In case you didn’t get the memo, we are totally obsessed with the konjac sponge, an exfoliating cleansing tool that’s gentle enough for daily use. These humble underdogs have been flying under the radar for quite some time in the western beauty world, and we feel that it’s high time they got the spotlight they deserve. A simple solution for seriously smooth skin, the konjac sponge will be your best friend if you know how to use it the right way for your skin type. Just to be clear, the konjac sponge is perfectly effective when used alone. But, you can also enhance your cleansing experience by pairing your konjac sponge with the right cleanser.
Here’s our konjac sponge tips for every skin type – dry, oily, combination, normal, and sensitive.
Read on to find out how you can make the most of these nifty little guys.
Choosing a konjac sponge
Before you select a cleanser, you’ll first want to choose the right konjac sponge based on your skin’s needs and preferences. For example, if you have acne-prone skin, a charcoal-infused sponge may be suitable for its purifying properties. If your skin runs on the dry or mature side, a konjac sponge formulated with camellia oil can help keep your skin plump and hydrated. Yuzu-infused konjac sponges are great for all skin types and help to moisturize the skin without weighing it down.
The Yamamoto Farm JUICY Konjac Sponge collection is an excellent place to start your journey with konjac sponges. Made of 100% natural konjac, each sponge in the collection is infused with a particular ingredient such as green tea, cherry blossom, yuzu, camellia oil and charcoal to address different skincare concerns.
If you’re extra selective with ingredients, you may want to opt for a premium option like the KOMACHI Konjac Sponge. Made from 100% organic konjac grown in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture, the KOMACHI collection comes in cherry blossom, green tea, white, and charcoal-based varieties, each of which are designed to tackle different skin concerns.
Dry skin
If your skin runs on the dry side, you first might want to select a konjac sponge infused with hydrating ingredients such as camellia oil or yuzu. For an ultra-nourishing experience, we recommend pairing your konjac sponge with a gentle cream cleanser such as the KITAO Matcha + Chia Cleansing Cream. This tip also applies for mature skin types that generally require more intensive hydration.
SHOP: KITAO Matcha + Chia Cleansing Cream
Oily skin
If you suffer from chronic greasy forehead, your best bet is to combine your konjac sponge with an ultra-purifying cleanser like the Real Bell Black Charcoal Facial Wash or the Mutenka Sekken Charcoal Cold Process Soap. Japanese charcoal or binchotan easily binds to toxins, bacteria, and dirt to effectively draw them out of the skin for a deeper pore cleanse. You can also select a konjac sponge for detox support, like this charcoal JUICY Konjac Sponge or this KOMACHI Konjac Sponge.
SHOP: Real Bell Black Charcoal Facial Wash
SHOP: Mutenka Sekken Charcoal Cold Process Soap
SHOP: JUICY Konjac Sponge
SHOP: KOMACHI Konjac Sponge
Combination skin
Combo skin types, your skin tends to be in a confusing battleground between an oily t-zone and dry everywhere else. For that reason, your routine is a delicate dance between these two paradoxical needs. You do best with products that extract dirt and impurities while restoring moisture to the skin. For a total brightening effect, couple your sponge with a facial polish such as the Edo Cosme Rice Bran Facial Wash. Infused with Vitamins B, E, and essential fatty acids, this scrub will give TLC to those extra dry patches without overwhelming your skin.
SHOP: Edo Cosme Rice Bran Facial Wash
Sensitive skin
Easily irritated and prefer to stick to the bare minimum when it comes to products? If you’re constantly feeling the “burn” – acne, rosacea, redness and other flare-ups, you’ve probably learned that less is more when it comes to your skin. For an easy pre-cleanse hack, gently sweep a few pumps of a micellar water like Bifesta Micellar Cleansing Water - SENSITIVE across your face, paying close attention to areas where you have makeup. Since this cleansing water also acts as an essence lotion, there’s no need to wash off with another cleanser. Just follow-up with some light konjac sponge action to buff away any remaining dead skin cells.
SHOP: Bifesta Micellar Cleansing Water - SENSITIVE
Normal skin
Normal skin types, you are blessed with balanced skin that smoothly weathers most skin storms. Since your skin can handle exfoliation quite well, you can pair your konjac sponge with essentially any favorite cleanser of your choice! However, if you’re in the mood for a double dose of exfoliation, try combining your konjac sponge with the KITAO Matcha + Chia Enzyme Powder. Infused with acai, matcha, chia seeds, and quinoa, the enzyme powder feeds your skin like an antioxidant powerhouse smoothie. Not only will it gently buff away any lingering impurities trapped within your pores, but gentle papaya extract refines and brightens the skin for an extra glowy finish.
