Origins Mega-Mushroom Collection

The Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief Soothing Cream is more than just another moisturizer.  It’s a skin-balancing formula that taps into the healing potential of traditional herbal medicine. One of its star ingredients? Cordyceps mushrooms. These mushrooms might sound trendy, but their roots are ancient. Used in Eastern medicine for thousands of years, Cordyceps are now showing up in skincare for very good reason. Let’s explore the fascinating history behind why Origins has made them a key ingredient in their beloved Mega-Mushroom line.

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What Are Cordyceps Mushrooms?

Cordyceps are a type of parasitic fungus that grow on insects. You can find them in high-altitude regions like Tibet, Nepal, and parts of China. The most famous species, Cordyceps sinensis, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over 1,500 years. Ancient practitioners used Cordyceps to support lung function, boost energy, and enhance the immune system.

In TCM, texts describe cordyceps as deeply rejuvenating herbs. Practitioners believe they restore balance in the body and support resilience—exactly the kind of energy we want in our skincare. Cordyceps used in supplements and cosmetics are lab-grown (typically Cordyceps militaris). This makes them sustainable, vegan-friendly, and safe for skincare formulations.

Once Reserved for Royalty

Let’s step out of the bathroom for a moment and into the mountains of Tibet. Cordyceps were considered one of the most precious tonics in ancient China. Known as “dong chong xia cao” (冬虫夏草), meaning “winter worm, summer grass,” these curious fungi were revered not only for their rarity but for their powerful life-enhancing qualities. According to ancient records, cordyceps were so scarce and potent that they were reserved almost exclusively for the emperor and his court. These were not everyday remedies for common folk—they were celestial gifts meant to extend life, invigorate the spirit, and harmonize the flow of Qi.

In Taoist herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine, cordyceps were believed to strengthen what is known as the “Kidney Essence” (Jing)—the foundational life force tied to vitality, longevity, and reproductive power. The ruling elite consumed them as a way to preserve youth, sustain energy during ceremonial duties, and enhance sexual vitality. Their association with the divine right to rule wasn’t just symbolic—it was physiological. To glow with vitality was to embody the Mandate of Heaven.

Today, while you no longer need to be royalty to enjoy their benefits, cordyceps still carry that ancient energetic signature. Incorporating them into your skincare or wellness routine is like tapping into a ritual once practiced in silk-draped palace halls—now reimagined for your modern-day temple: your body and skin.

Mushroom for Olympic Training

How Athletes Recovered Before Medicinal Mushroom Remedies

Long before medicinal mushrooms entered elite training rooms, Olympic athletes relied on a familiar mix of methods to support recovery. Ice baths, electrolyte loading, carbohydrate cycling, and high-dose vitamin supplementation shaped most performance programs through the 1970s and 1980s. Coaches encouraged deep-tissue massage, contrast hydrotherapy, and long physiotherapy sessions to manage inflammation after grueling practices. Herbal remedies existed, but Western sports science rarely took them seriously. Recovery programs focused almost entirely on mechanical repair — reduce swelling, refuel muscles, and increase circulation.

Even the athletes who embraced natural support tended to stick to predictable botanicals: ginseng for energy, arnica for soreness, or menthol rubs for muscle relaxation. These remedies offered relief, but they didn’t transform stamina or oxygen efficiency in a dramatic way. Performance gains came slowly. Recovery demanded time, rest, and careful pacing. Nothing in the standard regimen promised the kind of edge that would redefine endurance.

This created the perfect moment for something disruptive — a natural compound that seemed to work beyond conventional limits. And in the early 1990s, the world saw exactly that shift.

Chinese Olympic Team

Fast forward to the modern era: Cordyceps first caught the attention of the global wellness community in the 1990s, thanks to the surprising revelation from the world of elite sports. A group of Chinese Olympic track and field athletes, coached by Ma Junren, stunned the world by breaking multiple world records with seemingly superhuman endurance and rapid recovery times. When asked about their secret, the athletes attributed part of their performance edge to a daily regimen that included traditional Chinese herbal tonics-most notably, cordyceps.

Their coach claimed that these ancient fungi played a key role in boosting stamina, improving oxygen utilization, and helping their bodies bounce back faster after intense training. The revelation sparked international curiosity, and suddenly cordyceps-a remedy once reserved for emperors and royalty-found it’s place in the modern spotlight as a performance-enhancing adaptogen. While scientific debate followed, what remained undeniable was this: cordyceps had the power to energize and restore the body at a deep, cellular level.

