Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Vitamin E Oil in Skincare

2.1 Fun Facts

3.0 Benefits of Vitamin E Oil in Skincare

4.0 Forms of Vitamin E/Derivatives of Vitamin E for Skim

5.0 Vitamin E Oil and Skin Types

6.0 Vitamin E Oil and Other Skincare Ingredients

7.0 How to Use Vitamin E Oil in Your Skincare Routine

8.O Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

7.0 References

Vitamin E Oil in Skincare

When it comes to skincare, vitamin E oil usually acts as a side kick to other ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, panthenol and event sunscreens, is as Robin is to Batman. Vitamin E oil is sidelined in most skincare regimen but it is that ingredient that you can not miss in any skincare products as tocopherol acetate.

Vitamin E oil is very essential in combating oxidative stress from free radicals, a notorious culprit for skin cancer. Also vitamin E oil can act as a preservative to skincare products such as creams, lotions, moisturizers and serums. It is good for all skin types and rarely trigger skin allergies. Vitamin E can soothe skin redness, irritation, dryness, dermatitis, acne, rosacea and psoriasis.

Once vitamin E oil is either consumed or applied on the skin, it is stored in fatty tissues under the skin or liver. It is used for its antioxidant properties in skin cell activities.

FUN FACTS

• Vitamin E can reduce risks of Alzheimer's disease.

• Vitamin E is essential at helping the body absorb vitamin K.

• Vitamin E is important at boosting the immune system and blood clotting.

  Tanzanite Skincare

Benefits of Vitamin E Oil in Skincare

With little information that you already know about vitamin E oil, you'll want to know more and more what vitamin E oil can do for your skin. You'll benefit significantly from using it despite of skin type, age, gender or skin complexion. These are the things that Vitamin E oil do for your skin:

• Prevents skin aging

• Reduce appearance of acne scars and stretch marks

• Helps in healing sunburns

• Prevents skin cancer

• Treats eczema and psoriasis

• Nourishes and moisturizes skin

• Improves melasma symptoms

• Treats and prevents acne

1. Prevents Skin Aging

Vitamin E oil has potential to help your skin from aging through several means, one of them being able to protect your skin from aging. The biggest culprit of skin aging is photoaging.

Photoaging is the process of skin to undergo slow deterioration overtime seen as hyperpigmentation, sagging and dullness. Photoaging is also called sun damage that is caused by IR radiation(heat) UVA and UVB sun ray exposure which breaks down skin collagen and induces production of melanin is some areas leading to uneven skin tone and premature skin aging.

Vitamin E oil when applied to the skin has an ability due to its antioxidant properties to scavenge on these free radicals that are produced by the sun rays even other environmental elements such as heat and pollution, before they do any other further damage.

One dermatologist, Dr. Dray said, "Vitamin E helps reduce expression of something called matrix metalloproteinase, these are enzymes that chew up collagen and compromise the integrity of the deeper layers of our skin".

2. Reduce Appearance of Acne Scars and Stretch Marks

Another thing about vitamin is that it can be a good ingredient to include in your skincare in helping to brighten up those pigmented scars left out after the recovery process of blackheads, pimples and acne and stretchmarks caused by skin stretching due to fluctuating weight or hormones.

When applied topically on the skin it could have lightening effects. One small study used vitamin C, vitamin E and raspberry leaf cell culture extract to subjects and later found improved skin elasticity, radiance and smoothness.

We should not undermine the use of vitamin C, since vitamin C and E combination have shown to work synergistically to improve the overall skin health overtime.

3. Helps in Healing Sunburns

Sunburns are caused by sitting on the sun for quite a long time. They can show on skin as reddening, inflammation and as peeling of the skin. Depending on your skin type sunburn can affect you differently.

People with pale and fair skin on Fitzpatrick scale I and II can experience sunburn very easily. On the other hand, people with dark skin on Fitzpatrick scale V and VI can show no visible signs of sunburn.

In a research study, Vitamin E showed ability to reduce effects of sunburn and erythema(skin redness due to increased blood flow) on hairless mice compared to a untreated sample. A sunscreen with some form of vitamin E is going to further help in reducing sunburn significantly when applied topically.

4. Prevents Skin Cancer

Since vitamin E is a potent antioxidant, it won't be a surprise to hear that it is also anticarcinogenic. Thus using vitamin E oil can support healthy skin since it is involved many cellular activities in scavenging the reactive oxygen species(ROS) which their build up causes oxidative stress damage to cells leading to development of tumors even cancer.

