Mushrooms for Skincare!
To say we went down the mushroom rabbit hole may be an understatement. But how could you blame us? Mushrooms have long been known as a superfood not to mention mushrooms' medicinal benefits, but what if fungi’s are the future of wellness, and skincare, and more??? I mean you do know where penicillin comes from riiiggghttt?? You’ve heard of biodegradable mushroom packaging, and the mushrooms that can eat plastics? We are here for it all - especially the skincare!
Hopefully you saw our recent blog on our 6 new Flora + Fauna tinctures , all packed with various medicinal mushrooms, each created to support your system during different times of need, if not go check it out!
Today we’re continuing the mushlove and sharing our new Matcha & Mushroom Mask , why we think you should put mushrooms on your face, how it can benefit your skin, from the outside in AND the inside out. (p.s - just like you wouldn’t eat a mushroom you don’t know, please don’t put mushrooms on your face that you don’t know.)
“ Mushrooms incorporated into skincare products can offer benefits by helping to brighten and hydrate the skin—some types of mushrooms may also have antioxidant benefits. ”
Matcha & Mushroom Mask
This mask is rich with antioxidants to help fight off free radicals at the surface level. The blend of mushrooms helps to soothe, regenerate, and heal skin. Matcha is high in catechins which are powerful antioxidants while also being anti-inflammatory. Even if you aren’t new to mushrooms a few in this mix may have you reaching for your nearest search function. Let’s dive in!
First we have to give credit to our friends at Malama Mushrooms for inspiring us, we love their mushroom powders , mushroom tinctures , and mushroom chocolate and have been happily carrying them for over a year now! They’re a great resource, for example we learned all about polysaccharides from them:
“Polysaccharides is a carbohydrate that has an important role in keeping your cells healthy. They provide structural support, store energy, communicate with other cells, and support immunity. They’re also abundant in ALL types of mushrooms.” - Malama Mushrooms
Because of the antioxidant properties in polysaccharides, they are able to prevent early signs of aging on the skin. A trend you’ll notice in all of the ingredients in our Matcha & Mushroom Mask are antioxidant properties.
“ Mushrooms can work on a molecular level to bring balance to the skin and regulate cell function. . . They can serve to protect the skin against sun damage and improve skin’s elasticity. ”
What’s in Rooted Apothecary’s Matcha & Mushroom Mask?
Briana formulated this mask to soothe, regenerate, and heal the skin. Each ingredient was chosen with care and intention for the healing proprieties offered. Learn why it can be beneficial to use a mushroom mask in your skincare routine and which mushrooms are best for your skin.
Ingredients: tremella, cordyceps, lions mane, maitake, *chaga, *reishi, turkey tail, matcha, mesquite, ashwagandha, and gotu kola
*dual extracted
Mushrooms & Herbs that benefit the skin topically:
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Tremella Mushroom - Known as a beauty mushroom in Asia, tremella is great for boosting your gut health (and consequently your skin). It also is known to have similar properties as hyaluronic acid. Tremella can attract and bind to water molecules, thus improving the hydration & elasticity of your skin.
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Cordyceps - Antioxidant, improves skin elasticity, anti-inflammatory. Cordyceps can help hydrate dry skin, boost collagen, and elastin production.
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Lion’s mane - In addition to its anti-inflammatory benefits, studies have shown that lion’s mane may help to increase collagen.
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Maitake - This mushroom can improve skin elasticity and stimulate collagen. Maitake mushrooms contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and hydrate & brighten the skin.
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Chaga - The antioxidants in Chaga are amazing because they are able to protect our cells from free radicals that cause oxidative damage. This can help prevent early signs of aging such as dullness, wrinkles, and sagging.
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Reishi - Can be deeply hydrating and detoxifying. Reishi’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits can protect skin from oxidative stress. This can help fight against premature aging, redness, and fine lines on your skin. Without getting too deep into the molecular properties, let’s just say it’s a good skin protectant, in addition to being moisturizing.
