Functional Mushrooms in Cosmetics: Market, Brands and B2B Applications
Functional mushrooms are moving from supplements, coffee and beverages into cosmetics. They appear most often in skincare: creams, serums, toners, masks, moisturisers and formulas for sensitive skin. In cosmetics, the most commonly used species are Tremella, Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, Shiitake and Trametes.
Version 1.0 · Published: 26.05.2026
Subject-matter reviewer: Mateusz Rosa, founder of Aloha Fungi, international TCM therapist (Doctor of Acupuncture Level A certificate issued by WFAS, an NGO in official relations with WHO, 2018)
Functional mushrooms are moving from supplements, coffee and beverages into cosmetics. They appear most often in skincare: creams, serums, toners, masks, moisturisers and formulas for sensitive skin.
In cosmetics, the most commonly used species are Tremella, Reishi, Chaga, Cordyceps, Shiitake and Trametes. Each of these mushrooms has a different product application. Tremella is associated with hydration, Reishi with sensitive-skin care, Chaga with antioxidant protection, Cordyceps with revitalisation, and Shiitake with mature-skin care.
In short (60 seconds)
- 🍄 Global mushroom cosmetics market: 2.80 billion USD by 2030 (Grand View Research) or 2.00 billion USD in 2024 with a CAGR of 5.3% (Polaris Market Research).
- 💧 The narrower mushroom-powered skincare category grows faster: 1.72 billion USD in 2025 → 5.55 billion USD in 2035, CAGR 12.4% (Future Market Insights).
- 🌿 Natural/organic = 54.5% of the segment, anti-ageing = 52.5% of the functional segment.
- 🏷️ Reference brands: Origins (Mega-Mushroom), Youth To The People, Moon Juice (Beauty Shroom), Four Sigmatic, Volition Beauty.
- ⚖️ Cosmetic communication runs through appearance, sensory feel and skincare function, not through medical promises (atopic dermatitis, treatment of inflammatory conditions, etc.).
How big is the mushroom cosmetics market
The mushroom cosmetics market is still smaller than the overall skincare market, but the direction of growth is clear. Grand View Research forecasts that the global mushroom cosmetics market will reach 2.80 billion USD by 2030, with an average annual growth of 5.0% between 2024 and 2030. According to the report, demand is driven by natural and organic products and by the use of mushrooms in skincare for their moisturising, antioxidant and soothing properties [Grand View Research 2024].
Polaris Market Research estimates that the global mushroom cosmetics market was worth 2.00 billion USD in 2024 and is set to grow at a CAGR of 5.30% between 2025 and 2034. The report cites demand for natural skincare, adaptogenic ingredients and eco-friendly beauty products as growth drivers [Polaris Market Research 2024].
The narrower category, mushroom-powered skincare, is expected to grow faster, according to Future Market Insights. The firm forecasts growth from 1.72 billion USD in 2025 to 5.55 billion USD in 2035, at a CAGR of 12.4%. In the same report, the natural/organic segment is expected to account for 54.5% of the market, and anti-ageing for 52.5% of the functional segment [Future Market Insights 2025].
| Market segment | Base value | Forecast | CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mushroom cosmetics (Grand View) | - | 2.80 billion USD by 2030 | 5.0% (2024-2030) |
| Mushroom cosmetics (Polaris) | 2.00 billion USD in 2024 | 2025-2034 period | 5.30% |
| Mushroom-powered skincare (FMI) | 1.72 billion USD in 2025 | 5.55 billion USD in 2035 | 12.4% |
For beauty companies, this means two different dynamics. The broad mushroom cosmetics category grows moderately. Products that build their entire communication around mushrooms as active ingredients can grow faster, because they hit the clean beauty, adaptogen skincare and beauty-from-within trends at the same time.
💡 The mushroom-powered skincare category is growing 2.4x faster than the broad mushroom cosmetics segment. The winners are those who build a brand around mushrooms, not just add one ingredient to the INCI list.
Why mushrooms are entering cosmetics
For years, the cosmetics industry has been looking for ingredients that combine natural origin, skincare function and a clear story for the customer. Mushrooms fit this direction well, because they are already familiar from supplements, functional beverages and the adaptogen category.
