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Ingredient · INCI reference

Cholecalciferol

Vitamin D3, a fat-soluble vitamin used in cosmetic formulas as a skin-conditioning agent.

What it is

Cholecalciferol is the D3 form of vitamin D, a fat-soluble compound included in some skincare and sun-care products as a skin-conditioning ingredient. In cosmetics it is used at low levels and is valued for its compatibility with oil-phase formulations. It is oil-soluble and typically incorporated into the lipid portion of a product.

Safety & warnings

Used topically at low concentrations in cosmetics as a conditioning agent. As a fat-soluble vitamin it is light- and oxygen-sensitive, so formulas containing it are usually protected from air and light.

Origin & sourcing

Can be sourced from animal-derived materials such as lanolin (sheep wool grease) exposed to ultraviolet light, or produced synthetically.

Questions everyone asks

What does cholecalciferol do in skincare?

It functions as a skin-conditioning agent and is the vitamin D3 form, included at low levels in some sun-care and moisturizing products.

Is cholecalciferol oil- or water-soluble?

It is fat-soluble, so it is incorporated into the oil phase of a cosmetic formula.

Sources & references

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