A study on human skin cells found out that tocopherol, type of vitamin E could support skin regeneration. Skin regeneration is important to prevent skin cells entering senescence that could lead to potential tumors.

On another study examined and showed that other antioxidants including alpha-tocopherol could prevent pyrimidine dimer formation on UVB exposed human skin cells that could potentially lead to cancer.

5. As Part of Treatment for Eczema and Psoriasis

Vitamin E oil in form of alpha-tocopherol can be a good skincare ingredient to treat dermatitis also known as eczema. Dermatitis symptoms such as itchiness, scaling, flaky skin and swollen rash can be relieved with vitamin E creams, lotion and serums.

It was determined that vitamin E nano-emulsion was far better than steroids in treating eczema without having skin thinning side effects which comes with using steroid-containing skincare products to treat eczema.

Another skin condition that can benefit from using vitamin E oil is psoriasis. Due to vitamin E oil moisturizing properties, they can smoothen rough patches and make your skin more even tone complexion and radiant.

6. Nourishes and Moisturizes Skin

Since vitamin E oil is an excellent emollient that can replenish the skin's barrier lipid layer and moisturize your skin to improve your skin texture, radiance and elasticity. This can be beneficial for your overall skin health.

Another thing about vitamin E oil it has anti-aging properties that can be moisturizing and hydrating for the skin. A study found that vitamin E oil has potential to hydrate your skin in both in vitro and in vivo studies.

7. Improves Melasma Symptoms

Melasma is a skin condition characterized by dark skin patches. Melasma can be difficult to deal with but with vitamin E oil it can alleviate the symptoms. Vitamin E can downregulate and control gene expression of TYR, TYRP1 and TYRP2, genes in charge of producing melanin in skin cells thus helping in reducing hyperpigmentation seen in melasma.

One research observed more efficacy in sunscreen creams with vitamin C, E and other antioxidants than sunscreen creams without these antioxidants.

In this part, we've seen how vitamin E oil can be beneficial at helping skin health it can also help to treat acne when combined with other antioxidants such as vitamin C.

Vitamin E Oil and Skin Types

Vitamin E oil can be beneficial in different regards depending on your skin type. Even forms of vitamin E discussed in this article may be or may be not very helpful to your skin type, knowing what works for your skin will make you make the right choice as you pass through those ingredient list before investing in a skincare product, so let's take a look, shall we?

1. Vitamin E Oil for Dry Skin

When it comes to dry skin, emollients can be very helpful at nourishing the skin barrier while at the same time providing a protective layer that won't allow transdermal water loss(TEWL). Tocopheryl acetate also comes with another benefit, sun protection factor.

When applied in form of creams or sunscreens on skin it can soothe your skin reducing flaky skin, rough patches, cracked skin to smooth skin. Another good alternative to look out for in skincare products is tocopherol glucoside.

2. Vitamin E Oil for Oily Skin

Vitamin E oil can be crucial to treating oily skin. Most of the time when you have oily skin you try to run away from oil-based products such as vitamin E oil. In a matter of fact, you need vitamin E oil on your upper skin layer since this will reduce sebum production significantly. Look out for tocopheryl phosphates and alpha-tocopherol in your skincare products such as creams and lotions.

3. Vitamin E Oil for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin type then you have to dilute your vitamin E oil first before you apply it on your skin. You can dilute it with lighter carrier oils since vitamin E oil, itself is a heavy oil.

Jojoba oil or castor oil can work just fine. Adding 20 to 120 drops of vitamin E oil in 100g of carrier oil will be more than enough. You can use vitamin E oil with other ingredients with low to no concern.

When used moderately it won't cause allergies or irritation. Always do a patch test and check expiry date before you start using it.

3. Vitamin E Oil for Combination Skin

Combination skin faces its own challenges when it comes to skincare. Combination skin may benefit more from using alpha-tocopherol, tocopheryl phosphate and tocopheryl glucoside for skin moisturization. So look out for these ingredients when buying your skincare products.

4. Vitamin E Oil for Normal Skin

If you have normal skin then most forms of vitamin E can be beneficial for your skin. Vitamin E oil is a well-tolerated ingredient for many people and less likely to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. If you're intentional on using vitamin E oil then consider looking for alpha-tocopherol containing vitamin E serum.

5. Vitamin E Oil Mature Skin or Aging Skin

Mature skin can benefit highly from vitamin E oil due to its antioxidant and anti-aging properties. It is also an excellent emollient that can nourish and replenish your thin and crisp skin barrier and improve smooth skin feel.

