Shrooms for Skin: Why Fungal Skincare Is the Next K-Beauty Hit
I wasn’t always a fan of mushrooms. As a kid, they were too slimy, smelled a little funky, and looked alien if you think about it. But as I grew older and health became frightfully important, mushrooms have become a staple in my diet.
Mushrooms are deeply rooted in Korean (and also other Asian) wellness traditions. My mom used to make medicinal tea out of dried Shiitake mushrooms. It’s a humble recipe where you take dried Shiitakes, put them in a mesh tea bag, and boil them until you get all the healthy ingredients infused in rich, umber tea-water.
Another go-to for me is mushroom-based shabu shabu. My version is completely plant-based: Enoki, Oyster, Wood Ear, and Shimeji mushrooms tossed into a hot pot with Bok Choy and cabbage. (Yep, you can make vegan shabu shabu if you use a veggie-based soup broth.) This is my go-to immune-boosting meal for whenever I’m feeling a little chilly right before catching a cold.
5 Mushroom-based Meals that Support Gut + Skin Health:
- Shiitake tea (immune-boosting and caffeine-free)
- Vegan mushroom shabu shabu
- Maitake stir-fry with garlic and soy
- King oyster “steak” with thyme
- Mushroom barley congee (for gut health restoration)
Little did I know, mushrooms aren’t just good for gut health. They are also a skin-strengthening power ingredient. I was unaware of their topical benefits until researching for a gentle vegan skincare ingredient that would help strengthen the skin barrier and reduce irritation.
Mushrooms — especially Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus Obliquus Extract) — are packed with Beta Glucan (β-glucan). Beta Glucan is a polysaccharide (a type of complex sugar) that helps reduce irritation, calm inflammation, and strengthen your skin barrier. Beta Glucan is also proven to minimize redness and other signs of sensitive skin when used at max 1% concentration.
Because Chaga mushrooms are known to contain more Beta Glucan than other kinds, we investigated more about them. Chaga mushrooms grow on birch trees in the extreme cold weathers of Siberia (-4°F to -40°F). Its antioxidant properties - Beta Glucan, polyphenol, and flavonoid — have led our ancestors to consume Chaga mushrooms as a cure for cancer.
Derma-benefits of Chaga Mushrooms:
- Strengthens and repairs the skin barrier
- Reduces redness and inflammation
- Boosts hydration and moisture retention of the skin
- Antioxidant protection against environmental stressors
- Supports skin healing and repair for sensitive and reactive skin types
If you’re a DIY enthusiast, you may have come across homemade Chaga cream recipes online. This is where you can mix Chaga extract, coconut oil, and shea butter to create your own soothing Chaga cream. But sourcing pure, filtered Chaga extract at home is one thing. Formulating a stable, effective cream is another story.
Not to worry though, a Chaga-infused skin barrier repair cream is coming your way soon.
Yep, it’s us.
Our first launch is a Chaga-infused moisturizer designed to soothe, protect, and rebuild the skin barrier—especially for those dealing with sensitivity, redness, and post-breakout inflammation. We are creating an everyday moisturizer cream that you can apply mindlessly without having to worry about inflammatory responses.
Gentle enough to use on repeat, Effective enough to make a difference.
We’ve paired Chaga with Madecassoside (from Centella Asiatica), Panthenol, and Ceramide—three powerhouse ingredients for hydration and skin resilience.
This first product of AROOM lands this June. We’re counting down the days, and we want you to be the first to know when it drops.
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