Mushrooms Are Going To Be Unavoidable In 2023 Skincare

Mushrooms have graced health food stores and have been touted by alternative medicine practitioners for many years. For centuries before then, they were used by ancient healers, including Hippocrates himself (via Integrative Medicine). If you're looking for mental clarity and focus, reach for lion's mane. Need an immune boost? Try reishi. In desperate need of more energy? Cordyceps is the mushroom for you, according to RealMushrooms. It's no surprise, then, that medicinal mushroom, also known as adaptogens, have now made their way into the world of skincare.

Way back in 2005, early adopters like well-known skincare brand Origins were integrating mushrooms into their products, including the brand's now iconic Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion. Today, mushroom-based skincare products are everywhere. This is especially true since the COVID-19 pandemic forced nearly everyone to turn inward and assess their own health in well-being over the past three years. Here's everything you need to know about the relationship between mushrooms and skincare. 

Reishi mushrooms, also known as lingzhi or Ganoderma lucidum, are known for their soothing properties. When ingested, they provide a calming effect that can be similar to melatonin for aiding in sleep. When applied to the skin, this soothing effect takes the form of easing redness, irritation, and inflammation. If you suffer from rosacea, acne, atopic dermatitis, eczema, or any other disorder that causes routine skin redness, swelling, inflammation, or irritation, reishi is the active ingredient you should look for when shopping for mushroom skincare products (via Medical Xpress).

Reishi mushrooms also contain glucose molecules that attract water and draw hydration into your skin, especially with combined with other water-binding molecules like hyaluronic acid. Paired with reishi's amino acids to boost cellular repair, you're bound to see a major difference in the condition of your troubled skin. If you're convinced that reishi is the mushroom for your skin, consider trying Doll 10's Skin Genius Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum with Reishi Mushroom. 

Tremella mushrooms, also commonly known as snow mushrooms, are the MVP when it comes to hydration. These shrooms contain a natural supply of hyaluronic acid in addition to natural oils that work as a deep conditioning treatment for skin. A tremella can hold an astonishing 500 hundred times its own weight in water, according to Mushroom Revival. If you suffer from chronically dry skin or acne-prone skin that responds to harsh and drying acne treatments by over-producing sebum and oil, tremella is your mushroom.

In addition to qualifying as a hydration powerhouse, tremella is known to stimulate collagen production in the human body. Collagen can help to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines, and scarring while also promoting plump, elastic, and healthier-looking skin. If a deep hydration and plumping collagen boost sound like exactly what the doctor ordered for your skin, give a simple product like Daymellow Snow Mushroom Real Soothing Gel a try. 

Lion's mane is known for stimulating the mind and improving mental health when eaten. These mystical mushrooms also contain hericenones and erinacines, which are known as potent antioxidants. Antioxidants are the key to protecting your skin from free radicals. Free radicals are atoms that damage the cells, proteins, and DNA of the skin, potentially in the form of cancer, as explained by the National Cancer Institute. Free radical damage is also known to contribute to premature aging.

Lion's mane has also been found to promote faster healing of skin wounds. If you suffer from issues like chronic skin picking or acne or just want to prevent damage to your skin before it's too late, lion's mane is the mushroom you're looking for. Consider shopping for a high-quality lion's ane tincture like Cure Mushrooms Organic Lion's Mane Tincture, as this is one mushroom that best treats your skin from within. 

Mycelium refers to the web-like root system of mushrooms. This thick, fibrous substance contains many of the same beneficial compounds as flowered mushrooms, but can be grown nearly anywhere in a wide variety of climates. Mycelium can also be used to create environmentally friendly, biodegradable packaging for skincare products. Beyond just packaging, this magical natural resource can also be used to make greener building materials, biodegradable clothing, vegan meat substitutes, and compostable medical products (via the World Economic Forum).

When it comes to skincare, a mycelium blend is a great place to start your journey into the mushroom skincare world. A mycelium product will offer many of the same benefits that all mushrooms have in common, such as general hydration and anti-inflammatory properties. If you're seeking your first mycelium skin product because you feel a little intimated by all the different mushroom choices on the market, look no further than mycelium and vitamin C powerhouse serum Shroom Skincare Mycelium Glow. 

For the most part, mushrooms are amazing natural medicines, whether ingested or applied topically. However, proceed with caution if you're someone who suffers from food allergies or intolerances. When grown for the purpose of creating supplements or skincare products, mushrooms are often grown on wheat, rye, oat, or rice grains, as reported by The Celiac Scene. If you are sensitive to any of these grains or suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance, you may want to steer clear of mushroom trends.

While mushrooms don't technically contain any grains or gluten, there are many reports online of people experiencing reactions from them. Since intolerances can range from very mild to very severe, it's best to know that the risk is there before deciding whether or not to go through with trying a new mushroom skincare product. If you're intent on jumping on the mushroom bandwagon regardless of your grain intolerance, search for locally made products that use verifiably wild-grown mushrooms or source mushrooms yourself and make your own.

Ultimately, mushrooms are booming, and not just because they're a great source of nutrients in vegan and vegetarian diets. Now, they're taking over skincare products, and as we've seen here with all of their benefits, it's for good reason. Will you be giving mushroom skincare products a try?