Konjac Sponge The Konjac Sponge

I’ve tried a few of these from various brands and it’s a pretty generic product - I haven’t noticed any variation between cheaper and more expensive ones. These little sponges make foaming cleansers feel a lot gentler on my skin and prevent that tight feeling. I’ve stopped using them on my face though as I’ve noticed they get mouldy quite quickly even when you change them regularly (I do like that they are bio-degradable so you can chuck them in the compost or garden when you’re done). I’ve gone back to just using my hands to apply a not so stripping cleanser to my face. I still use them with shower gel on my body though and they are so much nicer than those horrible plastic shower loofahs.

I find this works well for cleansing skin, leaving it feel clean but not stripped of moisture. I don't find that there's much difference between expensive and cheaper Konjac sponges so I feel that all Konjac sponges would probably do the job.

They work well because it isn't too harsh on your skin but still gives a gentle exfoliation and clean. It manages to lift off light makeup too.

My only negative is that it gets mouldy fairly quickly despite hanging it to dry so look into replacing it more often!

I tried the Bamboo charcoal Konjac sponge. I like it because it's soft yet exfoliating, and my skin looks healthy and glowing after I use it. It doesn't work for removing makeup for me, so I use it after I remove my makeup but before applying night moisturiser.

It takes quite a while to fully dry, and I find that it broke down and needed replacing quite quickly. For that reason, I wouldn't repurchase.

A bamboo charcoal Konjac Sponge was the day 11 surprise gift in the 2019 Beautiful Surprises Advent Calendar.

I'd heard a lot about these sponges when they first came out, and there was this huge big hype around them, but I'd never managed to actually convince myself to buy one.

Made from 100% pure natural konjac (an edible corm from an Asian plant), the sponge has added charcoal bamboo, and is suitable for the whole family to use. It's supposed to exfoliate and massage the skin, while the Bamboo Charcoal is mineral rich to help with acne, eliminating blackheads, oil and impurities.

Out of the packaging, the konica sponge is hard. Really hard. To use it, it has to be soaked in water for a few minutes, so that it can soften completely. Once the sponge is soft, press it between the flattened palms of both hands (the packaging says not to squeeze it out in one hand, as this will reduce the lifespan), and then gently massage the face in a circular motion, to cleanse and exfoliate. Rinsing the sponge well before and after each use. It has a little hanging string attached, so that the sponge can completely air dry between uses, to prevent mould and bacterial growth.

Honestly, I'm not all that impressed. It just feels like a very slimy, expensive cosmetic sponge. If you think about a sponge that has been dumped onto the side of the bath, while wet, and left there for a few days, it starts to get that really gross, slimy feel in the centre, well, that's what this sponge feels like when you're using it. It's really squishy, soft and has a very unusual texture.

I've used the normal, round, flat, cosmetic sponges to clean and exfoliate my face before, and the end result is the same. So for a fraction of the price, you can get the same results, and still replace the sponge every 6-8 weeks without it breaking the bank.

My honest opinion is that this is a hyped up marketing gimmick that many people have fallen for. I saw no reduction in the size, shape or number of blackheads on my nose, and at $16 to $19 for one of these konjac sponges (which have to be replaced every 6-8 weeks, otherwise the texture changes, they start falling apart, and sometimes start smelling funky if they haven't fully dried between uses). If you average replacing one of these every 8 weeks, it works out to $104 per year. I can think of better things to spend that much money on.

These little sponges are just wonderful for helping to keep your skin cleansed & toned. Small and easy to tuck into your makeup kit; simple to keep clean; long-lasting; does a great job.

These certainly do work I have blackheads that like to hang around and this sponge did the trick. Really good for people who a conservative and think about the environment when buying products. I think these make a really good gift a well.

I used the charcoal sponge as an exfoliating alternative to a scrub. These do work, but I think it was too rough on my skin and not ideal for sensitive skin. While I like the eco friendliness of the product, and it might work better for someone who doesn’t have sensitive skin which shows irritation easily. My mum tried this and loved it, so I think definitely give it a go and decide for yourself.

I tried a the charcoal sponge as it was reported to be great for oily, acne prone skin and a more environmentally friendly option than other cleaners but I've got to say it doesn't live up to any of the hype. It does clean your face a little better than just water but that's about it, definitely not like using a real cleanser and definitely didn't make my skin look any better. This is one fad I'm sad I bought into.

I used this sponge for about a week before it started falling apart upon washing, leaving little bits of sponge all over me and my shower! Before it started to break down it worked a treat. Loved the way it felt on my skin but apart from that I don’t think I’d ever buy it again, didn’t notice any changes with my skin or felt any different.

Brought this out of curiosity. I suppose it's ok I still like to use my cleansers though and I don't think a sponge a water would be enough for me.