Forget foraging for fungi – here are ten of the best mushroom-filled beauty buys
Mushrooms have become quite the staple in beauty products recently. Going from woodland-nobody to earning their place as an absolute skin saviour, everyone is using them. Literally. From holistic healers to Kim K to Goop (as tea), we want in. So what is it about mushrooms that has everyone so obsessed?
Packed with intense nutritional and medicinal qualities, mushrooms are used for their plethora of benefits. You’ll find them in superfood supplements in the form of pills and powders with the promise of “increased energy, improved muscle recovery, immune support” depending on the variety, in traditional Chinese healing practices, and now they’re in our everyday skincare.
Some fungi – reishi, chaga, lion’s mane, and cordyceps for example – have high antioxidant properties and are Vitamin D dense, which reduces inflammation, and are therefore added to creams and lotions to give us glowing, healthy skin. Others like shiitake, maitake, and agaricus sylvaticus produce active ingredients so potent that they are used in strong antibiotics and, arguably, cancer treatment.
Shiitake, reishi, portobello, or chaga, we’ll take them all. Here are our top ten fungal finds to add to your beauty routine.
ALUMIER MD – ALUMINEYE
Tremella mushroom extract is the main ingredient in this luxury eye cream. Extracted from silver ear mushrooms, this antioxidant has immense water-holding capabilities meaning it will hydrate and moisturise the delicate area around your eyes. The cream’s high concentration of peptides and vitamins help lighten the appearance of dark under eyes, smooth out fine lines and soothe puffiness.
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DR ANDREW WEIL FOR ORIGINS – MEGA-MUSHROOM RELIEF & RESILIENCE SOOTHING TREATMENT LOTION
Made with three types of mushrooms – reishi, chaga, and coprinus – this water-like lotion is formulated to soothe, calm, and hydrate sensitive skin. This mushroom-strong, alcohol-free, pH balanced, formula also includes probiotics that will leave your skin happy. Pour into your hand and pat onto the skin just after cleansing to prep the skin for your next skincare steps.
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VOLITION – SNOW MUSHROOM WATER SERUM
Snow Mushroom, this serum’s hero ingredient, provides long-term hydration and encourages moisture retention. Expect smaller-looking pores, decreased redness, and a more even skin tone after use. Perfect for dry skin types, this blend of hydrating components is potent, so you only need a pea-sized amount. This serum will have your skin looking brighter and healthier in no time.
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MOON JUICE BEAUTY – SHROOM PLUMPING JELLY
This intense serum plumps, lifts, and smooths the face. The light, jelly-like formula combines reishi mushroom, an anti-inflammatory, and silver ear mushroom, a hydrator, to lock in moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines. It’s also adaptogenic meaning it contains natural herbs which stabilise the skin and protect from daily oxidative stress. Use on the lips too for extra plumping goodness.
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STARSKIN – SILKMUD GREEN TEA CLAY ANTI-AGING SHEET MASK
This mask is drenched in skin-nourishing ingredients: Kaolin clay and bentonite which provide the benefits of a mud mask with the ease of a sheet mask. Green tea extract and tremella mushroom are mixed in to ensure maximum plumpness post-masking. After 20 minutes, the mask will harden and when removed, stubborn impurities in your pores will be too.
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LUSH – FULL OF GRACE NAKED FACE OIL
This solid face serum uses a blend of natural oils and Portobello mushrooms to create the ultimate protecting and conditioning product. Warm it up in your palm or directly swipe the bar over your dry face, letting it melt and penetrate into the skin. Its gentle formula will soothe redness let your skin breathe, without leaving a greasy residue.
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YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE – ADAPTOGEN DEEP MOISTURISING CREAM
This moisturiser contains adaptogenic herbs – ashwagandha and rhodiola – and reishi mushrooms which calm skin exposed to the stress of UV rays and external pollutants. It also has peptide complexes that calm irritated skin. An intense hydrator, this cream can be used by all, but is particularly suited to dry, sensitive skin types. No scent, no nasties, just a simple restorative cream.
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THE PLANT BASE – TIME STOP COLLAGEN AMPOULE
With an intense 76 per cent base of mushroom extract (hericium erinaceum to be exact), this serum sells out every time. Its high concentration stimulates collagen production and reduces the appearance of fine lines, along with aloe and macadamia seed oil which soothe, hydrate and firm the skin. The more-shroom the better.
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REN – EVERCALM ULTRA COMFORTING RESCUE MASK
White mushroom extract – albarellus ovinus – is used in this mask to fight discomfort. Formulated with extremely sensitive skin in mind, this mask will strengthen the moisture barrier and promote overall recovery. Apply generously and leave on for just 10 minutes. Irritation will be a thing of the past.
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MIGUEL MATEAS – DAY FORMULA ADVANCED NUTRITIONAL COMPLEX
With this reishi mushroom-infused supplement, you can heal your skin and hair from the inside out. With a 100 per cent natural blend of bilberry, pomegranate, cordyceps, maitake and reishi mushrooms, this formula will provide your body with the ingredients to maintain glowing skin and hair, and will also reduce tiredness and fatigue. Suitable for vegans and also wheat, dairy and yeast free, it’s the perfect natural pick-me-up.
Get it here.