skincare
Vitamins in Skincare: A Guide to the Skin-Boosting Vitamins You Need to Know About
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13 min read
Many of our customers who get in touch with us have heard that vitamins can help the skin, but donât feel confident about how they help or where to even begin. And...
Many of our customers who get in touch with us have heard that vitamins can help the skin, but donât feel confident about how they help or where to even begin. And the truth is, skincare can feel complicated at times, but weâre here to support you during every step of your journey.
But when you break things down, vitamins are actually one of the easiest ways to support your skin. They each bring something slightly different to the table, and once you understand their differences, you can mix them into your routine in a way that feels natural rather than overwhelming.
So, consider this blog your essential, need-to-know guide on how vitamins can help with your skincare routine, treat signs of ageing or congested skin and leave your skin feeling revitalised.
Why Vitamins Matter More Than You Think
The skin is the largest organ of the body, and it loves to let you know if it needs refreshing â in many ways it has its own language. Dullness is usually tired skin asking for brightness, fine lines are often about collagen slowing down with age, and skin sensitivity can be your barrier crying out for help.
Vitamins slot into that language neatly because they support your skin at a level it understands. They donât overpower it; instead, they encourage it and help to support your skinâs health â especially when used consistently.
And more importantly, theyâre versatile. Whether your skin is dry, oily, sensitive or somewhere in between, there's usually a vitamin that fits your needs.
Letâs Start With Vitamin C for Your Skin
People often associate vitamin C with foods such as citrus fruits, strawberries and veg including kale and sprouts. But, at Face The Future, we often hear questions like: âI want my skin to look brighter, should I try vitamin C?â. Itâs a fair question, because Vitamin C is often the first vitamin that people fall in love with because you can feel its effect quite quickly. Not overnight, but within a few weeks your skin looks and feels more awake. Thereâs a clarity, a kind of quiet vibrancy, that creeps in without you even noticing until one day your skin feels energised.
What surprises many people, though, is how vitamin C feels. Most formulas have a light, bright texture â fresh, clean, almost energising. You apply it and your skin seems to perk up, the same way you might after a good nightâs sleep. If you're using a stronger version, you might get a tiny tingle at first. Thatâs normal and usually settles quickly.
What vitamin C is doing underneath that calm surface is impressive though. Itâs brightening your skin, supporting collagen and protecting your skin from environmental stress, helping to fade old marks or uneven tone â and it can reduce redness, treat hyperpigmentation and fight against signs of ageing.
We recommend you use a vitamin C serum every morning, as it works beautifully in the morning, especially under sunscreen and suits most people and skin types. However, acne-prone or blemish-prone skin can be sensitive to vitamin C.
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A lovely starter option if you want brighter, smoother skin without the high price tag. This gentle formula delivers a healthy dose of vitamin C while keeping the skin barrier happy, thanks to added ceramides.
For a more luxurious take on vitamin C, this potent serum helps enhance radiance, even skin tone and give your complexion that fresh, revitalised look. Perfect if you love a premium skincare moment.
Vitamin A: The One Skintellects Swear By
Vitamin A is often described as a powerful ingredient, but that doesnât mean itâs harsh or difficult to use. Its strength lies in the way it supports healthy skin function, because itâs good at boosting cell renewal, helping to refine texture, and improving the appearance of fine lines, congestion and uneven tone.
Some people worry that vitamin A might cause irritation, but this usually happens only when the skin is not given enough time to adjust â or when itâs used in high concentrations. When introduced gradually and used at a rate that suits your skin, most people tolerate it very well.
Rather than thinking of vitamin A as âstrong,â itâs more accurate to think of it as active. It works in a meaningful, measurable way, which is why a slow and steady approach is recommended. We recommend that you start by applying it a couple of nights per week and increase frequency as your skin becomes accustomed to it.
With consistent use, vitamin A can deliver noticeable yet natural-looking improvements, including smoother texture, clearer pores, a more even tone and a fresher overall appearance. But, the golden rule â and something we repeat in clinic â is to start slowly. Your skin needs time to adapt.
From the best vitamin A creams for wrinkles to gentle vitamin A serums for sensitive skin, our curated collection helps boost collagen, refine texture and support a healthier, more radiant complexion every day.
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If youâre looking to tackle early signs of ageing, here are two retinol favourites worth exploring â one gentle on the budget and one for those who love a more premium formula:
A brilliant introductory retinol that helps smooth fine lines, refine texture and brighten the complexion, all while remaining kind to sensitive skin. A great everyday option if youâre just starting your retinol journey.
A more advanced formula designed to deliver powerful overnight skin renewal. It helps improve clarity, reduce breakouts and soften visible signs of ageing, making it ideal for those ready for a stronger retinol boost.
Vitamin D: The Quiet Helper That Rarely Gets the Attention It Deserves
Now, vitamin D is interesting because most people donât even realise it comes in skincare. They hear âvitamin Dâ and think about supplements or sunlight, not facial creams. But we often see vitamin D working wonders for people whose skin often feels sensitive and reactive. This could be in the form of cold weather, stress or fatigue â with around a fifth of the UK population being deficient in vitamin D.
