Reishi and Chaga extracts are studied for antioxidant and skin-conditioning properties. Human evidence for the preparations discussed here is limited. The Reishi study assessed model washing gels over short periods, while the Chaga study included mice. Neither establishes clinical results for a different finished face cream.
Two fungi with different extracts
In the research discussed here, Reishi is Ganoderma lucidum and Chaga is Inonotus obliquus. An extract’s composition depends on the species and how it is prepared. Results from one preparation cannot be transferred automatically to another.
What the Reishi research found
A 2022 study investigated water extracts of Reishi, Maitake and Lion’s Mane through laboratory tests and model washing gels. It also measured skin hydration and water loss in volunteers over short periods after application. The tested gels showed changes in those measurements, alongside findings from antioxidant assays. [1]
This is useful formulation research. Its short observation periods and washing-gel format limit what it can establish about long-term use of a leave-on face cream. It cannot support a blanket claim that every Reishi product repairs the skin barrier.
What we know about Chaga
A 2026 paper investigated a particular Chaga extract in experimental dermatitis research that included mice. Such preclinical work can identify effects worth studying further. Human trials would be needed to establish whether comparable effects occur in people using a cosmetic. [2]
Claims that a Chaga face cream treats eczema or rosacea go beyond this evidence. The study did not evaluate an ordinary skincare routine or a finished face cream.
Understanding antioxidant claims
An antioxidant assay measures activity under defined test conditions. It cannot tell a reader how much a cream will change visible skin aging, and it supplies no SPF rating. Oral mushroom research also addresses a different route of use from a topical extract.
How mushrooms fit into a cream
EYKOH Collagen + Retinoid Cream with Mushroom contains Reishi and Chaga extracts alongside HPR, hydrolyzed collagen, glycerin, jojoba oil, green tea extract and vitamin E. HPR is the retinoid component. Glycerin acts as a humectant, while jojoba oil contributes emollient properties. Vitamin E, listed as tocopherol, has an antioxidant role in cosmetics. [4] An ingredient’s formulation role cannot establish the cream’s clinical results.
When reading a product claim, look for research that matches the extract, concentration and finished formula. Neither mushroom study discussed here tested this cream.
Check tolerance as carefully as the ingredient story. Natural ingredients can still provoke irritation or allergy. Persistent inflammation deserves a dermatologist’s assessment. [3]
For the vitamin A component of a mixed formula, see our comparison of HPR retinoid and retinol.
Sources
- Ziemlewska and colleagues. Assessment of Cosmetic Properties and Safety of Use of Model Washing Gels with Reishi, Maitake and Lion’s Mane Extracts, Molecules, 2022.
- Liu and colleagues. Chaga Mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) Attenuates DNCB-Induced Atopic Dermatitis by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Cytokine Expression, Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to pick the right moisturizer for your skin.
- European Commission. Inventory of cosmetic ingredients, 2000. Ingredient functions for glycerin, jojoba oil and tocopherol; these entries describe formulation roles, not clinical efficacy.
By EYKOH Wellness. Reviewed October 24, 2026. General skincare education; ask a qualified clinician for advice about your own skin.