A Powerhouse Ingredient I Don’t Want To Live Without

What Surprised Me Most About Using Chaga on Skin

It started the way many good discoveries do — with curiosity.

The amazing thing about herbs and plants is that if you’re tuned in enough- they call out to you. They WANT you to meet them, to learn how to work with them.

And back around 2016, chaga was doing just that.

I kept seeing chaga praised in herbal circles as this deeply protective, almost legendary mushroom. Traditionally brewed as a tea, studied for its antioxidant activity, respected in folk medicine… I started consuming it too for the health benefits. I acquired a massive stash from an ethical harvester who was packing up and moving across the country.

As some time went on, I felt further called to dig into the science behind the topical benefits.

Hardly anyone was talking about what it could do for the skin.

So naturally, I went down the rabbit hole.

And what I found made me look at skincare very differently.

First — What Exactly Is Chaga?

Chaga is a medicinal fungus that grows primarily on birch trees in cold northern climates (we’re lucky enough to have it in Canada). It survives brutal environmental conditions — freezing temperatures, harsh winds, intense seasonal swings.

To do that, it produces an impressive arsenal of protective compounds.

When I began studying its chemistry, one thing became very clear:

👉 The same compounds that help chaga withstand environmental stress may help skin do the same.

Not by forcing the skin to behave differently — but by supporting resilience.

And resilient skin is healthy skin.

Why I Became Interested in Using It Topically

Most skincare focuses on adding moisture.

But over the years, I’ve become far more interested in something deeper:

How do we help skin behave like strong, capable skin again?

Because when skin is functioning well, many common complaints quietly improve.

Chaga caught my attention because it supports three things skin constantly needs:

• Protection from oxidative stress

• Calm when irritation shows up

• Reinforcement when the barrier feels challenged

Not flashy.
Not trendy.
Just deeply supportive.

Exactly the kind of ingredient I respect.

The Science That Made Me Pay Attention

Chaga contains several biologically active compounds that are particularly interesting for skin:

Powerful antioxidants

Chaga is rich in polyphenols and melanin — compounds known to help neutralize free radicals.

Free radicals are unstable molecules generated by things like UV exposure, pollution, and stress. Over time, they contribute to premature skin aging and barrier decline.

Think of antioxidants as quiet bodyguards.

They don’t shout.
They don’t tingle.
But they stand watch.

Naturally soothing compounds

Skin that looks reactive often is reactive — usually because the barrier is under strain.

Botanicals with calming properties can help take the edge off without overwhelming the skin.

Many people notice that when their skin feels calmer, it also starts behaving more predictably.

Beta-glucans — the underrated skin supporters

Chaga contains beta-glucans, long studied for their ability to support hydration and skin repair.

What fascinates me about beta-glucans is that they don’t just sit on the surface — they help improve how skin holds moisture over time.

Not temporary softness.

Actual support.

Why I Prefer a Double-Extracted Tincture Format

When working with botanicals, extraction matters.

A properly prepared tincture helps pull out the mushroom’s beneficial compounds so they can be evenly incorporated into a formula.

More importantly, it allows the ingredient to integrate beautifully into creams without feeling heavy or gritty.

When an ingredient disappears seamlessly into a formula — that’s usually a sign it belongs there.

The beauty of the double-extracted tincture that I make, is that it pulls every available compound from the chaga. First I steep it in high-proof alcohol (which I also make myself) and then simmer it in distilled water to further extract.

Yes, it’s a lengthy process, but well worth it- this stuff is liquid gold and any skincare company who includes it is charging very high premiums!

Where Chaga Fits Into a Skincare Routine

I don’t see chaga as a “hero” ingredient meant to do everything.

I see it as a strategic supporter. (Refer back to the bodyguard energy.)

Especially helpful for skin that:

• Feels environmentally stressed
• Looks dull or tired
• Becomes reactive in colder months
• Needs reinforcement, not aggression

It pairs particularly well with lipid-rich creams because while the oils support the barrier physically, chaga helps support the skin biologically.

That combination is where things get interesting.

So naturally, this is why I include it in our Daily Glow Face Cream and our Indulgence Body Crème

What I Noticed Personally

Whenever I test an ingredient, I pay attention to one question:

Does my skin become easier to live in?

Not just softer for an hour.
Not artificially plumped.

But calmer. Stronger. Less unpredictable.

With chaga, what stood out most was how balanced my skin began to feel — especially during seasonal transitions when skin typically becomes more temperamental.

No drama.
Just steadiness.

And that glow!! (Each of our products are aptly and quite practically named!)

And steady skin is something I will always choose over quick cosmetic wins.

A Quick Reality Check (Because Honest Skincare Matters)

Chaga is not a miracle.

No ingredient is.

Healthy skin is always the result of multiple supportive choices working together:

• Protecting the barrier

• Using thoughtful cleansers

• Choosing lipid-rich moisturizers

• Avoiding unnecessary irritation

Botanicals should support the skin — not carry the entire workload.

When formulators rely on a single trendy ingredient to sell a product, I get skeptical.

Skin is more sophisticated than that.

Who Might Especially Appreciate Chaga-Infused Skincare?

In my experience, it tends to resonate with people who prefer a quieter approach to skin health.

Those who value:

• Ingredient integrity

• Grassroots effort

• Botanical intelligence

• Long-game skin support

• Products that nurture rather than force

It’s less about chasing perfection…

And more about helping skin stay comfortable in its own structure.

Why I Choose Ingredients Like This

When I formulate, I’m always asking:

Does this ingredient genuinely support the skin — or is it just good marketing?

Chaga earned its place through research, observation, and real-world testing.

Not hype.

Not trends.

Just function.

Because truly good skincare should help your skin feel like itself again — only stronger.

The Bigger Picture

Beautiful skin is rarely the result of one dramatic product.

More often, it comes from consistent support… fewer disruptive ingredients… and formulations that respect how intelligent skin already is.

Sometimes the most powerful improvements don’t come from doing more —

but from choosing better.

If your skin has been asking for steadiness rather than intensity, ingredients like chaga can be a meaningful part of that conversation.

Quietly protective.
Deeply supportive.
Rooted in nature’s own resilience.