Shiitake Mushroom vs. Vitamin C for Boosting Collagen

Mushrooms and vitamin C are both popular ingredients in skincare products. Each has its own unique benefits for the skin. Collagen is a protein that gives skin its firmness and elasticity. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin. Both Vitamin C and Shiitake Mushroom help catalyze collagen production resulting in firmer, more youthful-looking skin. So, which is the better choice for collagen boosts?

Tell Me More About Shiitake

Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular and oldest medicinal mushrooms in the world. They have been used in Asia for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, including fatigue, high blood pressure, and even cancer.

Recent studies have shown that shiitake mushrooms can also help prevent collagen degradation, making them a valuable tool in the fight against aging. Collagen is a key structural protein that helps keep our skin looking young and elastic. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, leading to wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Shiitake mushrooms are rich in a compound called lentinan, which has been shown to stimulate collagen production. They also contain other antioxidants that help protect collagen from damage.

Eating shiitake mushrooms regularly can help keep your skin looking young and healthy. They’re a delicious way to fight aging!

How Does Shiitake Mushroom Differ From Vitamin C in Skincare?

Vitamin C is one of the most popular ingredients in skincare for great reason, while shiitake is an up & coming powerful anti-aging contender. Shiitake mushrooms are rich in antioxidants (along with Vitamin C) but they also have anti-inflammatory properties and can be less irritating to the skin. Shiitake mushrooms have a tremendous amount of bio-actives, different from vitamin c, such as selenium, copper, and zinc. Additionally, Shiitake has the antioxidant L-ergothioneine which is a tremendous helper in preventing collagen breakdown; a natural part of the aging process. Both Vitamin C & Shiitake mushrooms can help to stimulate collagen production in unique ways. Shiitake has additional benefits of reducing collagen degradation over time and helping preserve current stores. 

As we age, we lose around 1% of collagen per year. This number accelerates past the age of 40. It's a great idea to incorporate ingredients that help slow down this unfortunate but natural aging process and Shiitake is top of the list for achieving this goal.

Skincare formulated with mushroom blends is a great way to capitalize on their unique collagen preserving and boosting capabilities. You can find a powerful blend of mushrooms in our "Enchanted" Serum including a hefty concentration of collagen boosting shiitake.

Vitamin C or Shiitake: Which is Better for Collagen Building?

Both mushrooms and vitamin C are effective at stimulating collagen production. Vitamin C has the added benefit of brightening the skin and reversing age spots, while Shiitake helps preserve natural collagen stores.

So, which should you choose? They both help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. If you are looking for a classic skincare ingredient to help brighten the skin and reduce/reverse age spots, vitamin C is a better choice. If you are looking for a new way to engage with nature and are looking for added moisture benefits, it might be fun to experiment with the intelligence of mushrooms and grab a product that is formulated with mushroom blends.

What sparks your attention and gets you excited to use your products daily? Both will meet your needs in similar but unique ways. If you are looking for an ingredient to help boost collagen, both shiitake mushrooms and vitamin C are our favorite choices and you really can't go wrong with either.

If you're having trouble deciding, we understand. And this is why we created a product that incorporates both incredible ingredients in one serum for maximum anti-aging and antioxidant benefit. Click our "Gaia" Serum below, our most powerful anti-aging serum formulated for gentleness in mind. Safe and enjoyable for daily use.

 A Quick Nod to Vitamin C

While Vitamin C is most commonly known for its role in immunity, it is also an important nutrient for the skin. Vitamin C helps to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, specifically free radicals caused by UV oxidation from the sun. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells and lead to premature aging. Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals, helping to prevent their damaging effects. Using vitamin C both internally and topically at a young age can have dramatic effects on preventing hyper-pigmentation in later years.

Not to fear. If you are suffering from hyper-pigmentation, a formula with a high concentration of stable vitamin c can still have a powerful impact on reducing and reversing age and sun spots. We stabilize our "Helios, Reverse" Serum with Glutathione, a potent antioxidant which protects Vitamin C, and Ferulic Acid.  Our "Helios, Reverse" is an incredibly powerful hyper-pigmentation reducer, resulting in amazing results within weeks and full results seen within four months of daily use.