Konjac sponges are not new. Some of you may have had your first exposure to them via the Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge ($18 at Sephora), but Konjac cleansing sponges actually originated in Japan (this company claims to be the original manufacturer of them). If you take a look at their site, you'll see that Konjac sponges are offered in a "plain" white version, or they can be infused with something (bamboo charcoal, green tea, cherry blossom, citrus, mint, etc.). The EcoTools Pure Complexion Facial Sponges come in two varieties: Sensitive Skin, which is plain, and Deep Cleansing, which is bamboo charcoal-infused.
I purchased the Deep Cleansing version on the Ulta website a while back, and now that I've given it a proper testing, I'd love to share my thoughts with you.
EcoTools Pure Complexion Deep Cleansing Facial Sponge
(retail: $5.99 on the EcoTools website and at Ulta)
Since this is actually my first experience using a Konjac sponge, I cannot personally tell you how it compares to the Boscia version, or any other version on the market. However, I have some friends who are long-time users of Konjac sponges, so I'll be able to share a few of their insights about other versions (trust me, I grilled them for info!).
NOTE: Many Konjac sponges on the market are made in Korea, and so is this one.
When dry, this sponge is hard, but it's hollow, like a pumice stone:
dry
The size of this sponge is rather small. It's bigger than a Beauty Blender, but a little smaller than your average desktop computer mouse.
dry
dry
Below is the sponge after one week's worth of use. This is what the sponge looks like damp (after using, I squeezed out most of the water and then took this photo):
After one week, you can see by looking at the photo above that this sponge started to rip. I was not hard on this sponge, and my guess is that the ripping was due to the repeated squeezing that you must do to ensure that this sponge is rinsed and free of soap and makeup residue (more on that later).
After 1-1/2 weeks, the tear in this sponge got bigger, as you can see in the photo above.
Let me first say that when my friend (who has been using Konjac sponges for years) first saw my EcoTools sponge, she couldn't get over how small it was. Apparently other Konjac sponges are much larger than this one (she buys random sponges from Amazon--do a search for "Konjac facial sponge" on Amazon and it will make your head spin! There are so many brands and varieties out there). But the size did not bother me, because the pointed end of this sponge (a lot of other Konjac sponges are in the shape of a circle or rectangle) makes it quite nice for reaching the little nooks and crannies of my face like the sides of my nose, underneath my bottom lip, etc.
What DID bother me was that this sponge was difficult to hold when wet. It felt like it was constantly about to slip out of my hands every time I used it, and I don't really know if that had more to do with the size, shape, or the fact that the sponge itself has a bit of a slick consistency.
This sponge is not rough or coarse on the skin, despite the way it looks in photos. It is VERY soft. I can't stress that enough. In fact, I bought this hoping for a bit of exfoliating, which I thought I might get since this is the "Deep Cleansing" version, but it's so smooth, soft and cushiony against the skin that I think it would be absolutely fine even for those with sensitive skin.
Gentleness aside, this sponge does a nice job at removing makeup, dirt and oil from my face, while leaving it feeling very smooth afterward. I've been using this sponge every night for a few weeks now, and I'm quite happy with how effective it is at removing all of my makeup (even long-wear foundation and face primer). I just get it wet, add some facial cleanser to the sponge (the same amount of cleanser that I would use regularly, without a sponge) and gently work the sponge on my damp face in small, circular motions. I even use it on my eye area, and I find that it removes my eye makeup well, but I do have to use my fingers during the rinsing stage to help get the last bits of mascara off my lashes.
Sounds great, right? Well I'm afraid that's where the love-match ends. What I do not like at all about this sponge is that it takes FOREVER to clean, and it's never quite 100% free of my facial cleanser, no matter how many times I rinse and squeeze. I have spent over ten minutes standing in my shower holding it under warm water, squeezing gently, running it under water again, squeezing gentle, on and on and on and the bubbles from my facial cleanser still appear when I squeeze this sponge. Even when I THINK it's finally clean, I'll hold it out of the stream of water, give it a few squeezes, wait a minute, squeeze again and THE BUBBLES ARE BACK! It's like they're trapped inside this sponge and they just do not want to come out.
