Everything You Need to Know About Snow Mushrooms

Tremella mushrooms —  also known as snow fungus, silver ear or by the scientific name, tremella fuciformis — can benefit the skin in a myriad of ways.

With one of the most unique appearances of all of the types of mushroom, there isn’t much chance of confusing a tremella mushroom with the button mushrooms you’ll find in your local supermarkets.

Snow fungus is an apt description of the tremella mushroom, with thin white ruffles making up the majority of the fungus. This type of mushroom also wouldn’t look out of place deep under the water in a coral reef! 

The tremella mushroom is a wild and edible fungus that typically grows in tropical climates on the damp, dead or dying hardwood of trees. You’ll also find them growing in subtropical climates as well as tropical, in locations such as South, Central and parts of North America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

While mushrooms as a whole have played a role in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years, the snow fungus has been hailed as a wonder skincare ingredient since the Tang dynasty of China (618 – 907 AD). One of the four beauties of ancient China, Yang Guifei, is said to have maintained her flawless complexion and youthful skin by using tremella mushrooms. 

Discover how this jellyfish-like mushroom can benefit your skin.

By now, most of us know how important collagen is to our skin. A protein that is responsible for your bones, hair, muscles and skin, collagen helps to keep the skin hydrated, firm and plump. 

Tremella mushrooms have been found to increase type 1 collagen – which is by far the most abundant type of collagen in the body. This helps to provide structure to the skin, preventing it from sagging.

When it comes to skin hydration, preventing water loss is essential. Adding hydration is a must, but that’s not much use if your skin can’t hold onto the moisture that’s been added. 

Tremella mushrooms help to lock in your skin’s moisture by protecting the skin’s natural barrier. The ruffled mushroom is able to prevent water loss from the skin as the polysaccharides in the mushroom form a flexible film on the skin. This film helps to lock in moisture, smooth the skin’s appearance and make it more elastic.

Antioxidants help to prevent free radicals causing damage to your skin cells by binding to free radicals.

Persistent free radical damage in the body accumulates over time, and can cause a range of issues such as dryness, uneven pigmentation, wrinkles and lines, sagging, age spots, broken blood vessels and crepey skin. The antioxidant effects of tremella mushrooms can help to reduce this damage caused by excessive free radicals in the body.

Skin inflammation can be caused by allergens, irritants or existing medical conditions, and is considered an immune response. This often materialises as redness, itching, swelling, dryness or pain and can be uncomfortable to deal with. 

Some skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea and acne can lead to persistent inflammation and troublesome skin. That’s why many people opt for skin care with anti-inflammatory benefits, or ensure their diet is as anti-inflammatory as possible. 

Tremella mushrooms have been found to possess anti-inflammatory properties, and may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

The snow fungus is a wonderful natural moisturising agent, drawing moisture to the skin in a similar way to hyaluronic acid.  Helping to maintain the skin’s natural barrier and maintain skin health, the tremella mushroom is able to hold almost 500 times its weight in water, providing your skin with a huge hit of hydration.

A recent study found that a certain concentration of tremella fuciformis polysaccharides can effectively alleviate skin damage caused by uva.

While snow fungus can reduce the impact of UVA damage on the skin.

Tremella mushrooms alone aren’t going to provide your skin with all of the nourishment and protection it needs, so pairing them with our Hydrating & Remodelling serums is a must.