Konnyaku Soap?!

Konnyaku, also known as konjac, is a magical vegetable with a lot of different uses. I previously wrote about how its root can be turned into noodles and used as a healthy, no-carb alternative. But, its health benefits don't stop at food. Today, I'm going to talk about a different use: soap.

I found this soap in Yokohama Chinatown, though it's not Chinese at all. Actually, it's handmade and only uses natural, organic ingredients. So, it's great for sensitive skin or for anyone you know who's on a natural kick.

They have many different varieties available, and their entire shop is dedicated to trying it out and seeing which scent and variety work best for you. The different soaps are made with different ingredients that change seasonally. For example, now their recommended one is made with cherry blossoms. They also offer apricot, shark fin, and green tea, among many others.

You can see some of the different varieties there, as well as their benefits. When you make a purchase, all the information will be given in both English and Japanese, so you can understand what you're using. (They also offer it in Chinese.)

Though they're a bit pricey for hand/face soap, it's worth it! At an average of 1,200 yen, it may be a bit of a splurge, but the packaging makes it feel elegant and worthwhile.

Using it is pretty straightforward. I haven't used mine yet, but I'm very excited to try it. I have extremely dry and sensitive skin, so I'm always looking for simple and light face washes. If how it felt on my hands were any indication of how it would feel on my face, I think I've found a real winner.