Want A Foolproof Formula For Healthy Skin? Try Fungi
Mushrooms are having a moment. Having been used for centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine, fungi have been steadily infiltrating the beauty market since the early 2000s, recently seeing a boom as a potent, natural powerhouse within body care.
But why this sudden fuss about fungi? We debrief on the benefits, share a mushroom-based shopping list and advise how you can incorporate the shroom boom into your body care routine.
Why Mushrooms Benefit The Skin
The inclusion of mushrooms in skincare can be seen as shorthand for healthier skin thanks to their myriad of skin-boosting agents, including antioxidants (that help fight skin-damaging free radicals), melanin-inhibitors (that can combat pigmentation) as well as beta-glucans and polysaccharides (both of which offer serious hits of hydration).
A number of species of mushrooms - specifically Reishi, Songyi and Cordyceps - are also classified as adaptogens, plant-based, non-toxic ingredients that balance out our skin’s stress response by regulating cortisol (the stress hormone) and inflammation. This helps support the skin’s defense mechanism and promotes resilience, and is particularly helpful in commonly seen skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema.
Top Mushrooms for Skin Benefits
So, which skin-boosting shrooms could be a key addition to your bathroom cabinet? File away the below fungi crib sheet for future reference:
- Songyi: Brightening stress-balancer. Known for its skin brightening, antimicrobial and immune boosting effects.
- Reishi: “The Mushroom of Immortality”. Renowned for its anti-aging, calming and hydrating effects, particularly beneficial for reducing redness and fine lines.
- Chaga: Antioxidant powerhouse. Protects the skin from oxidative stress and supports the production of collagen for healthier, more elastic skin.
- Cordyceps: Ideal glow-getter. Known for boosting skin hydration and vitality, perfect for dull or dry skin.
- Shiitake: Anti-pigmentation partner. Its high kojic acid content brightens and fades dark spots.
- Tremella (Snow Mushroom): Hydration hero. Celebrated for its moisturizing effects (often compared to intensely hydrating hyaluronic acid) and suitability for sensitive skin.
Mushroom Skincare Benefits
Keen to select your ideal mushroom based upon your skin’s needs? Don’t worry, there is fungi for every body care concern.
- When you want to slow down signs of aging: Fungi are adept at fighting free radicals, and can help visible signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines - keep an eye out for Reishi and Chaga in your body care.
- When you want a hydration hit: Mushrooms' high water-binding properties - particularly in the Tremella species - impart lasting moisture into the skin.
- When you need a brightening boost: Mushroom extracts are excellent at improving skin tone and reducing pigmentation. Keep kojic-acid enriched Shiitake and skin-brightening Songyi in mind.
- When you’re keen to start a health-kick for your skin: The beta-glucans present in mushrooms help to repair and reinforce the skin barrier. Songyi, Chaga and Tremella are the ideal shroom-support act for your skin.
- When your skin needs calming and clearing: The ability of mushrooms to reduce redness and irritation make them ideal, natural anti-inflammatories. Reishi and Cordyceps are the best side-kicks for sensitive skin.
Shop the Shroom Boom: How To Incorporate Mushrooms Into Your Body Care Routine
So now you know the potent power of nature’s skin-friendly fungi, meet our mushroom-powered, dream-skin delivering, DAYDREAMER Body Serum.
Our best-selling body firming serum visibly tightens and tones the skin with a potent formulation featuring Songyi mushroom alongside a biomimetic peptide-sapphire complex and prebiotic inulin.
The Debrief Digest
Need a speedy mushroom sum-up? Here’s the digest on skin-friendly fungi:
- Mushrooms make the perfect skincare partner: rich in antioxidants (that help fight skin-damaging free radicals), beta-glucans (for hydration) and melanin-inhibitors (that can combat pigmentation), with many also classified as adaptogens (plant-based, non-toxic ingredients that balance out our skin’s stress response).
- Different strains of fungi offer different effects - variously balancing, brightening, toning and hydrating - so it's important to study your mushrooms before shopping.
- Our DAYDREAMER Body Serum is powered by Songyi mushroom alongside a biomimetic peptide-sapphire complex and prebiotic inulin to visibly tighten, tone and firm your skin.
Thanks for reading our mushroom manifesto. Discover DAYDREAMER Body Serum here, and feel the JOY of fungi.