Dr. Andrew Weil’s Interview on Mushroom in Medicine

In this six-minute feature from the Fantastic Fungi Global Summit, Dr. Andrew Weil, MD — a globally respected integrative medicine leader and the creator behind the Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins™ Mega-Mushroom line — offers a clear look at why mushrooms have been such powerful healing allies throughout history. As a physician who blends botanical medicine, cultural traditions, and modern science, Dr. Weil brings a grounded, credible voice to a topic that often gets dismissed in Western wellness spaces.

In the video, he explains that in Eastern medicine, especially within traditional Chinese healing, mushrooms are considered superior medicines because they support many systems at once. If a single remedy can boost immunity, calm inflammation, help with stress, improve vitality, and contribute to long-term resilience, it earns a higher place in their medicinal hierarchy. Western medicine, however, traditionally prefers “magic bullets” — one drug designed to treat one specific condition.

Mushrooms don’t offer broad, whole-body benefits, so they are often overlooked or undervalued by Western practitioners. Dr. Weil highlights how these two worldviews shaped our understanding of mushrooms and how modern research is finally catching up to what Eastern traditions have known all along: mushrooms matter because they work holistically, not narrowly, offering a type of systemic support that fits beautifully into both ancient and modern wellness philosophies.

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How Mushroom Made Its Way into Skincare

As modern science began to catch up with ancient herbal wisdom, cordyceps started to capture the attention of dermatologists, cosmetic chemists, and holistic beauty experts alike. While once prized for its role in boosting stamina and immunity, researchers soon discovered that cordyceps also contain a treasure trove of bioactive compounds-including polysaccharides, adenosine, and cordycepin-that deliver powerful benefits to the skin. These compounds help support cellular energy (ATP) production, enhance antioxidant activity, and reduce inflammation at a cellular level. In other words, they do for your skin what cordyceps once did for athletes: help it recover faster, function more effectively, and resist stress.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the skin is considered an outward reflection of internal balance. When your Qi is strong and your body is well-nourished, your skin glows. Cordyceps fits seamlessly into this philosophy, offering adaptogenic support that helps the skin adjust to environmental stressors like pollution, UV exposure, and dryness. Modern formulations now harness cordyceps extract in serums, moisturizers, and masks to stimulate collagen production, boost elasticity. and enhance radiance-making it a prized ingredient in the realm of clean, conscious skincare.

So, when you apply a cordyceps-infused product, you’re not just treating your skin-your invoking centuries of holistic wisdom, revived and refined for modern beauty rituals.

The Origins Mega-Mushroom Collection

As cordyceps moved from royal medicine to global wellness, modern beauty brands began exploring how these revered mushrooms could support the skin’s natural resilience. One of the most influential pioneers in this space is Origins, whose long-standing partnership with integrative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil led to the creation of the Mega-Mushroom Collection. This is a line dedicated entirely to soothing, strengthening, and restoring balance to stressed or reactive skin.

This collection takes the same powerhouse mushrooms once treasured by Tibetan healers and Chinese royalty and transforms them into calming, barrier-supportive formulas suitable for everyday skincare. Infused with a blend of reishi, fermented chaga, and cordyceps, the Mega-Mushroom line is designed to reduce visible redness, cushion the skin from environmental stressors, and rebuild hydration at a deeper level.

Now that you understand the history, heritage, and healing reputation behind these mushrooms, we can dive into the standout products within the Mega-Mushroom Collection. 

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Origins Mega-Mushroom Soothing Cream

This moisturizer was developed in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Weil, an integrative medicine pioneer known for blending Western science with traditional herbal healing. The Mega-Mushroom line is centered around calming inflammation and strengthening skin’s defenses.

Key ingredients

Cordycepin

Cordycepin delivers powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that helps the skin stay calm and resilient. It neutralizes oxidative stress before it can damage collagen, and it helps interrupt the irritation cycle that often leads to redness and barrier disruption. In skincare formulas, cordycepin promotes smoother texture, supports a stronger moisture barrier, and helps the skin recover more efficiently from daily environmental stressors.