Vitamin D is one of the most comforting vitamins used in skincare. Instead of focusing on brightening or speeding up cell turnover, it helps support the skinâs natural barrier, which is the protective layer that keeps moisture in and irritation out. When that barrier feels stronger, the skin often feels calmer too: dryness becomes less noticeable, sensitivity is easier to manage, and that tight, uncomfortable feeling after cleansing tends to soften.
Many people with dryness or reactive skin describe vitamin D-rich creams as instantly soothing, almost like a soft blanket for the skin. Itâs the kind of product you reach for on days when your complexion feels unsettled or just not at its best. For those mornings when your skin feels a little âoffâ, vitamin D can help restore a sense of comfort and balance.
You can use it morning or night, though we recommend using it in the evening because it feels particularly nurturing after a long day, or after using more active ingredients like vitamin A. Youâll also often see vitamin D paired with barrier-supporting ingredients such as ceramides or peptides, which helps create formulas that feel strengthening and restorative.
Vitamin D is helpful against many skin conditions, including psoriasis and acne. Itâs not a dramatic ingredient, but the steady comfort and support it provides can contribute to a healthier-feeling, more resilient complexion over time.
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If youâre looking to support healthy skin and overall wellbeing with a boost of vitamin D, here are two great options to explore:
A simple, affordable way to top up your vitamin D levels while also supporting skin health and antioxidant protection â perfect for everyday use.
A luxurious overnight treatment that combines pro-vitamin D with rejuvenating peptides to help replenish, firm and nourish the skin as you sleep.
Vitamin E: The Soother, The Softener, The One That Makes Everything Feel Better
If vitamin A is the retoucher and vitamin C is the brightener, vitamin E is like that comforting friend who comes round with a blanket and a cup of tea. Itâs soft, gentle, and beautifully moisturising â making it ideal for skin that feels dry, reactive or weather-worn.
People often forget that vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant. It helps protect the skin from everyday environmental stressors, supports the skinâs natural repair processes and contributes to a stronger, more resilient barrier. It can also help soften that papery, tight dryness many people notice in colder months.
One of the great things about vitamin E is how well it pairs with vitamin C. The two ingredients enhance each otherâs antioxidant benefits, almost as if they were meant to work side by side, and vitamin E formulas tend to have that creamy, velvety texture that feels instantly comforting.
If your skin is feeling tight, flaky or like youâve pushed your actives a little too far, vitamin E can be a gentle way to bring back some softness and comfort. Because of its antioxidant and moisturising benefits, vitamin E is also effective at treating dark circles.
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A simple, affordable vitamin E serum, this is a great product if you want to support your skinâs hydration and give your skin a healthy glow without spending too much.
A premium antioxidant serum that blends vitamin E (with vitamin C and ferulic acid) to deeply nourish, protect against environmental damage, and help your skin stay radiant and resilient.
How These Vitamins Work Together in Your Skincare Routine
You might be thinking, âDo I really need all of these?â No. Not at all.
Most people naturally settle into using two or three, depending on what their skin is doing that season. The trick is listening to your skin rather than sticking to a rigid plan.
A good skin routine might look something like:
- Vitamin C in the morning for brightness and protection.
- Vitamin A for a few evenings a week to keep things smooth and clear.
- Vitamin D or E on the other nights to comfort, strengthen and hydrate.
Skin loves rhythm, but it also loves being treated. If one night your face feels a little warm or irritated, skip vitamin A and use vitamin D or E instead. Being flexible with your routine is more than allowed, and actually welcomed if you're tapping into how your skin feels.
And remember, your skin changes with stress, hormones, age, weather, diet, sleep⌠sometimes it changes naturally, simply because life is happening and your skin reacts to this. Vitamins are there to support you though, but you will first need to figure out which vitamin your skin needs.
Final Thoughts
The world tells us to chase perfection, but skin doesnât need to be perfect. It needs support; a warm hand rather than a strict rulebook. Vitamins C, A, D and E offer that in their own way â giving brightness, renewal, resilience and comfort.
Used consistently and with a bit of patience, they help your skin feel more revitalised. But, if youâre unsure what your next step should be, weâre here to help. Whether itâs finding the right vitamin C cream, choosing a gentle vitamin A product, or understanding which supplements your skin genuinely needs, our expert team at Face the Future is always ready to give your advice for life.
Contact us to learn more about our treatments. Alternatively, you can book an expert virtual skincare consultation or our Skin Test for instant recommendations with one of our skin experts for tailored guidance on treating your skin with vitamin-infused skincare.
For bespoke advice on the best vitamin products, call our skincare experts on 0113 282 7744 or email them at shop@facethefuture.co.uk.
Shop The Article
La Roche-Posay Redermic Anti-Ageing Concentrate Retinol Moisturiser
Combat the visible signs of ageing with La Roche Posay Redermic Anti-Ageing Concentrate Retinol Moisturiser. This improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation.
âŹ34,95
PCA Skin Intensive Clarity Treatment 0.5% Pure Retinol Night
This corrective treatment combines retinol and salicylic acid to treat and prevent breakouts.
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SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
A powerful antioxidant serum that can be used as maximum anti-ageing skincare. It protects this skin from free radical damage and oxidative stress.
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