Are Your Skin Care Products Blocking Your Vitamin D?

We’ve all been told to “get a little sunshine” for vitamin D — but what if your body couldn’t fully use that sunshine?
As a functional nutrition counselor and holistic practitioner, I see this all the time — people with low vitamin D despite spending time outside. One overlooked reason? What we put on our skin.

How the Body Makes Vitamin D:
Your skin naturally produces vitamin D when UVB rays hit cholesterol in skin cells. That sunlight triggers a conversion process that allows your body to make and store vitamin D — a hormone that supports mood, immune function, hormones, and bone strength.

The Hidden Barrier:
Many everyday products — lotions, sunscreens, and body washes — contain occlusive ingredients like silicones, mineral oil, and synthetic waxes. These ingredients can create a film over the skin that reduces its ability to interact with sunlight.

It’s like wearing an invisible raincoat — your skin feels smooth, but it can’t breathe or synthesize vitamin D effectively.

Ingredients to Watch Out For:
🚫 Dimethicone (silicone)
🚫 Mineral oil
🚫 Parabens
🚫 Petrolatum
🚫 Synthetic fragrances

These aren’t inherently evil — but daily use creates build-up, especially if you’re not exfoliating or using natural oils that absorb cleanly.

Better Options:
✅ Jojoba oil – mimics your skin’s natural sebum, light and breathable
✅ Olive oil – rich in antioxidants and natural fats that mimic your skin’s own protective oils
✅ Coconut oil – antimicrobial and vitamin-rich
✅ Herbal-infused oils – deliver plant nutrients while supporting the skin’s barrier naturally

A Holistic Approach:
Functional wellness is about connection — every system in your body works together.
When your skin can breathe, your liver detoxes more efficiently, your hormones balance more easily, and your mood stabilizes. Vitamin D plays a role in all of it.

Final Thought:
You don’t need to give up your skincare — just make it smarter. Choose clean, breathable, nourishing ingredients that support both your skin and your internal systems.

✨ Your body was designed to thrive — sometimes, it just needs space and support to do what it’s meant to do.

Below are some alternatives that are gentler on the skin and more supportive of your body’s natural rhythms. They’re not perfect, but they’re a step in the right direction. 🌞
Have you found a lotion, body wash, or sunscreen that feels aligned with this approach? Share your favorites — together we can build a list of options that actually honor our skin.

🛁 Products That Align (and Why They Matter)

When we talk about nurturing your skin and supporting your body’s vitamin D process, not all products are created equal. Here are two standout options that reflect what “skin-friendly, body-wise” really looks like for sunscreens:

• Badger Daily Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 30): This formula uses non-nano zinc oxide as the active ingredient and avoids heavy occlusive films or synthetic polymer barriers. It lets your skin breathe, while offering sun protection when you need it.

• Sky & Sol Mineral Sunscreen Lotion: Active: non-nano zinc oxide 25%. Inactive ingredients include grass-fed tallow, jojoba oil, and other plant-derived emollients. From a functional-nutrition view this is very good — the skin remains supported, not sealed off.
  While daily use of any sunscreen will reduce direct vitamin D synthesis in the covered area (since zinc reflects UVB rays), these formulas are far better aligned with your skin’s needs than many mainstream sunscreens that use film-forming polymers and silicones.

  Now for body washes:

• 🌿 Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented Castile Soap

  A long-trusted favorite, this gentle, fragrance-free soap uses organic olive, coconut, and hemp oils to cleanse without stripping your skin’s natural barrier. It’s a truly minimal, biodegradable formula that supports vitamin D absorption and overall skin health.

• 🌸 Vermont Soap Castile Body Wash

  Made from saponified organic oils, this simple yet luxurious wash keeps your microbiome balanced and your skin nourished. It’s one of the cleanest commercial options available — free from synthetic surfactants, parabens, and heavy occlusives that can interfere with your body’s natural rhythms.

  Every little choice adds up. From what we eat to what we put on our skin, we’re constantly giving our body messages — either of love and support, or stress and overload. Choosing cleaner, more natural products isn’t about being perfect; it’s about giving your body the space to do what it was designed to do — heal, balance, and shine.