Is vitamin F a vitamin?

No. Vitamin F is an old name for the fatty acids linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. The body cannot produce them itself, which is why they were once considered a vitamin.

What is the difference between linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid?

Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid, and alpha-linolenic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid. Both are found in plant oils, such as sunflower oil and flaxseed oil.

Is vitamin F good for blemish-prone skin?

In one study, microscopic blockages in the pores became smaller after a month of applying linoleic acid to the skin. The study did not examine whether visible blackheads or other blemishes were reduced.

Does vitamin F help dry skin?

Linoleic acid is part of the skin’s protective layer, and in one study, a cream with linoleic acid increased skin moisture. The cream also contained other conditioning substances.

Is vitamin F the same as fish oil?

No. Fish oil mainly contains other omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin F in skincare is linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, which typically come from plants.

Vitamin F (Vitamin F (linoleic acid))

INCI: Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid

Essential fatty acid found in the skin’s protective layer

Moderate evidence: clinical studies

Written by ECOOKING Research (R&D) · Updated 23.10.2026

At a glance

Suits: All skin types, especially dry skin
Helps with: Blemishes and blackheads, Dry skin
Pairs well with: Rosehip extract, Jojoba oil, Squalane
Found in: 1 ECOOKING product

What can Vitamin F help with?

Blemishes and blackheads

In a placebo-controlled trial involving people with mild acne, the microscopic blockages in the pores became almost 25 % smaller after one month of applying linoleic acid to the skin. Visible blackheads were not counted.^[3]

Dry skin

In a trial involving 20 people with atopic eczema, the skin had more moisture after four weeks of using a cream with linoleic acid and other skin-conditioning substances. The trial cannot isolate the contribution of linoleic acid.^[4]

How it works

Vitamin F is an old name for the essential fatty acids linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. It is not a vitamin, but fatty acids that the body cannot produce itself. On the ingredient list, they appear as Linoleic Acid and Linolenic Acid.

The skin uses linoleic acid to build specific ceramides that are important for the skin’s protective layer.^[1] In a cultured human skin model, added linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid resulted in a better composition of skin lipids and a stronger barrier.^[2] One hypothesis is that too little linoleic acid in sebum can contribute to clogged pores, which is the idea behind using it for blemish-prone skin.^[3]

How to use it

You can find vitamin F (linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid) in Facial Oil.
Use the facial oil morning or evening after cleansing.
Warm a few drops between your palms and gently press them into your face.

Products with Vitamin F

Facial Oil
Our Facial Oil provides intense moisture and nourishment, softens skin, gives...
30 ml

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Frequently asked questions

Sources

The evidence is limited. In a double-blind trial involving people with mild acne, the microscopic blockages in the pores from which blackheads develop became almost 25 % smaller after one month of applying linoleic acid to the skin. No change occurred in the areas that received a placebo. Visible blackheads were not counted.^[3]

In a trial involving 20 people with atopic eczema, the skin had more moisture, less water loss and less redness after four weeks of using a cream with linoleic acid than before the trial. The cream was compared with a urea cream, not a cream without linoleic acid, and it also contained other skin-conditioning substances. One of the authors was employed by the manufacturer.^[4] A 2024 review article concludes that most results come from animals and cells, and that clinical studies are lacking.^[1]