Fungi are everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. And they tend to be pretty misunderstood. Yeast, mold, and mushrooms are not plants, not bacteria, and not just spooky Halloween germs. They are a completely different branch of life, and they play a much bigger role in your environment, your skin, and your cosmetics than you probably realize. This week we break down what it means to be a fungus in a way that finally makes sense, from the cell-wall secret ingredient that separates them from bacteria and plants to the digestive reason they can be both helpful and harmful. This episode also gets into one of the strangest and most useful parts of fungi - their byproducts. From ancient moldy-bread medicine to modern ingredients like citric acid, azelaic acid, beta carotene, and fermented squalane, fungi show up everywhere once you know what to look for. If you care about skincare, cosmetic preservation, microbiomes, or just want to stop side-eyeing mushrooms every time they pop up on your feed, or in your lawn, this one is for you. Perfect for anyone with a little mycophobia, a lot of curiosity, or a growing obsession with the science behind beauty products. By the end, fungi may still seem weird - but they’ll make a whole lot more sense. We are chatting about: Why fungi are similar to humans What chitin is and why it matters in fungal cell walls The difference between yeasts, molds, and mushrooms How fungi help decompose matter and recycle nutrients Why your skin microbiome includes both bacteria and fungi The real risks behind fungal infections like athlete’s foot, ringworm, and fungal acne How cosmetics get contaminated, and how GMP and preservatives help prevent it Which fungal-derived ingredients show up in skincare, including snow mushroom, reishi, shiitake, chaga, cordyceps, and more Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where Sciences Gets a Hot New Makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products. Join us in the Science Salon! Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, a curious consumer, or just tired of being told coconut oil cures everything, you’re in the right place. Let's gossip about all things beauty together! Pull up a chair, your appointment's about to start. Questions About Your Cosmetics? Call NOW! (801) 901-3804 Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with more sources. www.beautyxbeaker.com Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube! @beautyxbeaker @natbxb @sadiebxb Contact us at info@beautyxbeaker.com Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and music and Hailey Romero for our branding.
