Tremella ~ The Beauty Mushroom and Why We Reach for it Across Winter

We’ve descended into the last few weeks of winter here in the Southern Hemisphere, and what a dry one it’s been across much of Australia. It’s the kind of winter that quietly takes something from the skin ~ a little of the moisture, the glow, or the softness we started off the cooler months with.

As far as medicinal mushrooms go, our team has been reaching for Tremella more than ever of late. Affectionately known as the beauty shroom, it’s the mushie we collectively lean on the most as the atmosphere takes on that dry chill.

A youth-protecting tonic traditionally revered for over two thousand years, Tremella works to hydrate and plump the skin, quietly slowing the natural signs of ageing. We like to think of outer radiance as the manifestation of inner wellbeing ~ a reflection of the way we're nourishing ourselves, from what we eat and drink, to how we move, sleep, and respond to our world. Tremella isn't a magic wand, but it’s a true companion to the work of caring for ourselves from the inside out.

An Ancient Beauty Legend, Still Holding Up Under a Microscope

The most famous consumer of Tremella isn’t a modern skincare influencer. It was Yang Guifei, a Tang Dynasty consort (618-907 CE) whose beauty was so renowned it was written into poetry, painting, and eventually legend. She attributed her flawless complexion to Tremella, and the practice of eating it as a beauty ritual has been recorded since at least the second century, first noted in the Traditional Chinese Medicine text The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica.

Two thousand years of use is one thing, but modern research keeps confirming what the noblewomen of the Tang Dynasty already knew, following in the path that history has laid forth.

What Tremella Actually Does for the Skin

Tremella's beauty power lies in its polysaccharides ~ complex sugar molecules that behave like natural humectants. They hold water. Specifically, up to 500 times their weight in it.

Moisture Retention:

Dewy, soft skin ~ yes please. Tremella is a supremely hydrating shroom, bringing deep lubrication not just to the skin but to our connective tissue and fascia beneath. It works in a similar way to hyaluronic acid, long celebrated in beauty circles as the molecule of youth. Both draw and hold moisture through the skin's layers.

A 2016 study demonstrated Tremella's moisture retention capacity exceeds that of hyaluronic acid[1], contributing to the supple, plump quality of well-hydrated skin.

What gives Tremella the edge over hyaluronic acid? Its polysaccharide particles are smaller than those of hyaluronic acid, which means Tremella can hold up to five times more water AND penetrate the skin more easily. Our bodies produce hyaluronic acid naturally, but its production declines with age. Tremella becomes a beautiful shroom to incorporate into your ritual, moisturising from the inside out.

Collagen Production:

Collagen is never far from the conversation when it comes to ageing. It's the protein that gives skin (and bones) their structure, and it becomes slowly depleted as we age, affecting elasticity, firmness, and the appearance of fine lines. A study carried out in 2015 found that Tremella may increase collagen production by 22-26%[2].

Skin Anti-Ageing:

A 2023 review in Archives of Dermatological Research summarised the accumulating evidence for Tremella's role in skin antiaging, photoprotection, wound healing, and barrier protection[3]. The review is a really helpful modern synthesis of what Traditional Chinese Medicine has long understood; that this divine mushroom supports the skin's ability to renew itself.

Protection Against Oxidative Stress:

Tremella is brimming with antioxidant compounds shown to help boost SOD (superoxide dismutase), an enzyme that protects the skin by neutralising free radicals. Free radicals accumulate from sun exposure, dry wind exposure (hello winter) stress, and pollution ~ and when they overwhelm the skin's defences, they contribute to dark spots, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and slower wound healing. By supporting SOD production, Tremella can act as a regenerative anti-inflammatory for the skin, helping to maintain the lipid and moisture barrier.

A 2017 study in Molecular Medicine Reports went deeper into the mechanism. Researchers demonstrated that Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide protects human skin fibroblasts from hydrogen-peroxide-driven oxidative damage by upregulating SIRT1 ~ a cellular longevity protein associated with healthy ageing[4]. Not just moisturising the skin from the outside. Signalling regeneration from within.