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Turkey tail- High in antioxidants, turkey tail is great topically to fight free radicals on the skin, helping to replenish fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and protects collagen and elastin.
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Matcha- Helps to minimize oily skin, fight acne-causing bacteria, can protect skin from UV damage, boost blood flow and produce a glowing complexion.
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Mesquite- A nutritionally dense and skin soothing herb that has a sweet, molasses-like flavor similar to cacao or carob. High in omega 3’s protein, magnesium, iron, zinc and potassium.
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Ashwagandha - Helps with its antioxidant rich properties, boosting collagen formation, easing hyperpigmentation, as well as hydrating the skin and offering anti-bacterial properties.
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Holy basil - Not only makes this mask smell incredible, it helps to tonify and tighten the skin while offering its regenerative properties.
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Gotu kola- Known as the herb of longevity, it boasts the power to boost brainpower, heal skin issues, and promote liver and kidney health.
This Matcha & Mushroom blend is good enough to turn into a morning drink! Get the benefits inside and out.
How to use a mushroom mask for skincare
To make your Matcha & Mushroom Mask:
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Use 1-2 teaspoons of the dried powder and mix in water (apple cider vinegar or honey may also be used, see below) in a small bowl or in the palm of your hand
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Your mask should be wet enough so that it can be applied to the skin
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Use a brush or your fingers to apply to clean skin
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Let dry for about 5-10 minutes
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Wash of with warm water
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Follow with Hyaluronic Acid Serum and Rose Borage Tallow Face and Body Balm to seal in the moisture and healing properties of your mask and serum.
You can substitute water for apple cider vinegar or honey when blending your mushroom face mask. Both apple cider vinegar and honey help to activate the medicinal properties of the mushrooms and herbs. Apple cider vinegar helps to cleanse and tighten the skin, while honey is enzymatic and is humectant to the skin - helping to detoxify the skin and retain moisture. Consider rotating water, ACV, and Honey based on your skins needs at the time.
If you are looking to mushrooms and herbs to support your skin care routine or if you find yourself asking “Which mushrooms are best for my skin?”don’t miss our Flora + Fauna Chaga Skincare tincture, formulated to help calm internal and external tissues.
When skincare is at the top of your to-do list, remember to treat the body internally, too! It’s not just the topical eruptions that are the problem. It’s usually something off inside the body that is causing our skin to flare. This formula is specially crafted to help calm internal and external tissues, while also calming irritations to the digestive tract or detox/liver system!
Chaga mushroom has some of the most antioxidants in the world and is a huge fighter of free radicals. It helps to modulate the immune system, and nourish all other organ systems with its powerful qualities.
Gotu Kola helps to strengthen and heal the tissues of our body like the connective tissues, helping to give our skin more integrity.
Calendula soothes all skin mucous membranes surfaces which could be on your face, or the linings of your guts!
Burdock targets our skin cells as well, while also bringing relief to an overworked liver.
Plantain helps to clear any minor disruptions inside or out, clearing minor infections, and resolving problematic skin.
Learn more about Rooted Apothecary’s Flora + Fauna Tinctures here .
“ Fungi have the ability to soak up and escort waste from our cells, and have a digestive system almost identical to that of humans. ”
Don’t miss our next blog, all about our new Morning Magic Brew an adaptogenic herbal + mushroom blend that makes a great coffee like substitute!
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126 N Main St.
Gunnison, CO 81230
970.707.4135
11am-5pm 7 Days a Week
Crested Butte Location:
510 Elk Avenue #6
Crested Butte, CO 81224
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The information and ingredients in this blog and website is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the blog author, or Briana Wiles, owner of Rooted Apothecary and author of Mountain States Foraging, or Timber Press. The author of the blog and of Mountain States Foraging, and the publisher of said book disclaim any liability in connection with the use of this information. In particular, eating wild plants is inherently risky. Plants can easily be mistaken, and individuals vary in their physiological reactions to plants that are touched and consumed.
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