If you want to get a glowing skin the using vitamin E form of ascorbyl tocopherol acetate is a way to go. You can also use vitamin C with Vitamin E for a perfect synergy combo!

6. Vitamin E Oil for Melasma or Eczema or Psoriasis

Vitamin E oil has antioxidant properties that may provide protection from UV exposure that is more likely to exacerbate melasma symptoms and increase hyperpigmentation.

As we've mentioned before vitamin E oil can really soothe these symptoms of eczema and psoriasis skin conditions.

Forms of Vitamin E/ Derivatives of Vitamin E for Skin

There are natural forms of vitamin E that are known as isoforms. Synthetically made vitamin E are known as derivatives. Natural Vitamin E forms that have been discovered till now are eight such as alpha-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol and delta-tocopherol and other combined forms of these. Though only alpha-tocopherol has been found to meet human needs.

Let's explore vitamin E and how it can help our skin. In skincare industry, vitamin E pose a challenge when working with it to create formulations. Using nano-emulsions, hydrogels or conventional formulation to deliver vitamin E in skin barrier.

1. Alpha-tocopherol

This is an active form of vitamin E form with no need of being converted for it to be use by the skin. There are are two forms, RRR-alpha-tocopherol(naturally-derived) and D-alpha-tocopherol(man-made). Alpha-tocopherol has been shown to reduce lipid peroxidation induced by UV exposure in dosage of just 400IU per day when applied or taken orally.

Another thing about alpha-tocopherol is that it can act as a good penetration enhancer to the skin barrier. But also it is a good ingredient to combat photoaging and acting as a photo-protectant. Some of the skincare products with alpha tocopherol are

• Cliganic 100% Pure Vitamin E

• L'Oreal Revitalift 12% Pure Vitamin C Serum

• Jamieson Provitamina E 100% Pure Vitamin E Oil

2. Tocopherol Acetate or Vitamin E Acetate

Tocopherol acetate is also known as tocopheryl acetate or d-alpha tocopherol acetate(ATA). Alpha-tocopherol is bioavailable but very unstable, this is where tocopherol acetate comes into place. So cosmetic chemists thought making tocopherol acetate will be good idea.

Although, tocopherol acetate can not be used directly till converted to tocopherol in order to be used by the skin. So, this tocopherol acetate releases slowly just enough tocopherol for UV protection perfect for sunblock/sunscreens. But also tocopherol acetate can act as a preservative for various skincare product hence its wide use.

One study was done on mice showed results that vitamin E acetate is released slowly in small amounts, just enough to provide protection from UV exposure. Some of the skincare products with tocopherol acetate are

• Glamskin Manila Q Sunblock SPF 45+++

• Nivea Moisture Lip Vitamin E

• Palmer's Scar Serum

• Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion

3. Tocopheryl Phosphate

Tocopherol phosphate, also known as vitamin E phosphate is a water-soluble type of vitamin E that is naturally occurring just discovered recently. There are many benefits to using this vitamin E form such as

• Treatment of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation(PIH)

• Skin redness and erythema

• Reduce acne

• Reduce skin inflammation

One research study found tocopheryl phosphate to be more effective than vitamin E acetate in promoting healthy skin with no itchiness and irritation. Some popular skincare products with this ingredient

• Filogra Laboratories Universal Cream

• Dior Capture Totale Firming&Wrinkle-Correcting Eye Cream

• Shiseido Benefiance Nutriperfect Night Cream

4. Tocopheryl Glucoside

Another derivative of vitamin E is tocopheryl glucoside, is very different from other forms of vitamin E. It is a good emollient which is formulated in such a way that is slowly released in the skin upon applying. It has enhanced penetration and absorption to the skin than vitamin E acetate.

This vitamin E form is very good in leave on skincare products such as creams, lotions, sunscreens, serums and eye creams. Some popular options out ther with tocopheryl glucoside are

• Avene Sun Mist SPF 30

• Glytone Age-defying Peptide+ Overnight Restorative Cream

• Darrow Actine Protector Fps 30

5. Tocotrienols

This type of vitamin E is just like tocopherol but with a slightly different molecular structure. It can be found in plant oils such as rice bran oils and palm oils though it gets inhibited by the presence of tocopherols.. It is not a widely used option in skincare products, so you'll rarely see it in ingredient list.

Other forms of vitamin E combine other ingredients such as ascorbic acid like arcorbyl tcopherol acetate. Vitamin E can be found in many plant oils like wheatgerm, olive oil, avocado oil or sunflower oil. Having knowledge of this Vitamin E ingredients is going to guide you on how to choose the right vitamin E form to meet your skin needs and wants.

