Even if you haven’t heard of vitamin E oil, chances are this ingredient is used in many of your favourite skin care products. It’s everywhere, and for good reason. Dry skin? Fine lines? Redness? Yes, vitamin E treats all of that and more. Experts explain the ingredients in more detail below, explaining what they are, their benefits, and why you should use them.
What is vitamin E?
As described by Dr. Margarita Lolis, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in New Jersey, vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in eight different forms. It can be found in oils, nuts, fruits, and vegetables for oral use. But when it comes to skincare, Lolis notes that it can be found naturally in our bodies and in many products, such as vitamin E, which can be applied topically.
“It’s an antioxidant that’s naturally found in our own sebum. People with oily skin have been found to have higher levels of vitamin E,” adds Krupa Kestlein, a cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Consultants. She says the two most common forms of vitamin E in skin care products are tocopherols and tocotrienols. Because vitamin E is lipophilic (“lipid-loving,” she explains), it can penetrate the skin well and provide numerous skin benefits.
How does vitamin E oil benefit the skin?
Vitamin E is mostly used for its antioxidant and oiling properties. Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, says it helps protect the skin from free radical damage. It is also a humectant and emollient, which helps the skin retain dampness and avoid dryness. Other benefits include its ability to promote the healing of wounds like scars and burns and its anti-inflammatory assets, which can soothe irritation and make it ideal for treating skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. As Kestline explains, it’s an anti-inflammatory that has been shown to help reduce swelling and redness by limiting inflammatory responses. She adds that some studies even suggest that it may help reduce redness and the appearance of new scars. This can be incredibly helpful when combating pesky acne scars.
It’s also known to provide some photoprotection from the sun, but don’t throw out your sunscreen just yet. Kestline says that vitamin E alone isn’t a true UV filter, as it can only absorb a limited range of wavelengths. However, it can still provide some protection by reducing the hurtful effects of UV light and shielding our skin from environmental aggressors and other harmful sun rays. That’s why it’s worth pairing it with your favourite sunscreen for maximum sun and skin cancer protection.
Are there any disadvantages to using vitamin E oil?
The bad news is that vitamin E may not suit all skin types. Vitamin E is a known allergen and may cause irritation or allergic replies in some people, Garshick says. Lolis adds that it’s also comedogenic and can contribute to acne. Both experts say that people with oily, acne-prone, or sensitive skin should be cautious about incorporating it into their routine. Before applying it to your face, do a patch test to see if it fits well. If you have any questions or concerns, consult a dermatologist to learn the best course of action to incorporate it into your routine.
What’s the difference between vitamin E and vitamin C?
Vitamin E and C are among the most extraordinary, well-known antioxidants in skin care. Although they have very different effects on the skin (vitamin C fights pigmentation and dark spots with its brightening properties, while vitamin E is a moisturizer), they are often combined. “Together, they are an endless source of DNA repair and protection,” says Lolis. Kestline agrees, noting that combining the two vitamins with ferulic acid provides antioxidant protection, skin brightening and scar reduction. He adds that studies have shown that they work better together than alone.
How do you use vitamin E oil?
Incorporating vitamin E oil into your routine is easy, as it’s found in many beauty products. Kestline says it blends well with all ingredients, so you don’t have to give up certain products to use vitamin E. She adds that while it can be applied directly to the skin, some may find its consistency a little greasy. For this reason, it’s best used in a product like a moisturizer, lotion, or cleanser. “Vitamin E is not the most stable compound, and it’s best used when incorporated and stabilized into [these products],” she says.
If you decide to use the oil version, Lolis says it should be the last step in your skincare routine so it doesn’t interfere with the other products from penetrating your skin. “The order in which you apply [vitamin E oil] is critical because creams can’t penetrate oils, but oils can penetrate creams,” she says. “So it should be applied after creams.”
Popular vitamin E products include the classic Bio-Oil skincare oil and expert favourite Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, which Garshick says protects against environmental aggressors, smoothes delicate outlines and adds radiance to the skin. Suppose you’re looking for a cream that contains these ingredients. In that case, she recommends something like Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Night Cream, which also contains retinol, which plumps skin and reduces the arrival of wrinkles.