On top of that, as I showed you earlier, this sponge started to tear one week into using it, and the tear keeps getting bigger. I'm on week three now, and the tear is pretty significant (but EcoTools does recommend that you replace this sponge every 1-3 months, so I guess I could live with the tear for one more week before replacing it). Like I said before, I was not hard on this sponge, but it probably didn't help that I had to do so much rinsing and squeezing after every use.
My friends who own Konjac sponges from other manufacturers tell me that their sponges are quite resilient and do not have issues with tearing, even after a few months of use. But I don't want to assume that, due to the lower price-point of the EcoTools version, it's an inferior sponge, because I have not personally tried other brands. Maybe my sponge tore due to the amount of squeezing I needed to do after every use, and maybe YOU might not feel the need to rinse-and-squeeze as much I did.
But I do want to mention that my friends who use Konjac sponges with a different shape (round or rectangular) don't have the rinsing issue that I had, so I'm guessing this issue has to do with the egg-shaped design of this particular sponge. It's just difficult for me to get the core of the sponge clean, no matter how hard I try.
FINAL VERDICT: Not a love-match for me, due to the rinsing issue and the fact that it started to tear after one week. I do like how gentle, yet effective, this sponge is for cleansing the face, but I'm afraid this sponge gave me so much frustration that I can't see myself continuing to use it (or repurchasing). I would like to try another Konjac sponge in a different shape, so I might order some from Amazon and see how those compare. If I do, I'll update you and let you know! I wish I could tell you how this compared to the Boscia sponge, but I have not tried that version--if you have the Boscia version (or any other version, for that matter) I would love to know if you have similar issues with tearing and/or cleaning.
Do you own any Konjac sponges? I would absolutely love to hear about your experiences!
The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.
Marukai Living sells Dew Puffs for about the same price. Dew Puffs are flattened egg-shaped konjac sponges that come in three versions: original, charcoal, and asian clay, and they're slightly smaller than an average woman's hand. I bought the charcoal one about a month ago and haven't had any issues with tearing or rinsing. Sure, it's a bit more time consuming to rinse than a Buff Puff or wash cloth, but I can certainly get all of my cleanser out in under two minutes. I would definitely recommend that you try one of these out before you discount konjac sponges completely! Another option is The Face Shop's konjac sponge, which you can get at their storefront inside of Zion Market. However, I haven't tried that one so I can't tell you about it.
ReplyDeleteI never said I was discounting Konjac sponges completely! In my "final verdict" I mentioned that I would like to try other versions in a different shape, so thanks for the tips on where you've seen them locally! :) I go to both of those stores quite frequently but I'm always so distracted by makeup and nail polish that I don't even look at the sponges. So thanks very much for the tip... I'm glad I can get one without having to order on Amazon! :)
DeleteI have the similarly shaped konjac sponge that I bought from abe's market online (it was the cheapest I could find one). I don't have any tearing in mine. Just like you, I like the smaller pointed end for fitting into small areas on the face.
DeleteInstead of putting the facial cleanser directly onto the sponge, I put it on my face like I normally would and then use the dampened sponge to rub it in. Perhaps this would help you with having to spend less time rinsing the cleanser out?
Hmm, when you squeeze/rinse it are you scrunching it (like making a fist) or holding it flat on your palm and flattening it with your other hand? The latter is how I was told to clean the konjac and Mine has held up well. Also, I found quite a difference In effectiveness from one to the other in terms of brands, and I swear by the brand MyKonjac. Others I have tried both before and after using the MyKonjac one don't compare! One last thing, I was told cleanser is optional and believe it or not, I don't use any cleanser with my sponge and find it does a more than adequate job 😃 I still use a deep cleansing mask once a week or so, but I am amazed at how awesome it works even without the added face goop!
ReplyDeleteHi, how did you store this sponge? I travel for work and have often worried about just leaving it outside to try as I worry it will get germs. Ditto with the real techniques complexion sponge. Did you have a box or something for it? Thanks!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I enjoy using my konjac sponge without facial cleanser added to it for the same reasons you mentioned in the post! I use it after I've removed all my face makeup with my regular cleanser and then go in with the konjac after by itself - to massage the face! It feels like an added step but it feels really nice on the skin. Or sometimes when I don't want to wash my face excessively in the morning with an actual cleanser, I just go in with the konjac sponge to lightly cleanse.