In cosmetic formulations, mushrooms mainly appear as a source of polysaccharides, β-glucans, phenolic compounds, terpenoids and other bioactive compounds. The scientific literature describes their potential in moisturising, antioxidant, soothing and anti-ageing products. A formulation study with Tremella fuciformis showed, among other things, a 12.4% drop in TEWL (transepidermal water loss) compared with a formulation without Tremella extract [INCIDecoder].
In B2B practice, mushrooms are interesting for several reasons. They give a brand a new ingredient story, allow premium products to be built, and connect skincare with the wellness trend. They can be used both in topical cosmetics and in beauty-from-within products: drinks, powders and supplements.
Most commonly used mushrooms in cosmetics
| Mushroom | Name used in cosmetics | Most common application |
|---|---|---|
| Tremella | Tremella fuciformis, snow mushroom, silver ear mushroom | hydration, glow, skin barrier support |
| Reishi | Ganoderma lucidum | sensitive skin, soothing, barrier care |
| Chaga | Inonotus obliquus | antioxidation, skin exposed to environmental stress |
| Cordyceps | Cordyceps extract | revitalisation, skin energy, anti-ageing |
| Shiitake | Lentinula edodes | skin renewal, complexion, mature-skin care |
| Trametes | Trametes versicolor | even complexion, hyperpigmentation |
Tremella: the hydration mushroom
Tremella fuciformis is one of the easiest mushrooms to use in beauty communication. In cosmetics it goes by snow mushroom or silver ear mushroom. It appears most often in serums, creams, mists and gel-cream formulas.
Its marketing advantage comes from a simple association: hydration, bounce, the effect of a “plumper” skin. Moon Juice describes Silver Ear Mushroom in the Plump Jelly serum as an ingredient used in Asian beauty rituals, supporting optimal hydration and creating a flexible layer on the skin [Moon Juice].
Volition Beauty uses Tremella in the Snow Mushroom Water Serum. The product is positioned as a moisturising serum with peptides and vitamin C, intended to reduce the appearance of pores and make the skin look more hydrated and plumper [Ulta Beauty].
→ Check out our Tremella product page for B2B raw-material parameters.
Reishi: sensitive skin and the barrier
Reishi, or Ganoderma lucidum, is one of the most recognisable mushrooms in adaptogenic cosmetics. It appears most often in products for dry, sensitive, reddened skin exposed to environmental stress.
Origins uses Reishi in the Mega-Mushroom line. The brand describes its complex with fermented Chaga and Reishi as a formula that helps visually calm the skin, supports the skin barrier and reduces the appearance of redness [Origins].
Youth To The People uses Reishi in the Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream. The product is communicated as a cream for dry and sensitive skin, with adaptogens such as ashwagandha, rhodiola, Reishi and holy basil [Youth To The People].
→ Check out our Reishi product page.
Chaga: antioxidation and skin exposed to environmental stress
Chaga, or Inonotus obliquus, fits products described through antioxidant protection, urban skincare and support for skin exposed to environmental factors.
Origins uses fermented Chaga in Mega-Mushroom products alongside Reishi and other adaptogenic ingredients. In the brand’s communication, Chaga appears in the context of soothing the skin and protecting against free-radical damage [Origins].
In B2B products, Chaga fits well into protective creams, antioxidant serums, cosmetics for tired skin and urban skincare lines.
→ Check out our Chaga product page.
Cordyceps: revitalisation and skin energy
Cordyceps is less obvious in cosmetics than Tremella or Reishi, but it has a solid application in revitalising products. In beauty communication it appears as an ingredient linked to skin energy, tired complexions and anti-ageing care.
Origins uses Cordyceps in Mega-Mushroom products alongside Reishi and fermented Chaga. In the line’s descriptions the brand connects this ingredient with a more revitalised skin appearance and protection against free radicals [Origins].
Cordyceps can fit night products, regenerating creams, anti-ageing serums and premium products for tired skin.
→ Check out our Cordyceps product page.
Examples of brands using mushrooms in cosmetics
🏷️ Origins: Mega-Mushroom
Origins is one of the most recognisable examples of a brand that has built an entire skincare line around mushrooms. The Mega-Mushroom line uses, among others, Reishi, fermented Chaga and Cordyceps. The products are aimed mainly at sensitive, dry and reddened skin [Origins].
This is an example of using mushrooms as the main product story, not just an addition to the INCI list.
