INGREDIENT 101
HUNTING FOR TRUFFLES
Underground Skin Savers
They’re not just the diamonds of fine dining; truffles are entering the beauty industry. But do they live up to the hype?
This shampoo moisturizes your locks with white truffle oil, delivering shine and softness without weight. PHILIP B
By Lora Grady
ous as a pile of earthy truffle shavings atop a bowl of pasta — except maybe a mask that contains the rare ingredient. Beauty companies are seizing the opportunity to make them a part of your daily routine. The claim? Truffles, a type of edible fungus that grows underground near roots of certain trees, contain antioxidants and fatty acids that increase skin’s moisture levels and even out tone. The most sought-after varieties are white (Tuber magnatum Pico) and black truffles (Tuber melanosporum Vittad). Because they’re so rare, and also highly perishable, they’re known for their price tag — large ones have sold for upwards of $400,000. While truffles have been on the menu for millennia (ancient Egyptians ate them with goose fat, while the Greeks and Romans believed they were an aphrodisiac), they’ve only recently made their way into the beauty world. Estée Lauder was among the first to feature truffles — specifically the rare black diamond truffle — as a key ingredient in skincare in 2016, for its 48
anti-aging effects. The truffles are transformed into a pure extract in a process that takes 10,000 hours, says Shawn Hlowatzki, Estée Lauder beauty expert. Philip Berkovitz, hair stylist and founder of the Philip B. product line, uses white truffle in a conditioning shampoo. “They contain conditioning fatty acids and SOD [the superoxide dismutase enzyme], which is packed with antioxidants and leads to smoother hair and skin over time,” he says. It may be too early to establish any concrete claims that the fungus may protect against free radicals, according to Toronto-based naturopath Dr. Ashley James. While she acknowledges truffles are indeed a source of SOD, she says, “There is no evidence to suggest that applying truffle to the skin will result in an antioxidant effect.” Still, it’s too appetizing an ingredient to pass up and beauty brands are getting on board, which means there’s hope for further research. Stay tuned to K Beauty brands like Neogen and U.S.-based Temple Spa for new releases containing the glamorous fungi.
With white truffle, this moisture stick for eyes and face hydrates and protects from environmental damage. NEOGEN DERMALOGY
White Truffle Laycure Oil Stick, $22, Amazon.ca.
The treatment contains Black Diamond Truffle extract for more evenly toned skin. ESTÉE LAUDER
Re-Nutriv Ultimate Diamond Sculpting/Refinishing Dual Infusion, $420, at Hudson’s Bay.
COSMETICSMAG.COM | SPRING 2018
Photo: Shutterstock (trufle).
FEW THINGS IN LIFE are as luxuri-
White Truffle Ultra-Rich Moisturizing Shampoo, $79, at Nordstrom.