Mushrooms in Skincare: Reishi & Shiitake as Cosmeceuticals
An educational overview of how fungi — particularly Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) — are used in the cosmetics industry as cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics. Covers beta-glucan moisturization, antioxidant anti-aging mechanisms, skin-whitening compounds (kojic acid, arbutin), and how fungal extracts are being integrated into modern dermatology-grade skincare products.
Source Research Papers
Citations in APA 7 format. All studies were sourced from peer-reviewed journals via Google Scholar. Unfamiliar terms? See the plain-language glossary →
Hyde, K. D., Bahkali, A. H., & Moslem, M. A. (2010). Fungi—an unusual source for cosmetics. Fungal Diversity, 43, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13225-010-0043-3
A survey of mushrooms used in skincare and cosmetics and the compounds behind claims like skin-brightening and anti-aging.
Wachtel-Galor, S., Yuen, J., Buswell, J. A., & Benzie, I. F. F. (2011). Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi or Reishi): A medicinal mushroom. In Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects (2nd ed.). CRC Press.
The go-to scientific reference on Reishi — its biology, compounds, and immune and cancer-support evidence — while honestly flagging rare cases of liver toxicity from concentrated powders.
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