Why are mushrooms finding their way into beauty and wellness products?

Turns out they are better for more than just your pasta

It might seem hard to believe but mushrooms are an extremely versatile type of fungi. They are a mainstay in most cuisines from Italian to Asian, they are also of the illegal kind that gets you high, the kinds used for medicinal purposes and now, their inclusion in beauty and wellness products. While it is a given that they taste good and are good for your internal health, brands around the world now claim that they’re good for your skin too. Is this yet another trend or is the ingredient here to claim its stake in the beauty-verse? We spoke to a celebrity skin expert and three beauty and wellness brand founders to find out more.

What’s the real deal with mushrooms?

The increasing use of shrooms in your skincare and wellness products is thanks to the antioxidants they contain and their anti-inflammatory properties. “Mushrooms were originally used for their skin-lightening benefits in the form of kojic acid from shiitake mushrooms,” explains Dr Harshna Bijlani, celebrity skin expert and medical head, The AgeLess Clinic. “Due to their antioxidant properties, the fungi can also help reduce irritation and inflammation.” She lists shiitake, reishi and chaga mushrooms as some of the most beneficial for skincare and wellness. “Shiitake and oyster mushrooms protect your skin cells against oxidative stress. Reishi is high in antioxidants, which are crucial for protecting skin from the ageing effects of oxidative stress, thus contributing to a healthy complexion.”

The next big beauty and wellness ingredient?

“The interest in plant-based ingredients is forcing a deeper discovery into non-chemical counterparts that are just as effective,” says Bijlani, about the rise in the fungi’s popularity. “They have been used in traditional Chinese medicines for years now. Over time, there have been many scientific studies and clinical trials that have confirmed the health benefits of mushrooms. Additionally, as the knowledge of their internal benefits began to add up, researchers also uncovered their topical benefits: hydration, wound healing, antioxidant protection, anti-aging, redness reduction, soothing, nourishing and skin brightening.”

According to Bijlani, while eating mushrooms has its pluses on the health front, the ingredient is best used topically to visually experience its skincare benefits. Linda Wang, founder of Karuna, a California-based skincare brand, adds, “With wellness and self-care being such a focus lately, I think we’re all more aware of the types of things we want to put on–and into–our bodies to keep them strong and thriving something that mushrooms are excellent at.” Adaptogenic mushrooms are a key component of Karuna’s product formulations, especially black hoof mushrooms. “The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are so important in upping the skin’s natural defences against the environmental stressors we expose ourselves to daily. I love them topically for the soothing, defensive support but as a supplement, they can help ease inflammation which is the cause of many skincare concerns you may not have associated with internal health.”

Wild-foraged Chaga mushrooms, for example, are considered to be one of the most potent melanin supplements, protecting you from UV damage and improving visible sunspots from the inside. “The use of mushrooms by our ancestors predates most religions, so it’s more of a rediscovery than a brand new health trend,” says Brandon Mizrahie, founder of Renude, a health-boosting beverage brand. Their Chagaccino is a mushroom and adaptogen-based powder supplement meant to elevate your everyday coffee with skin and health benefits and is available as an add-on at cafes across Los Angeles and New York. “Chaga mushrooms have the highest antioxidants ever measured for your immune system. It is one of the most alkaline foods on the planet for your pH levels and health, has the highest melanin levels for beauty and highest superoxide dismutase for longevity, with more potassium than a banana. It's nature’s upgraded version of a multivitamin.”

Mushrooms in topical skincare

The fungi is often found in topical products like cleansers and serums to hydrate and soothe skin, improving its barrier function. DamDam, a Japanese clean skincare brand incorporated snow mushrooms in their new cleansing bar called the Snow Mushroom Salt Cleanser. Here’s how it works: “We love snow mushrooms for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties which work so well with salt, the only other key ingredient in it, tasked to lift impurities. The cleanser is applied topically (and rinsed off) and the salt works to detox and cleanse. The Snow Mushroom—with its ability to hold 400x its weight in water—comes in to deeply hydrate, soothe and strengthen the moisture barrier to maintain skin health,” says Giselle Go, founder of the brand.

“As the world continues to move towards more organic products and vegan beauty trends, there will soon come a time when you’d find mushrooms in almost all your skincare products, including your sunscreen,” says Bijlani. From the looks of it, the possibility is very real.

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