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There’s a new hydration superhero in the skincare industry.

Although the ingredient has seen a 120% increase in Google searches over the past year, the ‘shroom boom’ is so much more than a skincare trend with a catchy name.

More and more skincare brands are catching onto the plumping, hydrating benefits of the humble mushroom, giving long-standing hydration heroes a run for their money, like hyaluronic acid (HA).

Widely praised (and loved) for its ability to lock in moisture by binding to water molecules in the skin, HA has been the go-to ingredient for those wanting plumper, more hydrated skin since before #skintok was a mere twinkle in the first TikToker’s eye. HA has been top of the range, without much competition, but that all changed with the ‘shroom boom’.

Tipped as the next go-to hydrating ingredient – and very possibly the thing to de-throne HA from its top spot in the skincare industry – mushrooms are proving to be supremely hydrating while also packing some pretty powerful antioxidant effects.

Skin Renewal, industry leaders in the South African skincare business, reckon fungi are pretty darn fabulous and well worth including in your skincare regime.

The ‘M’ in mushroom stands for MOISTURE

Extensive research shows how skincare formulas that contain mushrooms offer your skin soothing, softening and brightening effects. However, it’s the moisturising effects that make this ingredient stand out as much as it does.

The impressive hydrating properties of mushrooms are thanks to the presence of naturally-occurring beta-glucans. Boasting impressive skin-plumping and firming properties, beta-glucans deeply hydrate the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, while also thoroughly supporting the functionality of the skin barrier.

Meet the small but mighty Snow Mushroom

It sounds and looks like something you’d stumble upon in a mystical forest, but the Snow Mushroom has been used as a staple ingredient in Asian medicine and skincare treatments for thousands of years.

Formally known as Tremella Fuciformis, the powerfully hydrating Snow Mushroom is also sometimes referred to as the Silver Ear Mushroom. It holds 500 times its weight in water, making it an extremely effective skin humectant/hydrator, allowing the weird-looking ‘shroom a great deal of respect within skincare circles.

Image: Reddit

The Snow Mushroom attracts and locks water into its own skin by forming a protective barrier to prevent water loss, keeping it nice and juicy. Then, thanks to its small molecular structure, it has the ability to penetrate the deeper layers of our human skin, resulting in longer-lasting hydration and an instantaneous plumping effect. Naturally, this only gets better and better with the regular use of any products containing this diaphanous fungus.

Fun fungi fact: researchers have found that Tremella Fuciformis has better moisture retention than Hyaluronic Acid. HA, take that.

The bonus of using this little fungus is that, while hydration may be your main motivator for giving it a try, it can also calm any skin flare-ups or irritation, and treat hyperpigmentation if you need it.

One of the most attractive benefits of the use of Snow Mushroom in skincare products is that it’s gentle, making it suitable for all skin types – even the most sensitive. So whether you opt to use Snow Mushrooms as an ingredient in your eye cream, toner, serum, moisturiser or even cleanser, you will be well cared for.