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not.a.sponge – Our Konjac Sponge Review

Ever heard of Konjac? Me neither, so I was surprised to learn that this fibrous vegetable is a staple of Asian diet, health and skincare. Grown on the exotic Korean island of Jeju, Konjac has been on the menu in some cultures for over 1,000 years. I was so intrigued after reading about this superfood that I took a field trip to H-Mart, the massive Asian supermarket near my office, to investigate.

I could hardly believe my eyes as I spotted Konjac galore in the form of noodles, powder, even a dietary supplement in pill form. I couldn’t find fresh Konjac in the produce section, but a quick online search revealed a root vegetable with a lumpy shape that reminded me of a sprouted potato.

Why this sudden interest in exotic food? Let me introduce you to not.a.sponge, “euphoric skin food” in the shape of a sponge-like puff made from – you guessed it – Konjac.

The not.a.sponge comes out of its package hard as a rock, than softens with water. It feels like a sponge. It looks like a sponge. We heart this received four styles of not.a.sponge, and I tested the two Volcanic Power Puffs, one for face and one for body. These puffs contain volcanic clay, and are designed to calm skin and help it naturally regenerate.

Volcanic Power Puff – Face ($11)

My first look at the face puff alarmed me a little. I stared at the oversized brown gumdrop, not sure what to make of it. It came out of the package feeling crispy and hard. As directed, I washed my face with my usual cleanser, then wet the sponge. It quickly became very soft, and I gently massaged it around my face and neck. The process did feel soothing.

Volcanic Power Puff – Body ($15.50)

Then onto the body puff, which is shaped like a small brick with ridges on one side. Dry, it felt hard like the face puff, but a little water turned it very soft and fluffy. I swooped it all over my body as directed… very relaxing!

We also received two additional puffs that you’ll read about in the comments from fellow review team members:

Bamboo Charcoal – Face ($11) – This is the deep cleaning version with “super activated carbon ‘carbo activatus’ which offers a powerful and highly absorptive cleansing experience.”

In The Raw – Face ($10) – The original, pure Konjac sponge this is their “most simple and original konjac face remedy.” It’s ph balanced, chemical free and safe for all skin types – even babies.

The company calls their puffs the “Soufflé of Sponges,” which is perfect. They also call the sponges “exotic and powerful,” and I admit I was skeptical about the power part. The puffs are so soft, they don’t feel like they are actively exfoliating or even cleaning the skin. But afterwards, my skin feels extra-soft and smooth. I guess volcanic power is surprisingly gentle! Maybe we don’t need to be scrubbing our skin like mad to exfoliate it.

Although you can use cleanser with the sponges, the company recommends using them alone to keep the process natural. I wouldn’t say I was able to massage my skin with either puff because they’re so soft and squishy; it’s more like a gentle swabbing.

Pros:

• More gentle than a loofa or traditional sponge
• Suitable for the most sensitive skin – even babies can us these puffs
• Made of Konjac, which is full of vitamins, Zinc, Protein, Folic Acid and Iron, and grown in is volcanic soil
• Volcanic compound soothes skin irritation – even conditions like eczema and psoriasis
• They are pH balanced and 100% vegan
• Environmentally friendly. Biodegradable. After you use not.a.sponge for 3 months, you can compost it!

Cons:

• Don’t expect to feel the exfoliation – these puffs are very gentle

we heartsters – Have you washed your face or body with a konjac sponge?

photos: we heart this