Vitamin E Oil and Other Skincare Ingredients

Vitamin E oil is very limited to its benefits when used alone. So in skincare industry has find a way to make vitamin E more viable to skin by pairing it with other skincare actives, plant extracts, vitamins and antioxidants. So let's see what ingredients make a good combination with Vitamin E.

1. Vitamin E and Vitamin A(Retinol) for Skin

It is absolutely safe to combine retinol and vitamin E in your skincare routine. They both boost each other's anti-aging properties that can support your skin's health. Another good thing is that you get to mix them well since they-re both fat-soluble and lipophilic skin barrier easily absorb them.

2. Vitamin E and Vitamin C for Skin

A perfect combo for your skincare regimen! Vitamin C alone is not powerful, so is vitamin E. But when these two antioxidants are used together or formulated together in a cream or serum they can make for a great combo that work in synergy to promote skin radiance, even skin tone and boost collagen production.

3. Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid

If you have dry skin, then this combo is right for you. Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid (HA) can be hydrating for the skin. When looking for moisturizers and serums then go ahead and look for these paired ingredients.

4. Vitamin E and Sunscreen (SPF)

Due to UV protection properties provided by vitamin E then looking for it in sunscreens and sunblock should be a wise thing to do. Most of reputable brands will have added vitamin E to prevent the skin from UV exposure and photoaging. Many chemical sunscreens contain vitamin E since it enhances the function of UV filters that can provide protection on skin.

5. Vitamin E with Tea Tree Oil

If you want to prevent and treat acne then you can use vitamin E mixed with tea tree oil in your skincare routine especially for acne-prone skin. A skincare expert, Dr. Ingky, advised, "...you should always pair up with vitamin E is tea tree oil, helps to reduce inflammation and skin irritation so that actually helps to reduce scars due to PIE or PIH...".

6. Vitamin E Supplements

Vitamin E pills can be supplemented internally to help with skin and overall health. Vitamin E supplements that contain selenium can be beneficial for treating acne from within.

A combination of vitamin E, selenium and coenzyme Q10 in supplemental capsules when taken orally can alleviate psoriasis symptoms.

Another Vitamin E combined with zinc and lactoferrin can reduce oil overproduction in the skin thus reduce oiliness and greasiness on the skin.

There have been an unhealthy growing trend of using vitamin E oil from supplemental vitamin E gel capsules to apply in your skin. You have to know that these vitamin E pills have larger molecular weight that can clog pores and cause acne and not formulated to address your skin concerns, externally.

Here is what Dr. Mamina had to say about this trend, "...the benefits of applying vitamin E gel capsules to the skin aren't straightforward...I wouldn't necessarily recommend it if you have oily or acne prone skin."

Other skincare ingredients that can be paired with vitamin E or vitamin E oil in your skincare routine are

• Niacinamide(Vitamin B3)

• Peptides

• Salicylic Acid

• AHAs

Vitamin E Oil and Other Skincare Ingredients

Vitamin E oil is very limited to its benefits when used alone. So in skincare industry has find a way to make vitamin E more viable to skin by pairing it with other skincare actives, plant extracts, vitamins and antioxidants. So let's see what ingredients make a good combination with Vitamin E.

1. Vitamin E and Vitamin A(Retinol) for Skin

It is absolutely safe to combine retinol and vitamin E in your skincare routine. They both boost each other's anti-aging properties that can support your skin's health. Another good thing is that you get to mix them well since they-re both fat-soluble and lipophilic skin barrier easily absorb them.

2. Vitamin E and Vitamin C for Skin

A perfect combo for your skincare regimen! Vitamin C alone is not powerful, so is vitamin E. But when these two antioxidants are used together or formulated together in a cream or serum they can make for a great combo that work in synergy to promote skin radiance, even skin tone and boost collagen production.

3. Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid

If you have dry skin, then this combo is right for you. Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid (HA) can be hydrating for the skin. When looking for moisturizers and serums then go ahead and look for these paired ingredients.

4. Vitamin E and Sunscreen (SPF)

Due to UV protection properties provided by vitamin E then looking for it in sunscreens and sunblock should be a wise thing to do. Most of reputable brands will have added vitamin E to prevent the skin from UV exposure and photoaging. Many chemical sunscreens contain vitamin E since it enhances the function of UV filters that can provide protection on skin.

5. Vitamin E with Tea Tree Oil

If you want to prevent and treat acne then you can use vitamin E mixed with tea tree oil in your skincare routine especially for acne-prone skin. A skincare expert, Dr. Ingky, advised, "...you should always pair up with vitamin E is tea tree oil, helps to reduce inflammation and skin irritation so that actually helps to reduce scars due to PIE or PIH...".

