What is Vitamin E?

It can be difficult to remember the many different kinds of active ingredients that we’re supposed to use for the overall wellness of our skin, let alone the many benefits each of them offer. We know that Niacinamide helps to build keratin in our skin for an overall glowy look, Retinol helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines while Aloe Vera is beneficial for those with acne and dry skin. 

So where does Vitamin E fit in and what separates it from the others? 

Vitamin E, commonly listed as tocopherol or tocopherol acetate, is a fat soluble ingredient that is also a naturally occurring powerful antioxidant with many amazing benefits. Everyone needs antioxidants to protect our skin from oxidative damage by removing free radicals which are responsible for breaking down collagen in our skin and contributing to accelerating aging of our skin. As a fat soluble ingredient, this means that it can be absorbed deep into the pore lining while smoothening and protecting your skin barrier.

Vitamin E rich foods include wheat germ oil, abalone, hazelnuts, pinenuts, salmon, avocado and even in your spinach and kale salads.

Is Vitamin E Suitable For All Skin Types?

Vitamin E is typically compatible with most skin types but those with oily and acne prone skin should note that using pure Vitamin E oil or products with thicker consistencies that contain Vitamin E, can be counterproductive for you, as it can make your skin feel more greasy and clog your pores because of excess oil being added to already oily skin…

After applying, it can make your skin feel more greasy and clog your pores because you’re adding excess oil to already active and full oil glands, especially for those with oily skin or acne prone skin as mentioned. You may even experience acne breakouts after using a product with Vitamin E that isn’t suitable for your skin type. 

In cases like these, it’s best to select products with vitamin E that tend to be more lightweight so that you can get the full benefits of Vitamin E without experiencing discomfort or breakouts. It’s worth noting that it’s not Vitamin E that’s making you break out or have an overall unpleasant experience, rather it’s the thickness and heaviness of the consistency of the product itself.

That said, just like you would with any other active ingredient, it’s always best to do a patch test with your product before fully incorporating it into your skincare routine. If you’re insistent on using Vitamin E oil, you can dilute your Vitamin E oil with a carrier oil before doing a patch test. A carrier oil is basically another layer of protection against free radicals and helps to dilute essential oils like Vitamin E before they penetrate into your skin.

Products That Have Vitamin E

Vitamin E is commonly found in products like serums, sunscreens, moisturizers and oils. 

If you’re choosing to use pure Vitamin E oil, it’s best to store your product in a cool and dry place.

Why You Need Vitamin E In Your Skincare Routine

  • Anti-Inflammatory: Vitamin E is an amazing antioxidant that fights off free radicals that can cause inflammation while protecting the cells in our body
  • Anti-Inflammatory: One of the more fascinating but lesser known facts of Vitamin E is that it is both a humectant and an emollient. The former means that Vitamin E can attract water from our environment into our skin while the latter means that it helps to “trap” water in our skin, making the skin feel softer and smoother.
  • Anti-Inflammatory: Vitamin E has soothing properties, particularly when dealing with acute dermatitis, which causes skin irritation. While Vitamin E will not address the root cause of the irritation, it provides momentary relief from the discomfort by keeping the skin moisturized. 
  • Provides Protection Against UV Rays: Vitamin E helps to protect your skin from powerful UV rays while fighting against free radicals that wreak havoc on your skin with the help of polluting factors in your environment. Using Vitamin E alone isn’t enough protection against the sun – it’s best to pair it with a broad spectrum sunscreen so that your skin is well protected! 
  • Easy Compatibility With Other Active Ingredients: Vitamin E can be used with most other active ingredients, making it very convenient and easy to add into your skincare routine! It’s also used as a stabilizer in many skincare products.

Powerhouse Combo: Vitamin E and C

A little well known secret is that while Vitamin E by itself, is an amazing antioxidant, it works even better when it’s paired with Vitamin C in your skincare routine. Vitamin C helps to re-energize Vitamin E which in turn stabilizes Vitamin C, giving you maximum protection against UV damage.   

Vitamin E and C work together to improve each other’s performance and increase the overall potency of your skincare routine. So, choosing products that contain both vitamins help to reap the full benefit from their skincare. Don’t forget to layer them underneath your skin before topping off with sunscreen!

How Do I Include Vitamin E In My Skincare Routine?

You can choose to use Vitamin E daily in your skincare routine. It’s perfectly fine to use Vitamin E either during the day or the night according to what exactly you want to achieve. Those who are focused on preventing sun damage prefer to layer their Vitamin E with sunscreen before heading out during the day. On the other hand, if you’re using pure Vitamin E oil to combat anti-aging, it’s best to apply during the night as the product has a thicker consistency and is better left to sit on your face throughout the night to penetrate deeper into your skin. 

The way you incorporate Vitamin E into your routine depends on the type of product that you’re using – the basic rules still apply here and your skincare routine should be as follows: cleanser > toner > serum > moisturizer > sunscreen.

Our Verdict..

The versatility and compatibility of Vitamin E as an ingredient makes it easy to incorporate into your skincare. The benefits of using Vitamin E far outweigh any side effects that you might experience. The key is to be aware of your skin type so that you choose the correct product with Vitamin E for the best overall experience possible.