, so they’re a much gentler way to exfoliate dead or dry skin during your daily face wash.

The Konjac sponge is highly absorbent in both water and oils and is excellent for a thorough cleansing. It also has great function to break down skins dirt and balance pH.

How to use?

Konjac sponges harden when dry, so simply let them soak in the shower or sink for a minute to soften them up before using.

Different colour Konjac sponges means different active ingredients. For example, grey would be infused with charcoal, green would be green tea and red might be red clay. The options are endless!

In our August 2020 Out’n’Proud Pack you can try one out! Namely, we got the Daily Concept’s Turmeric Konjact sponge. It has no preservatives and no chemicals but it does have turmeric that has been known to heal and prevent dry skin. In other words, it’s hydrating and regenerating.

Don’t have a pack yet – go and check out the Out’n’Proud pack then!

How to get the best out of a Konjac sponge?

So now when you know how good it is for you, what’s the way to use it? We got the scoop:

1. Use it twice a day – in the morning and in the evening

We recommend that you use twice a day: a light cleanse in the morning, and a more thorough one in the evening.

2. Rinse the Konjac sponge in warm water before each use

When you first use a Konjac sponge, it will have quite a firm, tight texture that you really don’t want to apply to your skin. Your first step is to fill the sink with warm water and submerge the sponge for a minute or so, until it has expanded and is lovely and soft.

3. Use circular motions

Use light circular motions all over your face to lift daily grime. Don’t be afraid to really get in to those awkward areas to make sure all is removed. The domed sponges are recommended as they can properly cleanse around the nose, eyebrows and eyes.

Rinse between each use, and then use over the face with water alone to finish your cleansing routine.

4. Squeeze and leave to dry

Once you’re done cleansing, give the sponge a final rinse and then squeeze out the excess water. Hang it up to dry properly – don’t leave it on the sink!

5. Replace after six weeks

Konjac sponges are a natural material, so they will start to biodegrade over time. If you take care of your sponge, it should last you around six to eight weeks.

So here you go – after using a Konjac sponge, your grooming routine will never be the same again.