Are You Eating Your Snow Mushrooms?

The skincare magic 'Word Of The Year' is (drum rolls, please): Snow Mushrooms. You may have seen videos of a white, gelatinous, flowery-looking plant trending on your social media lately. The snow mushroom is a powerful plant that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and food for thousands of years.

The snow mushroom, also known as Silver Ear, is known to be cooked in a Chinese soup recipe and as being incredibly hydrating in nature. And while it has been a hero ingredient in beauty products for quite some time, it wasn’t until 2021 that the world began turning its attention towards the original source; a mushroom known as Tremella Fuciformis. By 2024, every skin and beauty influencer was seen talking about it being the collagen and hyaluronic acid of plant-medicine and holistic wellness.

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Well known beauty and wellness influencers such as Ava Lee have previously shared their inclination towards the ingredient, not only in skincare, but as a nutritious food item as well.

What Makes The Snow Mushroom So Beneficial For The Skin?

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the snow mushroom is defined as a Yin tonic (ingredients that are nourishing to the body) and is prescribed to enhance fluids in the body, tonify the stomach. Modern medicine recognises the plant’s dense vitamin and mineral composition. “Snow mushrooms help the skin to produce more collagen (a protein that keeps skin youthful by maintaining skin elasticity). They’re also an ideal ingredient for people who have dull skin. As they’re a great source of kojic acid, the Tremella Fuciformis can help lighten dark spots, hyperpigmentation and even out skin tone,” says Delhi-based dermatologist Dr. Nirupama Parwanda.

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Shegoes on to explain why the mushroom is considered so viable as a skin hydration tool. “They are great for keeping the skin hydrated because of its large molecular weight.” 

Modern medicine identifies Tremella Fuciformis to be rich in vitamin D, amino acids, minerals, and polysaccharides, nutrients that are incredibly beneficial for the skin. And it is quickly becoming an even more popular topical ingredient in skincare.

What Kind Of Skincare Products You Can Find It In?

Products such as the Thayers Natural Remedies Milky Hydrating Face Toner with Snow Mushroom and Hyaluronic Acid, Eminence Organic Skin Care Snow Mushroom Moisture Cloud Eye Cream, Herbivore Botanicals’ Cloud Jelly Plumping Hydration Serum and Botanics Pure Botanicals Snow Mushroom Concentrated Serum are well known skincare essentials with snow mushrooms as an ingredient.

So, if you’re looking for a herbal or plant-based alternative to collagen, or hyaluronic acid, then perhaps adding the snow mushroom to your diet can be the solution. But make sure you consult a healthcare professional before you start consuming it and that you’re sourcing it from an authentic seller or business.