Vitamin F
The overwhelming opinion within the skincare community is that vitamin F should be your skin's new BFF. But what is it? Well, in short, vitamin F is fat. In skincare, vitamin F is used to represent linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that is rich in omega-6. Fats are also known as lipids, and they're incredibly important when it comes to maintaining a strong, healthy stratum corneum (the protective outer layer of the skin). If your skin barrier function is working optimally, it'll prevent aggressors from getting in and causing water loss.
- Type of ingredient: Vitamin, fatty acid
- Main benefits: Hydrates, replenishes, is high in antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory, restores the skin's barrier.
- Who should use it: In general, all skin types would benefit from vitamin F usage, but especially those with acneic skin.
- How often can you use it?: Vitamin F is safe to use twice a day, morning and night.
- Works well with: Hydrators, linoleic acid, anti-aging products, and SPF products.
- Don't use with: In general, vitamin F can be used with all ingredients safely.
What Is Vitamin F?
Vitamin F would seem to be, well, a vitamin—but it's actually not, at least not by standard definition. It more accurately fits the description of a fat, essential fatty acid, or lipid. "[Vitamin F] is a term that refers to the combination of two essential fatty acids: linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid (ALA) which offer a wealth of health benefits such as reduced inflammation, improved cardiac health, mental health support, and controlled blood sugar" says Gonzalez.
Side Effects of Vitamin F
Vitamin F has no known side effects—provided you use it as directed. "It can be used morning or night," says Chimento, "however, if the product contains a retinol or vitamin A component, it is best to use at bedtime." That's because retinol and vitamin A products may cause redness or drying. So exercise caution.
How to Use It
Vitamin F can be found in various forms and is incorporated in many different skincare products. From serums to oils to creams, vitamin F is a valuable ingredient that many brands are utilizing. The proper way to use it varies depending on the product, but the pure form of the oil can be used both morning and night as part of your daily routine. As a general rule of thumb, it's best to start slow. "As a topical, it can be used one to two times per day," says Petrillo. "But it is best to start off with once per day to see how your skin reacts to it before increasing frequency."
Alternately, you can create your own mask by mixing vitamin F into a mild face cream or serum. "Add the oil directly to the portion you will be adding to your skin—not to the entire jar or bottle as you can disrupt the concentrations of the ingredients in your product and potentially decrease the half life," says Petrillo. "Make sure to leave the mask on long enough to allow the ingredients to penetrate the skin."