Research has also shown that the beta-d-glucans in Tremella fuciformis can assist in wound healing, which speaks to Tremella's long history of use in supporting skin regeneration and the fading of imperfections

A Wholistic Approach to Ageing ~ Stress and Skin

A 2025 study published in Nutrients looked at Tremella's effects on chronic stress[5]. Researchers found that Tremella extract supported the normalisation of cortisol levels, upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and downregulated pro-inflammatory markers, suggesting a neuroprotective and anti-stress ability.

Why is this a beauty story? Because we now know that stress is one of the largest contributors to visible skin ageing. Cortisol accelerates collagen breakdown, disrupts hormonal balance, and drives free-radical damage. A mushroom that soothes the nervous system while also directly hydrating and rebuilding the skin is another example of why medicinal mushrooms are so extraordinary ~ it works on both ends of the same equation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine framed this centuries ago. Tremella is a Yin nurturer, nourishing the moistening, cooling, restorative aspects of the body. Yin depletion shows up as dryness, heat, irritation, inflammation. Again, modern research is validating what ancient herbalists already understood; a tonic that soothes the inside will reflect on the outside.

The Ritual ~ How to Enjoy Tremella Daily

Tremella has a softly sweet, malty flavour. It’s no secret that you'll catch us eating it off the spoon ~ though you can add it to just about anything. Tea or coffee, a morning smoothie, oats, baked treats, on top of yogurt sprinkled onto a bowl of fruit. It brings a subtle creaminess to whatever it touches. For more inspiration check out our recipe for an Aloe and Tremella Lemonade Glow Tonic.

Inner Atlas Tremella:

Our Inner Atlas Tremella is grown on beech wood in a semi-wild environment in its traditional home of Gutian County in Fujian, China ~ known as ‘Tremella Kingdom’. We’re really passionate about wood-grown mushrooms (as opposed to mushrooms grown on grain, indoors) as this is what the mushroom feeds on, draws all of its nutrients from and how our mushies are so high in active compounds. We guarantee   greater than 30% beta-d-glucans (usually closer to 40%), which we validate by lab-testing here in Australia.

Our Inner Atlas Tremella is:

• Highly potent, containing greater than 30% beta-D-glucans.
• Certified USDA & EU Organic.
• Fruiting body only ~ 100% real mushrooms with no added fillers or mycelium.
• Semi-wild cultivated and wood-grown.
• Sourced from pristine di tao locations.
• Lab-tested for purity.

With the last of the cool, dry weeks upon us, if you’ve been meaning to try Tremella before the turn of the season this could be your moment. As always, we’re here to help and we love chatting mushies! Drop us a line anytime at hello@inneratlas.com.au or leave us a comment below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tremella good for dry skin?

Yes. Tremella's polysaccharides hold up to 500 times their weight in water and behave like natural humectants, drawing and holding moisture through the layers of the skin. It's one of the most hydrating medicinal mushrooms or adaptogens available and is most effective when taken consistently through dry, cold seasons.

How does Tremella compare to hyaluronic acid?

Tremella's polysaccharides have a smaller particle size than hyaluronic acid, meaning they can hold up to five times more water and penetrate the skin more easily. A 2016 study demonstrated Tremella's moisture retention capacity exceeds that of hyaluronic acid. Where hyaluronic acid works from the surface, Tremella hydrates from within.

How do you take Tremella?

Start with 1-2 teaspoons daily. Tremella's softly sweet, malty flavour blends into just about anything ~ smoothies, oats, coffee, tea, or straight off the spoon. Consistency matters more than dose. Small amounts daily beat larger amounts taken occasionally.

Is Tremella safe to take daily?

Tremella has been consumed daily as a tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over two thousand years as well as being eaten as a culinary mushroom and is generally well-tolerated in healthy adults. As with any adaptogen, if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medication, we recommend checking with your healthcare practitioner before adding it to your daily routine.

References: