The Asian Skincare Secret You Need To Know About
By Christa Joanna Lee
articularly during the warm-weather months, I'm a little less adventurous when it comes to my makeup and hair. At the end of the day, all I really want is for my makeup to stay put and my long hair pulled back away from my face. However, no matter the season, finding the perfect skincare routine has been my ultimate goal for as long as I can remember. I'm always the first to try a skincare product no matter how crazy or strange-sounding it might be. Therefore, when I heard about the Asian konjac sponge craze that's been quickly picked up by stateside brands like Boscia and Julep, I obviously had to find out what the mysterious new miracle product was all about.
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I'll admit, konjac sponges kind of remind me of those Brillo pads that you keep at your kitchen sink, but they're actually pillow-soft sponges that gently remove makeup, dry skin and dirt after you dampen them with warm water. Konjac, which is a root-based natural sea vegetable from Asia, is known as a detoxifying ingredient (my Korean mom swears by it!). In sponge form, it's more gentle than most exfoliating facial scrubs — you can even use it every day on sensitive skin without irritation. It's truly for those who want a deep clean, sort of how you feel when you just got back from the spa — and who doesn't want that?
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Below, I outlined a few of my favorites, all of which are totally affordable — and they'll each last up to three months. So worth the money!
Not only does the konjac vegetable fibers make skin look refreshed, this sponge mixes in bamboo charcoal, which helps exfoliate for extra glowiness.
ECOTOOLS PURE COMPELXION FACIAL SPONGE, $5.99, ECOTOOLS.COM
It's delicate enough for the undereye area and it's packed with konjac specifically from Jeju Island, a gorgeous, idyllic tropical vacation spot in Korea.
BOSCIA KONJAC CLEANSING SPONGE, $18, SEPHORA.COM
On top of konjac ingredients, it also comes with pink clay, which helps purify skin and improves hydration and softness.
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SPIRIT BEAUTY LOUGE KONJAC SPONGE COMPANY FRENCH PINK CLAY SPONGE, $11.99, SPIRITBEAUTYLOUNGE.COM
When you're done using a konjac sponge, just squeeze out the excess water and hang it to air dry — this one includes a handy suction cup for easy shower storage.
JULEP KONJAC CLEANSING SPONGE, $12, JULEP.COM
It cleans, tones and moisturizes, no matter what your skin type.
DR. SPONGE FACIAL CLEANSING SPONGE, $8.50, ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM
Activated carbons and minerals help prevent and fight blemishes.
DEW PUFF BAMBOO CHARCOAL KONJAC SPONGE, $7, DERMSTORE.COM
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