Reishi Mushroom 

Reishi mushroom offers a powerful blend of antioxidants and adaptogenic compounds that help the skin stay calm, balanced, and resilient. It works to reduce visible redness and irritation by supporting the skin’s natural stress response, making it especially helpful for reactive or barrier-weakened complexions. The triterpenes found in reishi help reinforce the moisture barrier, prevent water loss, and promote a smoother, more refined texture. With consistent use, reishi mushroom supports firmer-looking skin and a complexion that handles daily stress with greater ease.

Fermented Chaga Mushroom

Fermented Chaga mushroom delivers concentrated antioxidant protection and enhanced nutrient availability thanks to the fermentation process. Fermentation breaks down Chaga’s dense cell walls, allowing its beta-glucans, polyphenols, and minerals to absorb more effectively into the skin. This creates a strong defense against environmental stressors while helping the skin maintain a hydrated, luminous appearance. Chaga also supports cellular repair and barrier strength, making it a standout ingredient for dull, depleted, or environmentally stressed skin. The result is a complexion that looks brighter, feels stronger, and recovers more efficiently.

Sea Buckthorn

Sea buckthorn delivers an exceptional mix of vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids that help restore vitality to stressed or depleted skin. Its naturally high levels of vitamins C and E support a brighter, more even-toned complexion while strengthening the skin’s defense against environmental damage. The omega-rich profile—especially omega-7—helps replenish moisture, soften texture, and promote a smoother barrier. Sea buckthorn is especially beneficial for skin that needs repair, radiance, or a more cushioned, hydrated feel.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid draws moisture deep into the skin and helps it stay there, creating a plump, refreshed, and hydrated appearance. It supports elasticity by filling the skin with water, which reduces the look of fine lines and leaves the complexion feeling firm and supple. This ingredient also enhances the performance of other actives by improving overall moisture levels, giving the skin a balanced and well-supported foundation. Whether the skin is dry, dull, or stressed, hyaluronic acid helps restore bounce and long-lasting softness.

Lactobacillus Ferment

Lactobacillus ferment helps reinforce the skin’s microbiome—the natural community of beneficial bacteria that keeps the barrier strong and balanced. It supports calmer, more resilient skin by reducing visible redness and helping regulate the skin’s reaction to environmental stressors. This fermented ingredient also boosts hydration and improves texture by supporting smoother, more refined skin renewal. Over time, lactobacillus ferment contributes to a complexion that feels steady, nourished, and consistently well-behaved.

The cream has a rich but breathable texture—nourishing without being too heavy. It absorbs easily, making it a great choice for both day and night. Many people with sensitive or redness-prone skin report almost immediate relief after applying it.

How to Use It in Your Routine

You can use the Mega-Mushroom Soothing Cream morning and night after cleansing and applying any serums or toners. A little goes a long way—press it gently into the skin instead of rubbing, especially if you’re dealing with irritation or inflammation.

Ideal for:

• Sensitive or reactive skin
• Rosacea-prone complexions
• Skin recovering from over-exfoliation
• Transitioning skin in colder months

If you would like to purchase the Origins Mega-Mushroom Soothing Cream, please shop my Sephora Storefront.

Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Hydra Burst Gel Lotion

Chaga-infused micro hydra-droplets in their transforming gel-to-water moisturizer burst on contact. It absorbs deep into skin’s surface to drench it in refreshing, nutrient-rich hydration. This makes your skin feels more refreshed, calm & comfortable.

Key Ingredients

Reishi Mushroom 

Reishi mushroom offers a powerful blend of antioxidants and adaptogenic compounds that help the skin stay calm, balanced, and resilient. It works to reduce visible redness and irritation by supporting the skin’s natural stress response, making it especially helpful for reactive or barrier-weakened complexions. The triterpenes found in reishi help reinforce the moisture barrier, prevent water loss, and promote a smoother, more refined texture. With consistent use, reishi mushroom supports firmer-looking skin and a complexion that handles daily stress with greater ease.

