There is no other naturally-occurring substance as versatile as the simple mushroom; different species

can kill you, perfectly compliment a meal, warp your mind or make your skin glow and your waistband

loosen.

Love them or hate them, mushrooms are an ancient superfood that don’t get much time in the spotlight

these days. Roasted, fried or sautéed, mushrooms have been a foodie favourite for years now, but are

turning up where you’d least expect them… introducing mushroom skincare.

It’s no secret that our fungi friends are good for us, they’re a unique bundle of protein, fibre and

carbohydrates all wrapped up in a delicious, healthy package. While some enjoy the taste and others

loathe them, mushrooms have now made their way into our skincare. From mushroom moisturisers to

mushroom masks, every skincare expert is now praising their benefits.

Mushrooms have been used by healers for thousands of years in a holistic manner, but with scientific

studies now proving their benefits, mainstream companies have now adopted the mighty mushroom.

There are currently over 10,000 species of mushrooms, and each offer their own special benefits in both

edible form and health wise.

A study in 2016 titled ‘Mushroom Cosmetics: The Present and the Future’, looked into the science behind

functional mushrooms as a cosmetic ingredients, and found that the combination of mushrooms and

genomics can deliver numerous skin enhancing benefits. When topically applied, mushroom extracts offer

skin benefits such as hydration, antioxidant protection and age defence.

Both the oyster and shitake mushrooms contain kojic acid, which slows pigment production and helps to

lighten the skin. If you’re after hydration, look to the rather expensive (but delicious) truffle mushroom,

that contains ceramides which are an essential component for maintaining a healthy skin barrier, which

locks in hydration! In China and Japan, the tremella mushroom is currently a popular substitute for

hyaluronic acid, as it is able to retain skin moisture all while having anti-inflammatory qualities and

accelerating wound healing.

If you’re looking to make the switch to a mushroom-filled skincare routine, remember that like all topical

ingredients, you need to give it a few weeks to see any real changes. Make sure you also look at what

part of the mushroom is used, and how it’s extracted. The more of the mushroom used, the more

benefits!

So will you be incorporating mushroom skincare into your routine? We’ll definitely be adding it to our desk drawer and night regime! If there are any other wellness trends that you want us to take a deep-dive into, let us know below.

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