Konjac Powder (Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder) in Skin Care

Konjac powder, extracted from the root of the Amorphophallus konjac plant, has been an important ingredient in East Asian traditions for centuries. In skin care, konjac root powder is used for its gentle exfoliating properties, hydration benefits, and natural skin barrier support. You will often see this ingredient listed on labels as “Amorphophallus konjac root powder.” Learn more about what this ingredient is and whether or not it could be right for your skin here.

Konjac powder is produced by drying and milling the starchy corm (a swollen underground plant stem) of Amorphophallus konjac, a perennial plant native to warm subtropical regions of East Asia. The resulting fine powder is rich in glucomannan, a polysaccharide that can absorb up to 200 times its weight in water (3).

In skin care formulations, this water-holding capacity allows konjac powder to offer hydration, improved texture, and mild exfoliation, especially when used in physical forms like konjac sponges or hydrating gels.

Konjac sponges have become popular beauty tools in recent years. These are created by blending konjac powder with water and heating the mixture until it solidifies into a porous, jelly-like sponge. Once dried, these sponges become firm, but they soften again when wet.

Because of their highly flexible, smooth structure, konjac sponges offer mechanical exfoliation that tends to be much gentler than traditional scrubs. They effectively remove dead skin cells called keratinocytes from the outer layer of skin without disrupting the epidermal barrier underneath.

Some sponges are infused with other active ingredients like charcoal, green tea , or clay , aiming to provide additional skin benefits.

As noted above, the glucomannan content of konjac powder is one of the most notable compounds that offers skin benefits. Below is a closer look at what glucomannan is, as well as other beneficial active compounds in konjac.

• Glucomannan. This is a linear polysaccharide composed primarily of β-1,4-linked D-mannose and D-glucose units. It has a high molecular weight, allowing it to retain a large amount of water and giving it a gel-like texture. These properties allow glucomannan to create an  occlusive  layer on the skin that limits water loss. Some studies have also found that konjac glucomannan may help to prevent long-term skin damage and hyperpigmentation caused by UVB exposure (4).

• Minerals. Konjac also contains a variety of important minerals, including copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, and others. These minerals may help to reduce inflammation and aid in the skin’s natural repair processes (5,6).

• Vitamins. Konjac root contains a small amount of vitamins, including vitamins A, B6, C, and E.

• Cellulose and hemicellulose. Konjac contains small amounts of cellulose and hemicellulose, which are complex carbohydrates found in the walls of plant cells. Cellulose aids in exfoliation, especially in the form of konjac sponges.

Konjac powder is most commonly included in skin care products for its ability to add hydration and exfoliation.

• Improves hydration. The water-retaining properties of konjac glucomannan help to hydrate the skin and provide a protective occlusive barrier.
• Supports skin barrier function. This occlusive barrier formed by the high glucomannan content of konjac powder can also aid in supporting barrier function by preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
• Gently exfoliates. Konjac contains small fibers that can help to gently exfoliate the skin, especially when used in a sponge form.
• Enhanced absorption of other ingredients. By exfoliating away the dead skin cells and other debris from the surface, konjac powder can help to increase the absorption and penetration of other ingredients that you apply afterward.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) , Amorphophallus konjac root powder scores a 1 on the EWG scale, indicating a low hazard and minimal concern for toxicity, irritation, or sensitization. Amorphophallus konjac root powder is not currently listed in the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) board’s ingredient database.

Konjac is typically well tolerated by most skin types and comes with few potential side effects. Rarely, mild irritation or allergic reactions can occur. People with skin conditions like rosacea or psoriasis may need to avoid konjac sponges, as even gentle exfoliation may lead to a symptom flareup. 

Skin care products typically contain konjac powder for its hydrating and exfoliating properties. Some products that contain this ingredient include:

Konjac powder can be a beneficial skin care ingredient for a variety of skin types and conditions. It’s primarily used for its ability to help hydrate and exfoliate the skin. However, this ingredient may not be suited for some sensitive skin types and those with conditions like rosacea or psoriasis, since exfoliation can cause redness or irritation.

To find out if konjac powder could be right for your skin type, take the quiz below to find out which of the 16 skin types you are and to get personalized skin care ingredient recommendations.

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2. Baumann, L. Ch. Cosmeceuticals and cosmetic Ingredients (McGraw Hill 2015)
3. Dyah Hesti Wardhani, Dewi Puspitosari, Mochammad A. Ashidiq, Nita Aryanti, Aji Prasetyaningrum; Effect of deacetylation on functional properties of glucomannan. AIP Conf. Proc. 15 June 2017; 1855 (1): 030020. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4985490
4. Choi KH, Kim ST, Bin BH, Park PJ. Effect of Konjac Glucomannan (KGM) on the Reconstitution of the Dermal Environment against UVB-Induced Condition. Nutrients. 2020 Sep 11;12(9):2779. doi: 10.3390/nu12092779. PMID: 32932917; PMCID: PMC7551622.
5. Lansdown AB, Mirastschijski U, Stubbs N, Scanlon E, Agren MS. Zinc in wound healing: theoretical, experimental, and clinical aspects. Wound Repair Regen. 2007;15(1):2-16.
6. Polefka TG, Bianchini RJ, Shapiro S. Interaction of mineral salts with the skin: a literature survey. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2012;34(5):416-423.