Fermented Chaga Mushroom

Fermented chaga mushroom brings potent antioxidant protection to the formula. Fermentation helps break the mushroom down so the skin can absorb its benefits more easily, increasing its ability to neutralize free radicals and defend against environmental damage. Chaga supports the skin’s natural repair processes, helping it recover from irritation while promoting a smoother, more even-looking complexion. It’s included to amplify resilience and help the skin stay stronger over time.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

Niacinamide is a multitasking skin savior that improves overall tone, texture, and barrier function. It helps reduce redness, refines the look of pores, balances oil production, and boosts hydration by strengthening the lipid barrier. It also supports a brighter, more even appearance by minimizing the look of dark spots and dullness. In a calming gel lotion, niacinamide works alongside the mushrooms to support clarity and resilience without being too harsh for sensitive skin.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a nourishing antioxidant that protects the skin from oxidative stress caused by pollution, UV exposure, and everyday environmental aggressors. It helps condition the skin and prevents moisture loss, making the formula more hydrating and comforting. Vitamin E also works synergistically with other antioxidants in the product, enhancing their ability to protect your skin barrier and keep it feeling soft and supported.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a humectant that draws water into the skin like a moisture magnet. It helps plump the skin with hydration, making it feel soft, smooth, and bouncy. Because it supports the skin barrier, glycerin helps prevent dehydration and irritation—ideal for a soothing, resilience-focused moisturizer. It ensures long-lasting hydration without heaviness, which is perfect for a gel formula.

 

Butylene Glycol

Butylene glycol enhances the formula’s texture and helps ingredients penetrate more effectively into the skin. It also works as a lightweight humectant, adding a layer of hydration that feels silky rather than greasy. By improving slip and spreadability, it helps the gel lotion glide smoothly across the skin and absorb quickly, giving that fresh, hydrated finish the Mega-Mushroom line is known for.

Dimethicone

Dimethicone is a silky, lightweight silicone that smooths the skin’s surface and locks in moisture without clogging pores. It creates a breathable protective barrier that helps reduce transepidermal water loss, keeping hydration sealed in. It also gives the moisturizer its velvety feel, helping the skin look smoother and more refined. For sensitive or irritated skin, dimethicone can act like a temporary shield that protects while the calming ingredients do their work.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is included for its calming aromatic properties and mild skin-soothing benefits. While primarily playing a sensory role, lavender can help relax the mind and offer a peaceful ritualistic moment during application. It also has gentle antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities, contributing to a balanced, comforted complexion.

Orange Oil

Orange oil provides an uplifting, fresh scent that enhances the sensorial experience. It also contains natural antioxidants and mild brightening properties thanks to its vitamin-rich profile. While its concentration in skincare is usually small, it adds a touch of radiance and a refreshing mood-boosting effect to the ritual.

Patchouli Oil

Patchouli oil brings a grounding, earthy aroma while offering some skin-soothing and balancing benefits. Known for its calming effect on both the skin and the senses, patchouli can help support skin clarity and reduce the feeling of irritation. Its inclusion enriches the overall sensorial experience, tying into the product’s theme of resilience and emotional grounding.

How to Use It in Your Routine:

This gel lotion is used as the last step in your routine. I would start with a dime size amount to see how much product it takes to cover not only your face, but your ears and neck. If you are used to using a more traditional moisturizer, the texture may be something to get used to. Make sure it is 100% dry before adding on makeup.

Ideal for:

• Sensitive or easily reactive skin
• Redness-prone or rosacea-leaning complexions
• Skin recovering from over-exfoliation or barrier irritation
• Dehydrated skin needing lightweight, calming hydration
• Combination or oily skin that still gets inflamed or stressed
• Skin exposed to daily environmental stress (pollution, heat, cold, A/C)
• Skin transitioning into colder months or fluctuating seasons
• Stressed, tight, flushed, or “angry” complexions

If you would like to purchase the Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Hydra Burst Gel Lotion, please shop my Sephora Storefront.

Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion

Now with 10x more Reishi Mushroom, this watery lotion is the perfect 1st layer of hydration. It helps visibly calm your skin and reduce the look of your pores. This lotion also preps for other skincare products and makeup and strengthens your skin barrier.

Key Ingredients

Reishi Mushroom

Reishi mushroom is deeply restorative and known for its ability to help the skin stay calm under stress. It contains beta-glucans and triterpenes that work together to visibly reduce redness, reinforce the moisture barrier, and comfort skin that feels tight or reactive. Reishi is especially loved in skincare because it helps the skin maintain balance — easing sensitivity while promoting smoother, more resilient texture over time.

