Tremella may not be the most well-known mushroom, but when it comes to beauty and skin benefits, this superfood mushroom can’t be beat! Tremella (AKA tremella fuciformis, snow mushroom, silver ear mushroom, or white jelly mushroom – it has a lot of nicknames!) is a white to pale yellow, translucent mushroom that has a coral-like appearance.
While the mushroom itself is quite a sight, tremella isn’t called the beauty mushroom because of its appearance. Rather, it’s earned this title because of its centuries-long history of being used for its skin benefits.
The beauty mushroom dates back to the Tang Dynasty, where Yang Guifei (known as one of the “Four Beauties of Ancient China”) credited tremella fuciformis for helping her maintain her glowing complexion. Today, it continues to be used in traditional Chinese medicine, both for its beauty boosting abilities and its additional health benefits.
This type of mushroom grows on tree bark, but you probably won’t spot this translucent stunner in its natural form at your local grocery store. The best (and most convenient) way to get the full benefits of tremella mushroom is by adding the extract of it to your diet. You’ll find organic tremella mushroom extract in all of our Plant-Based Collagen Boost Drink Blends, which contain vegan collagen supports - plant botanicals for hair, skin and nails.*
The Beauty and Skin Benefits of Tremella, the Beauty Mushroom
Now that we understand the overall idea behind why tremella is called the beauty mushroom, let’s talk about the specific skin and beauty benefits of this superfood!
Boosts Skin Hydration
If you want a supple, glowing complexion, maintaining your skin hydration (from the inside-out!) is key – and tremella can help!* One of the most notable tremella mushroom benefits for the skin is its ability to hold nearly 500 times its weight in water. In fact, tremella fuciformis is often compared to hyaluronic acid, an ingredient often found in skin care products and supplements (as well as our Plant-Based Collagen Boost Drink Blends!). Like tremella, hyaluronic acid also attracts and locks in moisture.*
This is largely thanks to the mushroom's abundance of polysaccharides, which are carbohydrate chains known for their water retention abilities. Additionally, tremella fuciformis is a great source of vitamin D, which also plays a role in skin hydration.*
Helps Prevent and Minimize Signs of Aging
The vitamin D and polysaccharides found in tremella also play a role in helping to fight signs of aging to promote a youthful complexion. In addition to their impressive water retention abilities, research has shown that polysaccharides extracted from mushrooms have antioxidant properties.*
Antioxidants are crucial for neutralizing free radicals, which are known for causing oxidative stress on the body. Oxidative stress plays a major role in skin aging and skin diseases, so the antioxidant power of polysaccharides is crucial for fighting the negative effects of free radicals.* Additionally, polysaccharides have been shown to promote skin collagen synthesis, which may help prevent and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.*
You can find Organic tremella mushroom extract in all of our plant-based collagen-boosting latte and creamer blends. Each of our delicious blends contains tremella along with bamboo leaf extract, hyaluronic acid, bamboo leaf extract, and amla berry powder to help support your body's natural collagen production.
Vitamin D also plays an incredibly important role in skin health.* This vitamin is known for its ability to increase cell turnover, which is essential for both preventing and minimizing signs of aging.*
A deficiency in Vitamin D has been linked to a poorly functioning immune system and increased inflammation, which can lead to a host of issues.* As far as the skin goes, this may include a weaker skin barrier, dryness, and an increased risk of inflammatory conditions, like rosacea, acne, and eczema. Vitamin D deficiencies have also been linked to hair loss.*
It’s important to note that, as we age, our skin’s ability to produce vitamin D greatly decreases. That means supporting your skin and overall well-being with excellent sources of vitamin D (like tremella!) becomes even more important as time goes on.*
Fights Inflammation
Studies have shown that tremella mushrooms also have anti-inflammatory effects.* While inflammation in the body is natural, when those levels are too high, inflammation can negatively affect our overall well-being. As far as beauty goes, an excess of inflammation can lead to a variety of skin issues, including rashes, itching, dryness, rosacea, eczema, and acne.* By consuming ingredients like tremella that are known to fight inflammation, you can support your body’s ability to minimize inflammation-related side effects.
Try the Power of Tremella Fuciformis for Yourself!
From ancient China to present day, tremella has continued to defend its title as the beauty mushroom. If you want to experience the benefits of tremella mushrooms for yourself, be sure to check out our Plant-Based Collagen Boost Drink Blends. These blends are not only delicious in your daily cup of coffee or your morning smoothie, but they can also be used in baked goods. Be sure to check out our recipes for some inspiration!
