How Snow Mushroom Ingredients Help Maintain Healthy Skin

Skin care is a multibillion-dollar industry and is projected to reach a global value of over $189 billion by 2025. People are becoming aware of the impact that many aspects of modern life can have on their skin and are beginning to use skin care products earlier in life to delay visible signs of aging. 

The demand for natural, sustainable, and organic products is also growing tremendously as people learn more about the impact that the things they consume can have on their bodies and on the planet. 

In today’s post, we will take a close look at one ingredient that is fast becoming a hero in the skin care space: snow mushrooms. 

What Are Snow Mushrooms?

Tremella fuciformis, better known as snow mushroom, is a species of fungus that resembles a gelatinous white flower. Native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, snow mushrooms grow widely in places such as Brazil, China, Japan, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. 

Snow mushrooms grow on dead branches in the wild, but they are now also intentionally cultivated due to their many properties and uses in culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic contexts. 

Other names for snow mushrooms you might be familiar with are Silver Ear Mushroom, Silver Jelly Fungus, White Fungus, White Jelly Fungus, and White Tree Fungus. 

What Are the Benefits of Snow Mushrooms for Skin Care?

Snow mushrooms have three primary crucial benefits for skin care: moisturizing effects, anti-aging properties, and skin brightening. 

Experts refer to snow mushrooms as a “moisture magnet” because they moisturize the skin on the surface and also hydrate it from the inside out by pulling moisture deep into it. This effect helps the skin stay moisturized not just immediately after you apply the product but also in the long run. 

The anti-aging effects of snow mushrooms come from their impact on collagen. Collagen, a protein produced naturally by the body, is responsible for keeping skin supple and is also known to slow down the visible effects of aging. Collagen helps fibroblasts to form in your dermis (the middle layer of your skin), helping new cells to grow. It also plays a role in the replacement of dead skin cells, protecting your organs, and helping blood to clot. 

Snow mushrooms themselves do not contain collagen, as this protein is produced only by animal-based biological systems. However, snow mushrooms are rich in polysaccharides, which studies have shown help to stimulate collagen production within the body.[1] There is no such thing as true plant-based collagen; products marketed as such are actually blends of plant-based ingredients that stimulate the body’s own collagen production. 

Finally, snow mushrooms slow down the production of melanin. As a natural pigment, melanin is responsible for blemishes, scars, freckles, and uneven skin tones. No other ingredient is known to inhibit melanin production as effectively as snow mushrooms, making them the best choice for brightening your skin and increasing its fresh, youthful appearance.[2]

Snow mushrooms are high in vitamin D, which has been shown to have impressive healing properties, particularly with regard to the marks left by acne. They also contain vitamins B1, B2, and B6 as well as folate, zinc, potassium calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper. 

Which Is Better: Hyaluronic Acid or Snow Mushroom Extracts?

Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body and is particularly plentiful in young skin. Hyaluronic acid, a sugary, gel-like carbohydrate, is responsible for keeping skin hydrated, as it can hold up to one thousand times its own weight in water. 

The body naturally produces less and less hyaluronic acid as we age, with only half as much being produced at the age of 40 versus the age of 20. As a natural skin moisturizer, hyaluronic acid is what keeps young skin free from the wrinkles, lines, and blemishes typically associated with aging. Pollution, UV radiation from the sun, and smoking can all slow down hyaluronic acid production. 

Hyaluronic acid can also be synthesized; this artificial version is often used in beauty products with hydrating and moisturizing properties. 

Despite the undoubtedly amazing properties of hyaluronic acid, snow mushrooms are even more powerful. When applied topically, snow mushroom extract naturally hydrates the skin and improves its elasticity. Though snow mushrooms hold less water overall than hyaluronic acid (a still-impressive 500 times their own weight), studies have shown they are more effective at improving skin’s water-holding capabilities. This is due to the molecular structure of the snow mushroom active, which is a long-chain polysaccharide that forms a more flexible hydration barrier on the skin. This barrier is less prone to cracking when compared to hyaluronic acid, which makes it more effective at reducing transepidermal water loss.

Morever, there is evidence that high molecular weight polysaccharides like Phytocare can also function as an effective prebiotic, making it a fantastic active for supporting a healthy skin microbiome.  

The verdict is clear: While your body’s ability to produce a substance like hyaluronic acid is incredible, you can only do your skin a favor by using skin care products containing snow mushrooms in addition to relying on this natural process. As you age, hyaluronic acid production naturally slows, and it becomes even more important to choose products with the very best moisturizing capabilities. 

What Applications Are Snow Mushrooms Used In?

As their incredible properties become more widely known, snow mushrooms are appearing in a wide array of skin and beauty products. They are found in numerous face creams, serums, moisturizers, face masks, and more. 

Snow mushrooms are also used in traditional and alternative medicines and as a dietary supplement. They are believed to have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. They are very popular in Chinese cuisine, particularly in soups and sweet dishes. 

Phytocare: Our Snow Mushroom Extract 

PhytoCare is a COSMOS-approved biological active extracted from snow mushrooms. Offering all the hydrating and anti-aging properties of snow mushrooms that we have discussed in this post, it is the ideal ingredient for skin care formulations of all kinds. It also offers superior sensory properties and, as it is sustainably harvested, is a great choice for clean and green beauty products. 

If you would like to learn more about PhytoCare or any of our other beauty and skin care ingredients, please get in touch, and a member of our team will be pleased to advise you. We believe in being generous with samples, so if you would like to try out Phytocare to discover whether it suits your needs, please feel free to request a sample.

Article Sources:

[1] Ma, Xia et al. “A review on the production, structure, bioactivities and applications of Tremella polysaccharides.” International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology vol. 35 (2021): 20587384211000541.

[2] Chiang, Jo-Hua et al. “Tremella fuciformis inhibits melanogenesis in B16F10 cells and promotes migration of human fibroblasts and keratinocytes.” In vivo (Athens, Greece) vol. 36,2 (2022): 713-722.