Fermented Chaga Mushroom

Fermented Chaga is a potent antioxidant powerhouse that helps shield the skin from daily environmental stressors. The fermentation process breaks down the mushroom into smaller molecules, allowing its protective compounds to absorb more efficiently. Chaga helps reduce the look of fatigue, reinforces the skin’s defenses, and supports a more even, serene complexion. It’s an ideal ingredient for anyone whose skin faces pollution, fluctuating temperatures, or chronic dryness.

Licorice Root

Licorice root brings a calming and brightening touch to irritated or uneven skin. Rich in soothing licochalcone and brightening glabridin, it helps soften the appearance of discoloration while easing redness and inflammation. Licorice root is gentle enough for sensitive complexions but effective enough to help address stubborn post-acne marks or blotchiness. It promotes a more luminous, uniform tone without triggering irritation.

Plant-Derived Hyaluronic Acid

Plant-derived hyaluronic acid delivers a surge of clean, weightless hydration that instantly plumps and comforts the skin. By attracting and holding water at multiple levels of the epidermis, it helps relieve tightness, improve suppleness, and smooth out dehydration lines. This form of hyaluronic acid absorbs quickly, leaving the skin feeling refreshed and cushioned without any stickiness. It’s especially beneficial for skin that feels depleted, overworked, or in need of a replenishing moisture boost.

How to Use It in Your Routine:

• Apply AM and PM.
• Shake the bottle and pour desired amount into hands. (I would start with less than you think you need. You can always go back and add more, but you can’t stick it back in the bottle once it’s out.)
• Pat onto cleansed skin before serum and moisturizer.
• Similar to an essence or toner, this treatment lotion is a second step in your skincare routine.

Ideal for:

• Sensitive, redness-prone skin that reacts to washing, weather changes, or heat (including hot work environments like restaurants, barista work, theaters, or kitchens)
• Skin that stings, burns, or flushes easily from new products, sweating, or active ingredients like retinol/exfoliants
• Dry or dehydrated skin that feels tight, rough, or irritated and needs lightweight hydration
• Skin dealing with barrier damage from harsh cleansers, over-exfoliation, or frequent makeup removal
• People experiencing seasonal irritation, windburn, or cold-weather sensitivity
• Skin stressed from long hours wearing masks or exposure to environmental aggressors (pollution, heat, humidity)
• Dull or fatigued skin needing a calming, hydrating first step before serums
• Combination or oily skin needing a soothing, non-greasy prep step

If you would like to purchase the Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion, please shop my Sephora Storefront.

The Modern Legacy of an Ancient Royal Mushroom

From their beginnings high in the Tibetan Plateau to their coveted status within the royal courts of ancient China, cordyceps have always been surrounded by an air of rarity, vitality, and mystique. Once harvested only from remote mountain regions and reserved for nobles, monks, and emperors, these “Himalayan vitality mushrooms” remained difficult to access until the 1990s, when they gained global attention after the Chinese Olympic team credited them with improved recovery, stamina, and overall resilience.

Today, this centuries-old ingredient has evolved from an elite tonic into a powerful, science-backed adaptogen that anyone can incorporate into their wellness routine. Origins’ Dr. Andrew Weil Mega-Mushroom Soothing Cream is a perfect example of how modern skincare translates this ancient wisdom into something gentle, effective, and deeply comforting for stressed or reactive skin.

By infusing a long-revered fungus into a contemporary formula, Origins bridges the gap between history and innovation—allowing you to experience the same calming, fortifying benefits that once belonged only to royalty and high-altitude healers.

The Origins Mega-Mushroom Soothing Cream stands out because it blends traditional herbal wisdom with modern dermatology in a way that directly benefits stressed, irritated, and reactive skin—without relying on heavy textures or harsh actives. Instead of repeating the same claims, here are the core features that truly make this cream unique.

Experience the Mushroom Magic for Yourself

If you are a student or teacher, you can get 15% off your order!

Here’s how it works:

1.  Go to the Origins student and teacher discount page
2. Click “Verify My Status” under either the student or teacher section
3. Fill out the form and upload any required documentation (like a school ID or transcript)
4. Once verified, you’ll receive a one-time 15% off code to use at check out 

If you would like to purchase any of the Origins Mega-Mushroom Collection, please shop my Sephora Storefront.