ecoTOOLS Pure Complexion Facial Sponge {Review}

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Overview

Rating: 4/5 stars ★★★★☆
Price Tag: $5.99
Versions: 2 versions
Where to Buy: In stores like Wal-Mart and Ulta; online at ecoTOOLS and Drugstore.com

I saw these new sponges online last month while checking out the new ecoTOOLS products online. I thought they seemed interesting, so when I spotted the Sensitive Skin version at Wal-Mart, I decided to give it a go.

This is a unique new product from ecoTOOLS. Since the winter is dragging on, my face had become more and more damaged and dry. The sponge promised to be exfoliating, yet gentle. I wanted to try it out and see how well it lived up to its claims.

Packaging

The sponge is sealed in plastic and surrounded by a cardboard box.

ecoTOOLS products: Mini Essentials Set, Eye Enhancing Duo Set,
and Pure Complexion Facial Sponge in Sensitive Skin

There is a cut out window in the back so you can see and feel the sponge before buying.

Back of the ecoTOOLS products: Mini Essentials Set, Eye Enhancing Duo Set,
and Pure Complexion Facial Sponge in Sensitive Skin

The plastic wrap keeps the sponge nice and hygienic for the first use.

The sealed Pure Complexion Facial Sponge in Sensitive Skin

Product

There are two versions of the Pure Complexion Facial Sponge: Deep Cleansing (grey) and Sensitive Skin (white).

The sponge is made out of a plant called konjac—or for those of you who like to sample Asian cuisine, you may be more familiar with it under its Japanese name, konnyaku. The konjac/konnyaku plant, its name meaning devil’s tongue, is often called a yam, but apparently it’s not related. The plant grows in the tropical regions of Asia. You can read more info on the plant on it’s Wiki page.

I just happened to have a couple packs of konnyaku in the fridge.
It’s kind of like a weird, rubbery, flavorless tofu.

After unboxing and unwrapping, the Pure Complexion Facial Sponge feels suspiciously like a pumice stone. Despite the gentleness the box claimed, I suspected I was buying a pumice stone to scrub my face.

Close up of a wet Pure Complexion Facial Sponge in Sensitive Skin

Fortunately, it’s not like a pumice stone at all. After a few squishes under running water, the sponge turns into something like a slimy cellulose sponge. The sliminess seems to be dissipating with daily use, but it still has an odd, bubbly texture.

The sponge is egg shaped, with the bottom side flattened. The pointed end at the top is good for cleaning the hard-to-reach crevices alongside the nose. It also sports an ecoTOOLS “e” on the round end on the top side of the sponge.

It looks kind of weird after it dries…

Once dry, the sponge does not return to its pretty shape, but gets all shriveled up and funky looking. I’ve also noticed that it takes well over 24 hours to completely dry out, which probably explains why the box says the sponge should be replaced every 1-3 months.

The directions say to rinse after use, then let air dry, but I was under the impression that that’s generally expected after using any sponge.

Performance

The Pure Complexion Facial Sponge claims to exfoliate your face, yet be gentle enough to not cause damage or redness.

Overall this claim holds true. My face was a little dry after the first use, but I think I may have been a little overzealous in order to be thorough. My face isn’t as smooth as some exfoliating tools, but it still does the job nicely with zero redness.

After wetting the sponge, I apply a small amount of facial cleanser to it before using. Another use for the sponge is to wet it and rub it over the face before cleansing, instead of just splashing water on your face. I’ve also found it makes removing facial masks easier.

Images

Final Thoughts

Pros: Gentle on the skin, non-abrasive, mild exfoliation with no redness
Cons: On the pricey side, kind of slimy

This is a weird little product, but it accomplishes it stated goal of gentle exfoliation. My only issue is that the price point seems to be higher than that of the ecoTOOLS brush sets. I think individuals with sensitive skin issues and rosacea should be able to benefit from this product as well.