diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php
index 05d6c56e..588e8f9a 100755
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@ class Controller extends BaseController
      * Display a view but pull it from the active skin
      * @param string $template
      * @param array $vars
+     * @param array $merge_data
      * @return \Illuminate\Contracts\View\Factory|\Illuminate\View\View
      */
-    public function view(string $template, array $vars=[])
+    public function view($template, array $vars=[], $merge_data=[])
     {
         $tpl = 'layouts/' . config('phpvms.skin') . '/' . $template;
-        return view($tpl, $vars);
+        return view($tpl, $vars, $merge_data);
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/helpers.php b/app/helpers.php
index 5726e0e8..2c52a972 100644
--- a/app/helpers.php
+++ b/app/helpers.php
@@ -1,5 +1,18 @@
 <?php
 
+if (!function_exists('skin_view')) {
+    /**
+     * Render a skin
+     * @param $template
+     * @return \Illuminate\Contracts\View\Factory|\Illuminate\View\View
+     */
+    function skin_view($template, array $vars = [], $merge_data = [])
+    {
+        $tpl = 'layouts/' . config('phpvms.skin') . '/' . $template;
+        return view($tpl, $vars, $merge_data);
+    }
+}
+
 /**
  * Shortcut for retrieving a setting value
  */