What is snow mushroom? The hot new skincare ingredient packed full of hydrating benefits
While some may flinch at the sight of a rogue mushroom on their pizza, mushroom lovers now have another reason to back this polarising veggie – it’s the latest and greatest ingredient to take the skincare world by storm. We’re not talking about any garden variety fungus, though, but rather the magical-sounding snow mushroom.
Used in ancient Chinese medicine since as early as 700 A.D., snow mushroom could be the key to better hydration and a glowy complexion for those experiencing dryness or looking for an anti-ageing effect. Does this sound like you? Well, perhaps it’s time to put that mushroom aversion aside (or if you’re a fungi lover already, lean right in) and add this revolutionary ingredient to your routine…
What is snow mushroom?
A prominent feature in Chinese cuisine and Eastern medicine, snow mushroom is a gelatinous white fungus also known by the scientific name tremella fuciformis. It is also occasionally referred to as silver ear mushroom. While its benefits are only a recent-ish discovery when it comes to mainstream skincare, Asian cultures have been reaping the rewards of snow mushroom in their diets and in natural healing therapies since the Tang dynasty. In fact, Yang Guifei, a renowned Chinese beauty who was around in the eighth century A.D., or the 700s, claimed it was the key to her youthful appearance.
How does snow mushroom benefit the skin?
There are a couple of things that make this little mushroom magic for your complexion – but easily the most prominent is its ability to draw and bind moisture to the skin. It works similarly to another skincare favourite, hyaluronic acid (HA), which can hold a whopping 1,000 times its weight in water. While snow mushroom can only carry about half of the amount of water that hyaluronic acid can, this is a pretty impressive feat for a completely natural ingredient. Plus, the smaller polysaccharide molecules present in snow mushrooms can help moisture to penetrate the skin more effectively, delivering moisture to deeper layers of your complexion. Then, snow mushroom works hard to bind all of this moisture to the skin, leaving your skin bouncier, fuller, and nourished for longer. It’s practically a masterclass in how to hydrate your skin the natural way.
Another perk of snow mushroom is its protective effect, which is due to all of the antioxidant goodness present within this unassuming veggie – mushrooms are an amazing source of vitamins A, C, and D, all of which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The main benefit here is that antioxidants are excellent at protecting the skin from free radicals and any ensuing damage they may cause. Free radicals are present almost everywhere in the outside world, including in the air from pollutants and in the foods that we eat. If our skin is adequately protected (hopefully through the one-two punch of a killer sunscreen and some antioxidants), we sidestep this damage and consequently prolong fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. This is ideal if you’re looking to combat the physical signs of ageing.
Lastly, snow mushrooms have anti-inflammatory properties through this potent cocktail of vitamins, meaning they are great at soothing angry, red, or tired skin, and will give the skin’s immune system a little boost in the process. This makes them a must-use ingredient if you experience dryness paired with sensitivity or cystic acne. While snow mushroom-based products won’t target the source of such skin issues without the addition of other active ingredients, what they will do is keep your skin feeling calm, nourished, and less inflamed.
Who is snow mushroom skincare for?
Considering all the incredible ways snow mushroom can improve the skin, you’d be crazy not to add it into your routine – and the good news is, all skin types can get in on the action. As a natural ingredient, snow mushroom or tremella fuciformis is gentle enough not to negatively affect any skin type, including sensitive or acne-prone skin. However, dry, mature, and dull skin types will definitely have the most fun…gus (we’re sorry). This is because these skin types need maximum hydration to appear smoother, more supple, brighter, and more nourished overall. If you have oily skin, don’t be fooled by snow mushroom’s moisturising properties, either – often, an overproduction of oil can actually signal dehydration in the skin’s deeper layers, so hydrating skincare is a must to restore the moisture barrier.
Using the Remake I Want My-Celium Moisture Mask
If you spend a lot of time on skincare TikTok, you’ll know that snow mushroom is a huge up-and-comer in the industry right now. So, it’s no surprise that this amazing snow fungus is present in a bunch of different products and formulas that have all hit the market in recent years. Amongst all of the cleansers and creams, though, our absolute favourite way to enjoy this ingredient is a snow mushroom mask – enter the I Want My-Celium Moisture Mask by us, Remake! Designed for prime skin hydration that penetrates way down into the skin’s deepest layers, I Want My-Celium blends snow mushroom with hyaluronic acid (HA) for your juiciest, smoothest, and glowiest complexion yet. If baby soft ‘glass skin’ is what you’re after, then this is the number one mask to have in your skincare cupboard.
Simply apply to clean, dry skin after cleansing and toning, and leave for 10 minutes or more – we love leaving this product on overnight for max nourishment. Then, when your time’s up, no need to rinse off. Instead, massage in any excess moisture to give the skin a final hit of hydration. Use once a week or as needed for supremely glowy skin.
Shop the I Want My-Celium Moisture Mask and more sustainable, vegan, and cruelty-free products by Remake today, and give your skincare routine the minimalist revamp it needs.