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Dry skin may be best recognized by flaking,, but it can also show up as general redness, a tight feeling over the face, and even extra oil. (While it may seem counterintuitive to associate oil with dry skin, the body will sometimes produce more oil to compensate for a lack of moisture.) 

No matter how dry skin shows up, it’s pretty much always frustrating and uncomfortable. And since everyone’s skin is different, it can be hard to find which products and lifestyle changes will help your individual complexion.

If you’ve tried time and again to keep your skin moisturized with little to no success, there’s a surprising culprit you should keep on your radar. Let’s dive into the relationship between vitamin D and hydrated skin.* 

The connection between vitamin D gaps & dry skin

In fact, one randomized controlled trial in the journal Nutrients found a relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and dry skin2: Researchers discovered that participants with lower vitamin D levels also had lower average skin moisture. “Our finding suggests a relationship between serum vitamin D3 levels and hydration of the stratum corneum [aka, the surface layer of your skin],”* the report reads. 

In terms of how, exactly, the vitamin affects skin health, we know that vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help protect skin cells.* Plus, vitamin D plays a crucial role in thyroid health as it helps regulate the production of thyroid hormones3.* These thyroid hormones play a key role in keeping your hair, skin, and nails youthful and strong (in addition to influencing metabolism, mood, sleep, etc.). 

And while we’re on the topic of hair health: “We know that vitamin D is very important for the hair follicle and therefore hair growth,”* says board-certified dermatologist and hair care expert Raechele Cochran Gathers, M.D., on an episode of Clean Beauty School. “In fact, vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins needed for maintaining and creating functioning hair follicles.”* Add that to the vitamin’s roster of beauty benefits. 

How to get enough vitamin D

But it’s pretty difficult to cross that 50 ng/ml threshold (and maintain it for life) without vitamin D supplementation.* Supplementation can help keep your vitamin D levels steady, no matter what time of year it is and how much sun you get in your daily life.* Double-board-certified integrative medicine doctor Amy Shah, M.D., said it best in her review for mbg’s vitamin D3 potency+: “Achieving vitamin D sufficiency isn’t a seasonal need; it’s a daily endeavor.” 

So if you’ve hit a wall trying to restore moisture in your skin, a high-quality vitamin D supplement can help give your skin the final hydration nudge it needs.* Not to mention, our vitamin D3 potency+ supplement also contains organic and virgin avocado, olive, and flaxseed oils, all of which support skin health as well.* In fact, one user even considers it her “secret weapon for radiant skin.”* As she writes in a personal review: “I’ve been taking mbg vitamin D3 potency+ every night for about two months now, and it has made a massive improvement in my skin’s clarity and hydration—even compared to the vitamin D3 supplement I was taking before.”*

The takeaway

If you’ve tried to hydrate your skin without success, you might want to check your vitamin D levels. Luckily, vitamin D insufficiency is 100% fixable with a targeted daily supplement, and an effective formula can help fill that dietary gap, as well as provide other benefits to your skin and overall health.* Check out our top vitamin d supplement picks here.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.