What is vitamin E? Everything you need to know

WORDS Sonia Blair PUBLISHED Thu, 17 Feb 2022 - 12:00 pm

The term ‘hydration’ permeates the beauty industry unconditionally, every product attempting to aid in ensuring our skin is supple and dewy. In achieving this feat, the concoction of ingredients must consist of a curated blend of active ingredients, including vitamins, to aid our skin’s appearance. One hero of protecting and revitalising skin is vitamin E, and if you aren’t already employing it in your skin regime, we’re here to introduce you to it along with some simple product additions packing a punch.

What is vitamin E?

Vitamin E is a naturally occurring compound present in the skin. However, its natural levels begin to decrease with age, through excessive exposure to UV rays and free radical damage. While there are eight forms of the vitamin, it is typically labelled on skin care as tocopherol or tocopherol acetate.

It is an antioxidant vitamin and an oil, often found in topical blends or moisturisers and can be naturally derived from botanicals, like wheat germ, or synthetically manufactured. Synthetic formulations consist of eight different forms, yet only one of these is identical to its natural molecule, meaning natural vitamin E has twice the potency of a manufactured alternative.

What are the benefits of applying it?

A healer, a hydrator, an all-rounder of an ingredient, vitamin E’s benefits plead a strong case for it to be introduced in your beauty rotation if it hasn’t already cemented a spot. Of these benefits, they include:

Protecting the lipid barrier:

Through being oil-soluble, vitamin E is naturally compatible with the lipid barrier of the epidermis. When applied, it rejuvenates the skin and helps to rebuild and strengthen the lipid barrier, enabling the skin to optimise moisture retention and protect its barrier from potential irritants.

Healing the skin:

As a natural anti-inflammatory, the primary benefit of applying vitamin E is its ability to accelerate the healing of skin damage, like burns and irritation, by up to 50 per cent. Coupled with this, the vitamin is antioxidant, adding further benefits to use through its ability to neutralise harmful free radicals and can discourage oil oxidation. In turn, this help to prevent the development of blackheads, something we can all do without.

Protecting the skin from sun damage:

Music to our ears – vitamin E can be an effective protector of your skin against the sun. When coupled with vitamin C and applied under sunscreen, it can provide up to four times the protection of sunscreen than when it is used alone.

Soothing and hydrating:

Vitamin E application encourages longer-lasting moisture retention between skin cells than products without the vitamin in its ingredient list. With our skin exposed to a variety of environmental surrounds ranging from harsh UV rays to excessively air conditioned spaces, it is also ideal for soothing skin to make it feel rejuvenated after irritation and exposure to harsh environments.

Can anyone use vitamin E?

For the majority, vitamin E’s benefits are abundant and incorporating it into your skin care routine can enhance its vitality and texture. However, some skin types should approach with caution rather than delving swiftly into use.

Those with hypersensitive, excessively oily or acne-prone skin are typically advised to avoid applying the product as – while uncommon – topical vitamin E can act as an allergen when interacting with the skin.

As with all new skin care, it is recommended you patch test products prior to applying on your face or large patches of skin. If you are still concerned, speak with your GP or a dermatologist.

Products to use

An oil soluble vitamin – meaning it can be both derived through or as an oil – incorporating vitamin E into your daily regime can be done easily through oils and moisturisers. We’ve picked some of the best on the market to get you started on your foray into usage. Supple skin is now firmly on the horizon.