🏷️ Youth To The People: adaptogen skincare
Youth To The People uses Reishi in the adaptogen skincare category. The Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream is a product for dry and sensitive skin, and Reishi appears there alongside other adaptogens [Youth To The People].
This model shows that mushrooms can be communicated as part of a broader adaptogen story, without creating a full “mushroom skincare” line.
🏷️ Moon Juice: Beauty Shroom
Moon Juice is developing the Beauty Shroom line. In the Plump Jelly serum it uses Silver Ear Mushroom (Tremella) alongside moisturising ingredients. The brand combines skincare with the language of wellness and beauty rituals [Moon Juice].
This is an example of a brand that naturally moves between supplements, beauty-from-within products and cosmetics.
🏷️ Four Sigmatic: from mushroom coffee to skincare
Four Sigmatic, known for coffee and functional mushroom products, has also entered skincare. The brand launched the Mushroom Face Mask & Tonic and a Superfood Serum with mushrooms such as Shiitake, Tremella, Reishi and Chaga [Allure].
This example shows that a brand starting from mushroom coffee and supplements can extend the category towards skincare.
🏷️ Volition Beauty: Snow Mushroom Water Serum
Volition Beauty used Tremella in the Snow Mushroom Water Serum. The product is positioned as a moisturising serum, with added peptides and vitamin C [Ulta Beauty].
This is one of the simpler examples of Tremella communication as an ingredient for moisturising products.
How brands communicate mushrooms in cosmetics
In cosmetics, you can talk about the appearance of the skin, the feel after application and the skincare function. Medical communication has to be avoided. A cosmetic product should not promise to treat skin diseases, inflammatory conditions, atopic dermatitis, acne or other problems requiring therapy.
| ❌ Risky wording | ✅ Safer wording |
|---|---|
| treats inflammatory skin conditions | helps soothe the skin |
| works on atopic dermatitis | for dry and sensitive skin |
| removes hyperpigmentation | supports a more even-looking complexion |
| regenerates skin damage | supports the skin barrier |
| acts like an anti-inflammatory drug | a formula with plant and mushroom extracts |
| rejuvenates the skin | the skin looks smoother and more hydrated |
In B2B communication, what matters more than the mushroom’s name are the raw-material parameters: INCI, documentation, solubility, recommended concentration, stability in the formula and compliance with cosmetic claims.
💡 Cosmetics are subject to the Cosmetic Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. Notification goes to CPNP (Cosmetic Product Notification Portal), not to GIS. A different regulatory route than for supplements.
What a good mushroom ingredient for cosmetics should have
For a cosmetic brand, a mushroom is not just a marketing trend. It is an ingredient that has to pass through R&D, safety assessment and product documentation.
A good mushroom raw material should have:
| Requirement | What it means for a cosmetic brand |
|---|---|
| INCI name | allows the ingredient to be correctly introduced into the formula and label |
| technical specification | describes raw-material parameters, appearance, activity and limitations |
| microbiological tests | confirm raw-material safety |
| heavy-metal data | needed for natural ingredients and extracts |
| solubility information | determines whether the ingredient fits a serum, cream, toner or mask |
| recommended concentration | helps R&D choose the dose in the formula |
| compliance with cosmetic requirements | reduces regulatory risk |
| R&D documentation | makes implementation at a contract manufacturer or in a laboratory easier |
Without these elements, a mushroom can be an interesting ingredient in a presentation, but it is harder to bring it into a finished product.
→ At Aloha Fungi we provide cosmetic partners with full INCI + CPNP-ready documentation. Check the Cosmetics segment.
Product directions for the beauty market
1️⃣ Serum or cream with Tremella
Tremella is one of the easiest ingredients to implement in moisturising products. It fits serums, gel-creams, masks, toners and mists. It can be combined with hyaluronic acid, β-glucans, ceramides, panthenol and aloe.
2️⃣ Cream with Reishi and Chaga
The combination of Reishi and Chaga fits products for dry, sensitive skin exposed to environmental stress. This is a direction for barrier creams, soothing serums and products for the autumn-winter season.
3️⃣ Beauty drink with Tremella
Tremella also works well in beauty-from-within communication. It can be an ingredient in a drink, cacao, matcha, a powder to dissolve or a supplement. This direction connects the skincare market with the wellness market.
