The Reparative Moisturiser
Powerful antioxidant – neutralises free radicals
Protects lipids from oxidation
Helps defend from pollution and other environmental stressors
Soothes and moisturises as an emollient
Helps to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier
Helps reduce wrinkles and age spots
The Role of Vitamin E in Skin Care
Vitamin E is a naturally occurring component of healthy skin. It offers significant antioxidant properties to help defend from pollution and other environmental stressors that would otherwise weaken and cause unwanted changes in skin. On a slightly more technical level, vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, actually refers to a family of compounds and is the umbrella name for a group of oil-soluble antioxidants. The most common ones in skin care are alpha-tocopherol and tocopherol acetate.
Vitamin E’s primary job is to protect the lipid bilayers in the epidermis and skin cell membranes from attack by free radicals (and reactive oxygen species). Besides working to neutralise free radicals and prevent signs of aging (such as reduced collagen and fine lines), it is also a ‘photo-protectant’ and encourages cellular repair to help fight against sun damage.
A lipid is basically a fancy word for a fatty substance. Lipids include substances such as fatty acids, fats, and waxes. The skin cells in the stratum corneum of the epidermis are held together by lipid bilayers. When these lipids are attacked, the skin’s barrier function weakens, making skin more vulnerable to dehydration, irritation, and infection.
Lipids are also found in cell membranes, and when these are attacked, the membranes lose their permeability. Nutrients and wastes are transported less efficiently as a result. In addition, glycation can occur in cell membrane lipids too.
Lipid Peroxide is a free radical (Reactive Oxygen Species) that attacks lipids, an oxidation process called lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E protects lipids from this lipid peroxidation.
Vitamin E is the common name of this ingredient however rarely appears on a skin care ingredient list as Vitamin E. It will generally appear listed as one of the following; Tocopheryl Acetate; Tocopheryl Glucoside; Tocopheryl Linoleate; Tocopheryl Linoleate/Oleate; Tocopheryl Nicotinate; Tocopheryl Succinate; Potassium Ascorbyl Tocopheryl Phosphate; Sodium Tocopheryl Phosphate or Tocopherol Phosphate.
Vitamin E is also used as an emollient and preservative in skin care. When used as a preservative, it appears near the end of the ingredient list.
Vitamin E gets into the skin and fights against the free radicals, strengthening the cells and improving the natural barrier for the skin. You’ll see fewer wrinkles and age spots. But that’s not all that it does! It’s excellent for improving the look of current scars and avoiding future scars. You’ll slow down the aging process, as the cells are fully supported. The cells find it easier to repair or grow back normally.
It’s possible to improve the natural immunity to diseases. This is good for the skin if you suffer from bacterial, viral, or fungal infections regularly. Athlete’s foot is one of the most common conditions that you can improve using a vitamin E cream.
Vitamin E will add moisture to your skin. By getting plenty of moisture, you support the health of the deeper layers of your skin and improve collagen production. We’ve already looked at how good the collagen production is for the skin. The vitamin E will work with the Retinol (Vitamin A) to prevent wrinkles and fine lines forming.
Vitamin E is naturally good for healing the skin. It helps to soothe burns, reduce inflammation, and protect against scarring from wounds. This means it’s the best option for reducing redness and limiting the amount of acne that you break out in. It will also help with balancing the hormones inside. When your hormones are balanced, your oil production is controlled. This will help to keep pores unclogged, so you don’t suffer from too many acne breakouts. UV light and sun exposure reduce vitamin E levels in skin, and levels also decrease with age.
Types of Vitamin E Skin Care
Typically available in oil and cream form. While there are dedicated products with stronger concentrations of vitamin E, it is also a common addition to many anti-aging creams, serums, face masks and sunscreens in a lower dose, and is frequently combined with vitamin C for increased absorption.
Despite its many reported advantages, vitamin E skin care is not recommended for everyone. According to the expert-reviewed resource Healthline, those who have very oily, sensitive or acne-prone skin may find topical vitamin E oil to be aggravating. And while it is highly uncommon, it can also trigger an allergic reaction in some people, resulting in skin irritation, itchiness or a rash.
For the most part, however, it is very safe and works optimally when teamed with vitamin C (or used in a product that has both). Those with occasionally sensitive skin may best benefit from a moisturiser containing vitamin E over a highly-concentrated serum or oil.it