Vitamin D is the odd one out among the skincare vitamins. It's far less common than A, C or E, it's more often a supporting ingredient than a headline one, and it comes with a distinction worth being clear about from the start.
Skincare vitamin D is not a supplement
Let's deal with this first, because it's the most common misunderstanding. Vitamin D in a moisturiser is a cosmetic ingredient working on the skin. It is not a route to raising vitamin D levels in your body, and it isn't an alternative to a supplement or to sensible sun exposure.
If your interest is nutritional — and in the UK, where most of us get little sunlight between October and March, it may well be — our vitamin D explainer covers the supplement side properly. The two topics share a name and very little else.
What it does in a formula
In cosmetic skincare, vitamin D and its derivatives are used in formulas aimed at leaving skin feeling comfortable and conditioned, and looking healthier and more even. It's typically found in barrier-focused moisturisers and multi-vitamin formulations rather than as a standalone active.
You'll rarely find a "vitamin D serum" in the way you'd find a vitamin C one. It tends to appear as part of a broader formula — which is a fair reflection of its role.
Who it suits
Vitamin D formulas generally suit dry or dull-looking skin, and anyone drawn to a vitamin-rich moisturiser rather than a targeted single-active approach. It's gentle and doesn't require tolerance-building.
If you have a diagnosed skin condition, that's a conversation for your GP or a dermatologist rather than a cosmetic product — vitamin D derivatives are used medically in some contexts, and those are prescription treatments, not the same thing as a moisturiser.
How to use it
As directed on the product, typically as part of your moisturising step. It's undemanding and layers with anything, including retinol, niacinamide and the acids.
And for the avoidance of doubt: wear sunscreen. Skipping SPF to raise vitamin D levels is a poor trade — a supplement is the sensible route.
Explore our vitamin D skincare, or see all active skincare.