The kingdom, Fungi, comprises magnificent biodiversity with the most diverse species. They have both cosmetic and therapeutic applications, which is the best composition for any cosmetic product. Cosmeceuticals combine this effect and ideally deliver the active ingredients in a biologically effective form to the skin. They have been in use in East Asia for ages and currently, their demand has increased due to the outlook on safer, cost-effective, and toxin-free organic products. This increase in the demand for sustainable products has led to research on the cosmetic properties of mushrooms. Fruiting bodies of some wild and cultivable mushrooms, rich in medicinal compounds and secondary metabolites, are being harnessed in the cosmetic industry. Various compounds isolated from
medicinal mushrooms such as ceramides, omega-3, 6,9 fatty acids, carotenoids, lentinans, and resveratrol exhibit excellent antioxidant properties. Species of medicinal mushrooms widely used in cosmeceuticals include Agaricus subrufescens, Cordyceps sinensis, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Inonotus obliquus, Lentinula edodes, Tremella fuciformis and Polyporus species. The topical application of these mushroom extracts offers a plethora of skin benefits that include the prevention of photoaging, providing ample hydration, and antioxidant protection against pollution and UV damage. In the past, most cosmetic formulations have relied upon plant kingdom but with the recent advances in knowledge about the anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, radical scavenging properties of medicinal mushrooms, therein lies a huge opportunity in their utilization. By fusing the above properties with genomics and pharmacology
methods, the evolution of mainstream cosmetics from kingdom fungi can be achieved.