5 things you probably don't know about sea sponges

The sea sponge is an eco-friendly, all natural, renewable resource—the perfect replacement to your plastic loofah. 

When we first considered stocking sea sponges I went down a bit of a research rabbit-hole and was quick to realize that sea sponges are actually really interesting. Here are the top 5 facts that caught my attention:

1  /  SEA SPONGES ARE ANCIENT
Sea sponges are one of the oldest multicellular organisms on Earth, with fossil records dating back over 600 million years.

2  /  SEA SPONGES VARY GREATLY
There are over 8,000 known species of sea sponges, varying greatly in size, shape, colour, and habitat. They can be found in diverse marine environments all around the world. Of these species, only a very small percentage can be used for skincare. 

3  /  SEA SPONGES REGENERATE ASEXUALLY
Sea sponges reproduce asexually through a process called budding. They can regenerate from fragments or even single cells.

4  /  HARVESTING CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SPONGE POPULATIONS 
When harvesting, sponge divers hand cut each sponge to ensure that more than one inch of the base remains intact so that the sponge can grow back. Studies have shown that harvested areas have an increased sponge population density. 

5  /  SEA SPONGES ARE HYGIENIC & HYPOALLERGENIC
Sea sponges have antimicrobial properties, meaning they naturally inhibit the growth of bacteria and mold. They are also hypoallergenic, making them suitable for all skin types.

Sea sponges are a natural and sustainable option for skin care. They have a naturally soft and porous texture that provides gentle exfoliation for the skin by helping to remove dead skin cells, dirt, and impurities without being too abrasive—skin is left smoother and more radiant. 

We carry medium and large wool sea sponges for full-body cleansing and exfoliation as well as small and extra small silk sea sponges that have a slightly firmer texture. I use the small sponge to exfoliate my bikini line and the extra small sponges to cleanse my face every night before bed.

Shop all sponges here.

*** We often get asked 'are sea sponges alive?' or 'are sea sponges animals?' The answer is technically yes, but that's based on scientific classifications rather than the typical animal characteristics you're familiar with. Sea sponges, as simple multicellular organisms, do not possess a centralized nervous system or specialized organs for sensing or processing stimuli. Despite sharing many characteristics of plants, they cannot be classified as plants as they are not made up of eukaryotic cells that contain cell walls and chloroplasts, therefore cannot carry out photosynthesis.