Introduction to Konjac and Not.a.sponge Konjac Sponges Review and a Giveaway!

Konjac noodles

What is Konjac?

Konjac is a fibrous vegetable that grows in parts of Asia, including Japan and Korea. As food, konjac root is an alternative to gelatin or seafood. Konjac noodles are also popular in Asian dishes. Konjac jellies (also called konnyaku) are very chewy and yummy as desserts! It consists of 97% water and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibers which helps to keep us satiated. It's alkaline nature balances our body's pH and it is very low in calories and contains no sugar, making it an ideal food for dieters and those with diabetes. It is also gluten-free. Konjac also has a prebiotic effect on our digestion, which promotes the growth and nourish the good bacteria in our digestive tract.

Konjac noodles

In skincare, konjac is made into natural sponges used to cleanse our skin. Its soft, alkaline, moisture and mineral-rich nature makes it a gentle yet very effective tool to exfoliate, detoxify, re-balance our skin's pH, promote oxigenation, stimulate blood flow, as well as nourish our skin naturally. They are so soft yet textured enough to remove dead skin cells, rejuvenate, and stimulate new skin cell growth. There are not many natural products that we can use to exfoliate the skin around the eyes, but this sponge can. 

I've had the privilege to try konjac sponges from not.a.sponge and I must say I'm in love with these puffs! My skin feels so smooth, refreshed, and glowing! It is indeed a secret recipe for a radiant complexion!

Not.a.sponge sponges are grown in the prestine waters of Jeju island in Korea, a place marked as a UNESCO World Heritage and that produces some of the purest water in the world. Their konjac sponges are grown in volcanic rich soil and they are:

100% natural, earth, and skin friendly
100% handcrafted
100% bio-degradable and fully sustainable
100% cruelty-free and vegan

Not.a.sponge sponges come in three options:

1. In The Raw Pure: suitable for normal skins and is excellent to use for bathing new born babies.
2. Volcanic Power Puff: great for more sensitive skins as it contains volcanic clay to soothe and calm the skin.
3. Bamboo Charcoal: recommended for men or more oily skin.

How to Use Konjac Sponge?

1. Wash your face with warm water to open up skin pores. Cleanse your face with a natural cleanser if you are wearing heavy make up or sunscreen. 
2. Soak the sponge in warm water until it is soft. It is best to not add any soap on the sponge to let the nutrients from the sponge work itself into the skin. The sponge also degrades faster if soaps are used.
3. Massage your face and neck with the sponge in circular motions.
4. Rinse, wring out excess water, and hang to air dry.
5. Sterilize in boiling water once a week for one minute to keep it clean.

The fibers in konjac helps to unclog pores and remove the dry flakes from sun burns. The mineral content in the sponge lessen overtime and the sponge starts to disintegrate after about two months or so of use. When the "holes" in the sponge get bigger, it is time to replace.

Thanks to not.a.sponge, five winners will receive one In The Raw Pure konjac sponge each (worth US$10). To enter, simply:

1. "Like" Pasture Living Facebook Page

2. "Like" Not.a.sponge Facebook Page

3. Comment on this post on why you'd like to win a konjac not.a.sponge and leave your email address. If you are uncomfortable leaving your email publicly, send me a message through Pasture Living Facebook page.

4. Like and share this giveaway on your Facebook page and tag a friend.

Please make sure you follow all 4 steps and let me know that you have done so.

This giveaway will end on 18 June 2014 Singapore time and the winners will be announced through email. Open to Singapore residents only.

Good luck!

Disclosure: Not.a.sponge provided me the konjac sponges for review and giveaway. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.