The fungus has recently invaded the social media platforms and the accounts of hundreds of influencers, it is a fashion we see everywhere now. There are mushroom-inspired jewelry, dresses embroidered with mushroom patterns, and its use in skin treatments is also becoming popular. But did you know that its aesthetic benefits have been known for centuries, especially in Eastern cultures? In the following, we detail how important mushrooms are in skin care, and how to use them…
The incorporation of mushrooms into skin care products is relatively new, but it was used in ancient Asia for its ability to improve health, maintain vitality, and maintain a youthful appearance, and also to counteract the negative health effects of chronic stress.
How to use mushrooms in your skincare routine
Mushroom products for the skin
Are mushrooms dermatologist approved?
What makes mushrooms such a popular ingredient in skincare? After research, it turns out that dermatologists are among the first to adopt mushrooms in skin care. Kojic acid, which is derived from mushrooms, has been used for this purpose for years. It’s a tried and tested ingredient used in a variety of products to lighten skin and reduce hyperpigmentation.
Many mushrooms are classified as an adaptogen, meaning that they act at the molecular level to achieve homeostasis and regulate cell function.
What are the aesthetic benefits of mushrooms?
Mushrooms help calm stress, normalize hormones, and reduce inflammation. In fact, its anti-inflammatory properties are a very important point, when it comes to skin care; Studies of several types of mushrooms show promising anti-inflammatory effects, and topical anti-inflammatory use of mushrooms may help protect the skin from damage from environmental stressors.
Mushrooms also contain omega fatty acids and ceramides, which can help build the skin’s moisture barrier, prevent water loss and maintain skin hydration.
Whatever your skin type or problem, there is an excellent chance that incorporating mushrooms into your skincare products will be a good addition for you.
How do I use mushrooms in my skin care?
Eating mushrooms can be a great component of a healthy balanced diet, but if you want to reap the benefits on your skin, you should apply it topically, and use products formulated with mushrooms; This is because the nutrients gained by eating mushrooms will be digested in the digestive system.
Types of mushrooms and their benefits in skin care
mushrooms for skin
Chaga Mushroom: Reduce redness and protect the skin
It is one of the most effective and popular types of mushrooms in skin care, used in the beauty industry today. Chaga mushrooms are full of melanin that blocks UV rays, and they are richer in antioxidants than berries. It provides protection against temperature changes, helping to restore the skin barrier, reducing red spots and allergies, as well as strengthening capillaries. It can also neutralize free radicals, and has anti-inflammatory properties to help increase blood circulation, which ultimately helps ensure an even skin tone.
Tremella Fuciformis: moisturizing and protecting
The snow mushroom has gained a lot of popularity, as it is small in size, a bit strange in appearance, but it is an incredibly powerful moisturizer. Snow mushrooms hold 450 times their weight in water, so they are extremely hydrating to the skin. In addition, it is rich in antioxidants, vitamin D, polysaccharides and phospholipids, so it provides many moisturizing and protective benefits to the skin.
Reishi Mushroom: Reduces signs of aging and soothes skin
The reishi mushroom is also known as the mushroom of immortality, in reference to its longevity of youth. It is a powerful anti-allergic, as it visibly helps calm the skin and fight the signs of aging. This super-adaptive mushroom is used in all topical skin care formulations to support skin’s resilience against stress, calm skin, lock in moisture and improve barrier function. Anyone with tense and sensitive skin can benefit from reishi mushrooms
Shiitake mushroom: lighten skin tone
Whether you’re looking for a product to gently fade dark spots, or even out uneven skin tone, shiitake mushrooms are a great choice thanks to their high levels of kojic acid (a dermatologist’s favorite ingredient). It improves skin tone by breaking down melanin, thus lightening dark spots.
Cordyceps mushroom: antioxidant and improves skin elasticity
Cordyceps mushrooms may be at the forefront of skin treatments, as they are a powerful source of antioxidants, and are used in many care products, specifically to moisturize the skin, increase collagen and elastin production, and calm inflammatory skin conditions.
It has also proven effective as a topical treatment for inflammatory conditions, such as eczema, as well as in dealing with and overcoming one of the biggest sources of skin aging – the impact of environmental damage – by helping to reduce skin-damaging inflammation.