4️⃣ Beauty-from-within supplement
Beauty-from-within products can combine Tremella with other ingredients used in beauty supplements. Communication must be based on permitted claims for specific ingredients, not on promises attributed exclusively to mushrooms.
5️⃣ Private label products for spa and beauty brands
Spas, cosmetology clinics and beauty brands can use mushrooms in own-label products: masks, serums, beauty drinks, treatment kits and wellness lines. In this model, small test batches, stable documentation and clear descriptions for the end customer matter.
🇵🇱 Polish research lead
Research on mushroom polysaccharides in a cosmetic context in Poland is conducted by, among others, the team of prof. Bożena Muszyńska at the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow. From the portfolio relevant to the beauty industry: Reishi (quantification of indole compounds in Ganoderma mycelium - Molecules 2022) and Lion’s Mane (influence of plant substrate on the accumulation of bioactive compounds - Molecules 2025). The Polish scientific base for mushroom skincare is an additional credibility argument for brands operating on the EU market.
What this trend means for the beauty industry
Functional mushrooms are a new ingredient direction for cosmetic, wellness and beauty-from-within brands. The market already has examples of large brands, mainstream products and growth forecasts. The clearest applications are Tremella for hydration, Reishi and Chaga for sensitive-skin care and Cordyceps in revitalising products.
A product’s success depends on extract quality, documentation, compliant communication and a good fit between the ingredient and the product’s function. The mere presence of a mushroom in the formula is not enough. The product has to make technological, sensory and communication sense.
🗣️ According to Mateusz Rosa, founder of Aloha Fungi:
“In the beauty industry, the brands that win are those that treat the mushroom as an active ingredient, not as a slogan on the packaging. Tremella in a serum has to have an INCI name, a molecular weight, stability data and a recommended concentration. Without that, even the best marketing story won’t pass R&D.”
Two paths of cooperation
| 🤝 B2B Cosmetic brands, spas, private label | 🍵 B2C End customer |
|---|---|
| Working on a skincare line with mushrooms or a beauty drink? | Looking for a good Tremella for your beauty routine? |
| We’ll select a fruiting-body extract with INCI + CPNP documentation. We support small test batches and private label. | Fill in the questionnaire and get a recommendation. |
DM us: B2B | DM us: MATCH |
| → Cosmetics segment | → Matching quiz |
We don’t sell mushrooms. We match them. Regulation, not magic.
About the author
Mateusz Rosa is the founder of Aloha Fungi, an international TCM therapist with 8 years of therapeutic practice. He holds a Doctor of Acupuncture (Level A) certificate issued by the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS, an NGO in official relations with WHO, 2018). Author of the books “Awakening of Health” and “Functional Mushroom Supplementation”. At Aloha Fungi he is responsible for extract selection, raw-material standards, customer education and product collaborations with food, coffee and cosmetic brands.
Regulatory disclaimer
The educational content in this article does not replace medical consultation or a professional cosmetic safety assessment. Cosmetic products require compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and notification to CPNP (Cosmetic Product Notification Portal). The cosmetic manufacturer is responsible for the full safety documentation (PIF), claims, ingredient list (INCI) and labelling. The mechanisms of action described are based on scientific research and the market communication of the cited brands. They do not constitute a promise of a health or cosmetic effect for an individual reader.
Bibliography10 sources
- Grand View Research (2024). Mushroom Cosmetics Market To Reach $2.80Bn By 2030. grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-mushroom-cosmetics-market
- Polaris Market Research (2024). Mushroom Cosmetics Market Size, Share & Trends. polarismarketresearch.com
- Future Market Insights (2025). Mushroom-Powered Skincare Market Analysis. futuremarketinsights.com
- INCIDecoder. Volition Snow Mushroom Water Serum. incidecoder.com
- Moon Juice. Plump Jelly - Hyaluronic Serum. moonjuice.com
- Ulta Beauty. Volition Beauty: Snow Mushroom Water Serum with Peptides + Vitamin C. ulta.com
- Origins. Mushroom 101 - Mushrooms for Skin. origins.com/mushrooms-for-skin
- Youth To The People. Adaptogen Skin Repairing Moisturizer with Peptides for Sensitive and Dry Skin. youthtothepeople.com
- Allure. Exclusive: Trendy Mushroom-Coffee Brand Four Sigmatic Is Getting in the Skin-Care Game. allure.com
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products.