As more and more natural beauty trends pop up, we’re met with a host of tantalizing ingredients that amp up the quality of our skincare products. Many of these ingredients were commonly believed to belong solely to the plate. However, modern skincare trends are freeing these superfood friends from the confines of the kitchen and bringing them to serums, face masks, skin creams and more. One of these superstar ingredients is the well-known mushroom.
Skincare With Mushrooms
Skincare with mushrooms isn’t a new concept. Mushrooms have been used in Chinese medicine and beauty practices for thousands of years. Due to the wide variety and versatility of mushrooms, they bring a great deal of benefits to the tables of beauty routines everywhere.
Mushrooms are known for their soothing and nourishing effects to the skin. Providing moisture and a supple touch, some varieties of mushrooms are a must-have ingredient for many skincare products. One variety of mushrooms commonly known as the Snow Fungus, is packed with a superior ability to retain moisture in the skin. The Snow Fungus even retains more moisture than hyaluronic acid.
The Mushroom’s Adaptive Influence
One of the keys to the mushroom’s popularity in the beauty industry lies in the concept of adaptogens. An adaptogen is something that helps the body to adapt to changes in a physical or emotional state. Mushrooms are adaptogens, so they assist the skin in adapting to ever changing environmental conditions.
One common changing condition that affects the skin is the body’s stress level. The skin is a clear and evident way to measure an individual’s stress levels. When someone is stressed, their skin reacts through inflammatory responses which causes early signs of aging and hormonal disruptions. Being adaptogens, mushrooms play a great role in helping the body to minimize the skin’s response to stress. In times of stress, mushrooms also properly distribute active ingredients that are found in serums, masks and lotions to where the skin needs them the most.
Specific Varieties in Skincare Routines
While mushrooms are a great addition to skincare, not just any mushroom will do. Dr. Lamees Hamdan, founder of Shiffa, refers to different varieties of mushrooms as having different properties. Finding the right variety with the right property for your skincare needs is imperative to getting the most out of mushrooms in your skincare routines. Dr. Hamda also recommends finding products that use a blend of at least 3 different mushrooms.
The Snow Fungus
We briefly touched on the hydrating properties of the Snow Fungus mushroom. Looking more in-depth at this intriguing variety, we find that the Snow Fungus does more than simply provide moisture to the skin. The Snow Fungus mushroom holds up to 500x its weight in water. When coupled with other hydrating ingredients, the Snow Fungus works to maintain the hydration provided to the skin. In fact, this intricate mushroom forms a naturally flexible and supple film over the skin’s surface which helps to trap water and prevent it from escaping, helping it maintain a hydrated state.
The Snow Fungus mushroom variety also assists in collagen production, ultimately improving skin elasticity and strength. The antioxidant properties of the Snow Fungus help to stabilize the damaging effects of free radicals, encouraging healthy skin renewal. This ultimately delays visible signs of aging such as wrinkles.
Reishi Mushroom
An incredibly rare variety that was once set aside for emperors and emperesses, the Reishi mushroom is known for it’s positive effects on longevity. In skincare, the Reishi variety works to help regenerate skin cells and combat inflammation. As old skin cells die, new ones are revealed on the surface, helping the skin to have a youthful and vibrant glow. This process is known as skin cell turnover and it, unfortunately, take some time. By boosting the speed of the turnover of skin cells, the Reishi mushroom helps the skin to achieve a brighter and better complexion in a shorter amount of time.
The Reishi’s anti-inflammatory properties also work to protect the skin from environmental stresses such as pollution, blue light and UV rays. It’s anti-inflammatory properties don’t stop at simply protecting the skin from external stressors, this rare variety also works to protect the skin from internal stressors such as emotional fatigue and stress. The Reishi regulate levels of cortisol in the body, lessening inflammation and helping skin to remain smooth.
Achieve Beautiful Skin with Mushrooms
There are many more varieties of mushrooms that offer healing properties to the skin. Finding these varieties with a reputable skincare brand is important in order to achieve the skin of your dreams. However you choose to navigate this fascinating terrain of skincare with mushrooms, make sure to use a reliable and trusted skincare company. With serums, face masks and lotions packed with the fantastic properties of mushrooms, you’ll realize beautiful and youthful skin.