If you stay well versed in the ever-evolving buzz ingredients in skincare, you may have noticed an unusual but familiar fungus popping up everywhere you look.
Mushrooms have been tipped as one of this year’s biggest trends for their superfood and adaptogenic powers. At Cult Beauty alone, searches for mushroom skincare are up 320 per cent year on year, while snow mushroom is up 243 per cent and reishi - nicknamed the ‘mushroom of immortality’ in Ancient Chinese literature - increased by a whopping 3000 per cent. This may be in part due to the Netflix documentary Fantastic Fungi that put the spore on the centre stage and revealed its magical properties - but they have actually been used in Eastern cultures for centuries due to the immunity-boosting action.
The recent influx in the use of shrooms makes sense when you break it down. In particular, reishi mushrooms have many benefits for the complexion that include their calming effect. Due to the beta-glucans content, which are natural sugars, they can soothe itchy and irritated skin. For this same reason, the ingredient works as an anti-inflammatory which reduces redness for blemishes, acne and minimises puffiness. The fungi are also antioxidants to protect against free radical damage and hydrates the skin too, improving the look of fine lines and wrinkles. While Lion’s Mane has anti-microbial properties and encourages healing. They are also rich in B vitamins to improve skin tone, add radiance and balance natural oil.
Tero Isokauppila, author of Healing Mushrooms, founder of Four Sigmatic and all-round natural health expert explains: "Mushrooms have been around for thousands of years and form a fungi kingdom similar to plants and animals. There are millions of mushrooms in the world. We only use around 10 of them and we’ve chosen the ones with the most research and functional benefits like Reishi, Chaga and Lion’s Mane.
“All of the functional mushrooms are known to help with immune support and hormonal balance, which are more important than ever in current times with plenty of stressors to the body. More specifically, Reishi is known to combat stress and help with sleep whereas Chaga has one of the most antioxidants of any food on the planet, which is why people use it to help with their everyday immunity. Lion’s Mane has become the best-selling mushroom in the United States because of its support for brain health and focus."
Who should be using mushroom skincare?
"Functional mushrooms like Chaga and Reishi are adaptogens,” Tero furthers. “They are tonic meaning they are safe to use and can be taken anytime of the day as they are not stimulants. Functional mushrooms are generally recommended for daily use to anyone over the age of five but we recommend consulting a health practitioner before using them. Everyone could do with some help with their everyday immunity and stress - and mushrooms are one of the best foods out there to help with that, without any side effects."
Incorporate the supercharged ingredient into your beauty cabinet with the best mushroom skincare below.
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Dr Weil for Origins Mega Mushroom Treatment Lotion
With Origins’ cult Mega Mushroom Treatment Lotion, one is sold every eight seconds - and if that’s not a testament to its nourishing powers, we don’t know what is.
The product has been upgraded with the help of Integrative Medicine expert Dr Andrew Weil to create an even more advanced formulations that includes Adaptogenic Licorice Root with Glycyrrhetinic Acid. This ups the ante for your skin, strengthening its own defences against environmental aggressors.
It is also packed with more reishi mushrooms than ever before - 10 times in fact - as well as sea buckthorn and fermented Chaga that calm irritation, reduce redness and leaves skin hydrated, healthy and happy.
Buy now £32.00, Origins
Keys Soulcare Nourishing Cleansing Balm
The Keys Soulcare Nourishing Cleansing Balm transforms from an oil to a milk when applied onto the skin. It melts makeup, dirt and impurities from the day with a stellar cocktail of niacinamide, zinc PCA and snow mushroom. At the same time, it works to even out skin and bring luminosity to dull complexions.
The brand’s The Promise Serum (£25) also contains the same combination and is great for blemish-prone skin.
Buy now £30.00, Harrods
MZ Skin Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
This serum is packed with reishi and snow mushrooms to reap their anti-inflammatory rewards. Snow mushroom has moisturising properties and boosts our natural collagen production, while reishi hydrated and detoxifies. They are combined with hyaluronic acid complex and penthenol (a plant-derived form of Vitamin B5) in order to pack even more hydrating properties into the skin.
Buy now £110.00, Harvey Nichols
Kora Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil
Harness the power of shrooms with Miranda Kerr’s Kora Organics Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil. The dual-action formulation removes dirt and grime from the day, while injecting fatty acids to nourish and hydrate your complexion. Silver ear and snow mushroom help to revive stressed out skin.
Buy now £36.00, Space NK
MARA Chlorella + Reishi Sea Vitamin C Serum
Make (mush)room in your skincare routine for this supercharged serum from MARA. It contains the powerhouse combination of vitamin C with herbs and marine botanicals for that glow-from-within look. The label’s proprietary algae blend takes a starring role and is rich in omegas 3, 6 and 9 to protect against free radical damage. Reishi mushroom is included for its ability to soothe sensitivity and redness so this product can be used by all skin types. It’s hypoallergenic, vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free and alcohol-free.
Buy now £88.00, Revolve
Biossance Squalane and Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum 30ml
Biossance is renowned for its signature use of squalane, an heavy-hitting ingredient that mimics the hydrating oils that are naturally found in the body. In this must-have serum, it is souped up by the addition of a white shiitake mushroom blend to tackle dark spots and correct discoloration. The vitamin C does its thing to give a radiant complexion.
Buy now £48.00, Cult Beauty
Q+A Zinc PCA Facial Serum
Q+A specalises in no-nonsense skincare that keep the ingredient line-up minimal and efficacious - all at an affordable price tag. The Zinc PCA Facial Serum is one of the bestsellers and contains just four ingredients. Zinc PCA controls and balances oil, while reishi and shiitake mushrooms soothe inflammation, minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and strengthens the skin’s barrier. The specific white shiitake used is known and loved for its ability to fade dark spots and brighten.
It’s 99 per cent natural and vegan and is ideal for those with oily, stressed or normal skin types.
Buy now £9.00, Amazon
Pacifica Wake Up Beautiful Retinoid Serum
The Wake Up Beautiful collection from vegan skincare label Pacifica puts adaptogenic mushrooms in a starring role. The range which includes the Dream Jelly Face Wash (£16), Overnight Retinoid Cream (£25) and Retinoid Eye Cream (£18) combines high-performance ingredients to combat fine lines and wrinkles. Alongside the fungi is melatonin, retinoid and quinoa for an advanced hit of youthfulness.
Our favourite - the Retinoid Serum - works double duty to give age-defying effects, while giving your complexion a radiance boost. It is lightweight and can be easily incoporated into your evening routine. Just add a couple of drops after cleansing and leave overnight to maximise its benefits. While retinol in the past may have been drying, this hydrates at the same time to prevent any down time.
Buy now £22.00, Cult Beauty
REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask 50ml
When your skin is in need for a comforting refresh, hit the reset button with this mask from REN Clean Skincare. Sensitives, sun exposure and stress can melt away with the soothing powers of white mushroom extract. The ingredient brings the moisture, calms inflammation and leaves your skin feeling silky soft.
Buy now £40.00, Cult Beauty