ReplyDeleteI have the charcoal version as well as the green tea version of these - I get them from sasa for a couple bucks, so dirt cheap and they seem to hold up quite well
I have actually been using this for a few days now. I like how gentle it feels on the face. However, I have to agree with you that I am not satisfied with how it rinses. It's difficult to get it clean. I may have to try the one from Boscia but not spending $18 on that right now. Thanks for your review!
ReplyDeletehmm.. nah.. i like my cleansing milk. thanks for sharing though
ReplyDeleteThank you for the review! I was considering the sensitive skin version of this, but I think I'll go for a flattened one instead of an egg shaped one.
ReplyDeleteG thank you for the review. I have been curious about this version, or wondering if I should pick up one from amazon.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that you can use less cleanser when using the sponge. I've heard of people omitting cleanser altogether (though they do use double cleansing to remove most of the makeup first). Have you tried using less than your usual amount of cleanser and seeing how well that cleans?
ReplyDeleteI've read somewhere that the sponges are best used without cleansers (or a very small amount of cleansers) in order to extend its lifespan, and that while it works in makeup removal, it's not ideal. I guess instead of being a miracle multi-tasking product, it might be best to think of them as a fancier exfoliator.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I already have a clarisonic so I'll give these konjac sponges a pass since they basically do the same thing anyways.
Thanks so much for this thorough review! I really need something to help take off my makeup;)
ReplyDeleteI have Julep's konjac sponge and it is the same shape as your, but I have no problem at all with rinsing. It's also charcoal infused and looks quite a bit darker than yours. Maybe you just got a bad one, not like the brand is bad but like a lemon, maybe the next eco tools one will be better. I love my Julep one, but it is a bit spendy unless it does really last 3 whole months. I plan to review it after a month of use, so I will get back to you on it if you want. So far its been a week and it's been a god send!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to get one of these types of sponges since learning about them. You'll have to get an Amazon one to do a comparison! Wait...maybe I should do that too! Thanks for such an in depth review.
ReplyDeleteI have used Konjac sponges in the same shape as eco tools and when I first started using them I was told to use less cleanser since the sponge does not need a lot. I was also told to place the cleanser on my face then run the damp sponge on it. To clean do not scrunch, lay the sponge on the flat of one hand then press with the other hand. I have been using konjac like this for 2 years and can get 3 to 4 months use of my sponges. I buy them at Marukai and they even have a rope so you can hang the sponge.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like an interesting product! I did see the one from Boscia before, but I'm turned off by the price. I might not try this one, but will look up the ones on Amazon!
ReplyDeleteThis brand also sells a larger charcoal sponge for your body, and I use that one for my face since it's just as gentle. I've had it for months and it never tears, but I press out the excess water with my palms.
ReplyDeleteHi :) I recently bought this sponge from ULta. My first kinjac sponge was from this company, which i thought was the original company (?)- http://www.konjacspongecompany.com/shop.html
ReplyDeleteevery review Ive seen of these sponges suggests it is safe to use once or even twice a day on sensitive skin, so i did just that and got pretty dry skin as a result. i was using the pink clay one which is for sensitive skin, and I've used pink clay before so it wasn't the clay, had to be the sponge. I feel that these do exfoliate well, despite not being abrasive. for sensitive skin i now warn people to start using the konjac once or twice a week and increase as needed to see how they react to it.
This ecotools konjac is my second one, so far i don't see much difference. i do like the teardrop shape a bit better as you mentioned, it helps with the corners of the face. the size seems about the same to me and fine for the face. I don't use cleanser, just the sponge. this company doesn't give much info about care like others do. it should note that cleanser will shorten the life span and its not always needed. also, pressing between the palms to ring it out rather then twisting. What i don't liked about this one is just that it doesn't have a string on it to hang it to dry. I leave it on my shelf sitting on a cotton pad to dry. I haven't used it enough yet to comment on how the charcoal version is on sensitive skin but since i only use it a couple times a week, i think any variety would be ok. this is a great way to exfoliate for those of us who can't use any abrasive materials. One more important thing to consider is that wet clay or charcoal should never be stored in plastic , as it absorbs the toxins. I have seen a couple brands that are wet in a plastic package. be sure any you buy are dry. I hope this helps anyone interested in these!
I've used the brand My Konjac Sponge and it works wonderfully! All of the benefits you describe, but without the tearing or rinsing issues. I would definitely recommend picking one up on Amazon or elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteGreat review. Glad I found your blog. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete