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Did you know? Vitamin A is much more than a skincare ingredient. It is an essential nutrient involved in cell growth, differentiation and communication throughout the body, including the skin.

In fact, the vitamin A story you know from your skincare routine starts with the same nutrient found in your diet and supplements. Retinol, one of the most familiar ingredients in skincare, is a form of vitamin A.

Here, our skin researchers separate fact from fiction and explore why this essential nutrient has earned its reputation as one of the most important vitamins for skin health.

What is vitamin A?

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in normal cell growth, differentiation, immune function and many other processes throughout the body.

There are several forms of vitamin A. Retinol is a form of vitamin A, while retinoids such as retinal and retinoic acid are related vitamin A compounds that play important roles in the skin. This is why vitamin A is so well known in skincare: topical retinoids work by influencing processes involved in skin cell renewal and differentiation.

Vitamin A can be obtained from animal-derived foods such as liver, eggs and oily fish, while the body can also convert provitamin A carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, from foods including carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and other colourful vegetables.

As an essential nutrient, vitamin A is also available through food supplements. For skin health, an adequate intake of vitamin A can complement a well-rounded skincare routine by supporting normal skin from within — alongside topical skincare that works directly on the skin's surface.

What are the skin benefits of vitamin A?

Vitamin A has a fundamental role in maintaining healthy skin cells and supporting normal cell differentiation and renewal.

This is also why vitamin A has become such a celebrated ingredient in topical skincare. Retinoids, including retinol, are widely used in skincare routines targeting the visible signs of ageing, uneven texture and other concerns.

But the story doesn't stop at topical skincare.

Because vitamin A is an essential nutrient, getting enough through your diet and, where appropriate, supplementation helps support normal skin function from within. Think of it as a complementary approach: topical vitamin A derivatives work directly on the skin, while dietary vitamin A contributes to the body's overall nutritional foundations for healthy skin.

Vitamin A also works at a cellular level. Its active metabolites interact with receptors that influence gene expression, helping regulate processes involved in cell growth and differentiation.

Vitamin A and hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in the skin and is well known for its ability to help maintain hydration.

Interestingly, research has found that retinoic acid, an active vitamin A derivative, can influence hyaluronan production and accumulation in the epidermis. This provides another fascinating link between vitamin A biology and the skin's natural hydration systems.

This doesn't mean that taking vitamin A directly "creates hyaluronic acid", but it does highlight the important role vitamin A and its derivatives can play in skin biology.

What vitamins and minerals work alongside vitamin A?

Skin health is never about one nutrient working alone.

Zinc is involved in several aspects of vitamin A metabolism, including its transport and utilisation within the body. This makes zinc an important nutrient to consider alongside vitamin A as part of a balanced approach to skin health.

Vitamin C is another important nutrient for the skin. Unlike vitamin A, humans cannot produce vitamin C ourselves, so we need to obtain it through our diet or supplements. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation and also plays an important role as an antioxidant.

Together, these nutrients support different aspects of normal skin function, from cellular processes to antioxidant protection and collagen formation.

Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that supports the maintenance of normal bones, teeth and muscles, as well as the normal function of the immune system.

Known as the sunshine vitamin, our bodies can produce vitamin D when skin is exposed to sunlight. However, in the UK, there isn't enough UVB sunlight from around October to early March for most people to make sufficient amounts.

That’s why UK guidance recommends considering a daily 10µg vitamin D supplement during autumn and winter, helping support your nutritional needs as the days get shorter.

What supplements contain vitamin A?

As the “skin vitamin”, our researchers advocate the use of vitamin A as a daily essential for all skin types and ages. It is found in Skin Vit A+ , Skin Omegas+ and Skin Complete unique duo set. Our smart supplement systems Skin Ultimate and Skin Moisture IQ all feature Skin Vit A+ to help give you the brightened and radiant complexion we’re all looking for.