You know mushrooms as mouthwatering superfoods you rely on to rustle up a failsafe risotto or pasta dish, but there’s more to these precious fungi than meets the eye. During the past decade, mushrooms have made their mark in the skincare industry, and even had the honour of having an era assigned to them – the aptly named ’shroom boom.
There are a variety of mushrooms used in the skincare world, but it’s Chaga, Cordyceps and Reishi that are making a name for themselves. In most cases, you’ll find them blended together, such as our Tri-Mushroom Super-Soothing Booster, which has an even split of all three.
So what prompted the use of mushrooms in skincare? It all boils down to the multitude of benefits they offer. Here’s how these buzzworthy ingredients can help keep your skin healthy…
What do mushrooms do in skincare?
Mushrooms have been used for centuries in East Asian medicine to promote healing and health, because of their adaptogenic properties. In skincare, they’re used for a range of reasons, from calming visibly irritated skin to hydrating, brightening, helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and improving barrier function. Impressive.
What are the benefits of mushrooms in skincare?
Provides antioxidant protection
Glutamine offers benefits that go beyond calming stressed-out skin. It also acts as an antioxidant to protect your skin from harmful free radicals that cause damage to your cells. Mushroom-infused skincare works similarly to Vitamin C when it comes to antioxidant action, but if you’re seeking out an antioxidant you can use when your skin is looking and feeling particularly sensitive, look no further.
Believed to help reduce inflammation
Mushrooms contain a rich source of the amino acid Glutamine, which is already present in a lot of foods, like eggs, white rice and tofu, and in small amounts in our bodies. So, why not add it into our skincare too? When you apply mushroom extract topically, the Glutamine in the mushrooms helps to downregulate inflammatory pathways – which is good news for sensitive or sensitised skin. If your skin is experiencing stress, it’ll play a key part in your body’s own stress response to help minimise aggravation.
Minimises fine lines
There’s a reason antioxidants are so popular in skincare – because their protective power helps keep the signs of ageing at bay. Thanks to the antioxidant protection provided by the Glutamine in mushrooms, your skin cells are less susceptible to environmental damage and therefore less likely to develop premature fine lines and wrinkles. A youthful elixir, indeed.
Brightens skin
Mushroom species like Shiitake are rich in Kojic Acid, which is great at brightening dull skin and helping reduce the appearance of dark spots. The good news is, it’s a relatively mild acid to use on sensitive skin – though we’d always suggest patch testing first.
Keeps skin healthy
If there’s one thing your skin needs, it’s to be well-balanced – much like your diet, moderation is key. That’s where mushrooms can be helpful. Anyone who's cooked a mushroom and noticed it shrink in size will not be surprised to hear that they're approximately 90% water. This cellular water is rich in nutrients and minerals, and can help to keep your skin cells in good shape – meaning happier, healthier skin.
How do you use mushrooms in skincare?
Now you know all about what they do, but how do you incorporate them into your current skincare routine?
As the mushroom trend has grown, more and more products have become available, with these skin-friendly fungi popping up in cleansers, serums and moisturisers.
But formula is key – and thankfully, there's no need to overhaul your entire skincare regime if you like what you're using. Instead, look to boosters like ours to supercharge your skincare with mushroom benefits.
A single, concentrated active, our Tri-Mushroom Super-Soothing Booster is made for slotting into your routine, however you choose. With a consistency of a lightweight serum, add 1-2 drops of this booster into your skincare (moisturisers, serums, or even body products) to reap the rewards of our potent blend. Alternatively, use it neat, applying 1-2 drops directly onto dry cleansed skin, then follow with the rest of your routine.
Shop our Tri-Mushroom Super-Soothing Booster now, or book a free online skin consultation with our skin experts for tailored advice on how to add it into your routine.
Tri-Mushroom 10% Super-Soothing Booster
