Our Favorite Skin Care Accessory: The Konjac Sponge

WHAT IS A KONJAC SPONGE?

We’re big fans of skin care over here at Saje and we like to think we’re on top of the latest and greatest. Clay face mask? We’ve got you covered. Crystal roller? We’re on it. But our #1 love, our tried and true favorite skin care accessory? The konjac sponge.

The konjac sponge is made from a vegetal, fibrous root plant that is edible and commonly used for calorically low and nutrient dense noodle dishes. Native to East Asia, this plant is versatile in that it can be used to make flour, jelly and noodles as well as a popular skin care accessory that’s rapidly gaining popularity, the konjac sponge.

Part of the reason the konjac sponge is so valuable in skin care is because it’s gentle enough for use on even the most sensitive skin. The fibre is ground down to a fine powder, is then infused with extracts that are beneficial for healthy skin and then formed in a mold to create a round, malleable sponge with a natural cotton string. When you first open the konjac sponge, you’ll notice it’s very firm. It takes a minute or two of constant saturation under running water for the sponge to soften and become ready for use, and though it will dry out between uses, it will never return to its original hardness.

HOW DO I USE A KONJAC SPONGE IN MY SKIN CARE ROUTINE?

Adding a konjac sponge to your daily skin care routine is easy and cost effective. The sponge can be used with or without cleanser according to your preference, though for a deeper cleansing experience, we recommend pairing with a preferred facial cleanser.

Our favorite way to use it is as follows: Apply cleanser to the face using the fingertips and a splash of water, creating a lather or froth. Ensure that your konjac sponge has been fully saturated with water and has become extremely soft and squishy. At this point, we like to buff the face using a circular motion and ensuring we get into all the nooks and crannies, like along the sides of the nose and under the jawline. Depending on the cleanser you’ve paired with your sponge, you’ll want to rinse the sponge periodically as it attracts the product. Continue to buff and massage the skin until all of the cleanser has been removed from the skin and voila! That’s it.

There are many reasons to love the konjac sponge as part of your skin care routine. First, it’s gentle enough to use every day and for many people with sensitive skin, it replaces the need to exfoliate with harsh or abrasive cleansers as it will replace the need for a washcloth or loofah. Second, each sponge will last 2-3 months, depending on how often you use it. A rule of thumb is to hang your sponge to dry between uses, so it doesn’t attract any bacteria from standing water. Third, the konjac sponge is 100% biodegradable, compostable and environmentally friendly. When the sponge has reached the end of its lifespan, simply place it into your green compost bin or add it to your home garden. How cool is that?

WHAT TYPE OF KONJAC SPONGE IS OFFERED AT SAJE?

At Saje we offer two different types of konjac sponges. The first is called Konjac Kare Bamboo Charcoal and has been enriched with clarifying charcoal powder that is ideal for use with combination or oily skin to help improve skin’s clarity and to balance oil production.

The second konjac sponge we offer is called Yam Extract and has been enriched with soothing yam extract and protein amino acids, vitamins and minerals that are ideal for use with sensitive, normal, dry and mature skin to support the skin’s ability to defend against dehydrating environmental influences.

Regardless of which konjac sponge you choose, you can rest easy knowing that regular use will gently exfoliate the skin, balance your oil production and the skin’s natural PH, deep clean pores and improve the overall clarity of your complexion.

OTHER SKIN CARE PRODUCTS TO COMPLEMENT THE KONJAC SPONGE

After cleansing the facial skin with your choice of cleanser and complementary konjac sponge, it’s important to restore any moisture that may have been lost during the process. We reach for Rose Mist, a balancing, nurturing and hydrating mist that contains precious rose essential oil to help soothe dryness and the appearance of redness or irritation on the skin. Simply close your eyes and mouth, shake vigorously and mist generously over the face and neck for a freshening and renewing experience for the skin.

OTHER BODY CARE PRODUCTS TO COMPLEMENT THE KONJAC SPONGE

In addition to cleansing our facial skin, we wanted to share our favorite product for cleansing the skin on the body, called the Goddess Jute & Joy. The Jute & Joy is a soap-filled washpad that can be used daily to cleanse, refresh and gently exfoliate the body while bathing or showering. Made from another natural vegetal fibre called jute, the idea is that you rinse the wash pad with warm water until wet and gently scrub the body in a circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse the body with water to remove soap, and be mindful not to use it on skin abrasions or irritated skin. Inside you’ll find our sweet and floral Goddess soap, made with balancing essential oils of rose geranium, ylang ylang and orange. We promise, lathering up never smelled or felt this good!

LIFESTYLE TIPS FOR INCORPORATING THE KONJAC SPONGE INTO YOUR DAILY WELLNESS ROUTINE

Though the konjac sponge is simple and environmentally friendly to use, here are our best tips for incorporating it into your daily routine:

1. Ensure it is thoroughly wet. To avoid the risk of the sponge feeling abrasive or irritating to the skin, be sure to immerse entirely in water until the sponge is soft, squishy and feels gentle to the touch.
2. Hang to dry. We’ve included the cotton string so that you can hang the sponge to dry between uses. Though the konjac fibre itself is naturally free of bacteria, leaving the sponge sitting in water can shorten its lifespan considerably.
3. When in doubt, toss it out. We love how intuitive the konjac sponge is in telling us when it’s time to be replaced. You’ll notice the material beginning to shed or break down after 1-2 months of regular use, which means it’s time for the compost bin and a brand new konjac sponge for the bathroom sink!

—Erno Laszlo