6. Vitamin E Supplements

Vitamin E pills can be supplemented internally to help with skin and overall health. Vitamin E supplements that contain selenium can be beneficial for treating acne from within.

A combination of vitamin E, selenium and coenzyme Q10 in supplemental capsules when taken orally can alleviate psoriasis symptoms.

Another Vitamin E combined with zinc and lactoferrin can reduce oil overproduction in the skin thus reduce oiliness and greasiness on the skin.

There have been an unhealthy growing trend of using vitamin E oil from supplemental vitamin E gel capsules to apply in your skin. You have to know that these vitamin E pills have larger molecular weight that can clog pores and cause acne and not formulated to address your skin concerns, externally.

Here is what Dr. Mamina had to say about this trend, "...the benefits of applying vitamin E gel capsules to the skin aren't straightforward...I wouldn't necessarily recommend it if you have oily or acne prone skin."

Other skincare ingredients that can be paired with vitamin E or vitamin E oil in your skincare routine are

• Niacinamide(Vitamin B3)

• Peptides

• Salicylic Acid

• AHAs

How to Use Vitamin E Oil in Your Skincare Routine

For optimal and maximum benefits for your skin, it is always a good idea to pair vitamin E oil with other ingredients to see better results. This simple skincare routine will show you how to include vitamin E oil in your skincare routine as follows:

1. Cleansing

You won't necessarily need any product that contain vitamin E in large amounts except for it preservative properties that you'll find tocopheryl acetate or also known as vitamin E acetate included in minute amounts that are insignificant whatsoever.

Though cleansing your skin with face wash and toners containing tea tree extract, lemon extract, niacinamide and salicylic acid are going to boost your vitamin E oil in other steps to follow. So, just wash your face or body with the said ingredients to prep your skin for vitamin E.

2. Serum

In this case, since vitamin E oil is oil-based ingredient then you should always layer it after water-based serums. If you have niacinamide, vitamin C, AHA, panthenol(Provitamin B5) or low molecular weight hyaluronic acid then these water-based serums should come first before vitamin E oil or vitamin E serum. Water-based serums first, vitamin E oil second, in that order! Vitamin Eoil is always suitable for both morning and night time skincare routine.

Thanks to skincare industry, has made it easy for us! Most of the time vitamin E oil is formulated together with other water-based skincare ingredients creating an emulsion that can be easily applied and absorbed by the skin.

3. Moisturizer/SPF

Depending on the time of the day vitamin E containing moisturizer or vitamin E oil added to your moisturizer can improve significantly your skin health due to its anti-aging properties.

During the day vitamin E oil in sunscreen can help reduce effects of UV exposure to the skin and enhance the function of chemical sunscreens in preventing premature aging, sunburns and hyperpigmentation. So, adding vitamin E oil as part of SPF is a good thing.

A good idea will be to buy a moisturizer, sunscreen or sunblock already containing vitamin E formulated with it.

Frequently asked questions

How to use vitamin E oil for scars?

If you want vitamin E oil to work best in fading out scars then pair it with other ingredients such as tea tree oil, niacinamide and vitamin C for maximum results.

Vitamin E oil vs jojoba oil which one is better?

Both vitamin E oil and jojoba oil are good for the skin, vitamin E oil has anti-aging properties that are good for the skin. Jojoba oil mimics sebum, skin's natural oil that can be good for dry skin but also jojoba oil contains vitamin E that can be helpful for skin health.

Can vitamin E oil be mixed with tretinoin?

Vitamin E oil can be mixed with tretinoin and other vitamin A derivatives like retinol can be paired without causing any skin issues. So stay well assured and do not hesitate to pair the for more anti-aging effects.

Is vitamin E oil pregnancy safe?

Unfortunately, Vitamin E oil carries high risk on pregnancy when used in high amounts of 14.9 to 33.8mg since it can inhibit absorption of other vitamins and cause birth defects in infants.

Is 30000 IU of vitamin E oil good to use?

There is no right dosage for topical vitamin E oil just 200 IU can go a long way. Since vitamin E oil is a heavy oil in consistency so directly applying it on the skin may clog pores and cause acne breakout. Dilute the oil with castor or jojoba oil before using it.

References

Júlia Scherer Santos, et al. (2021). Vitamin E Derivatives Skin Health Promotion. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/78135

J R Travethick, et al. (1992). Topical tocopherol acetate reduces post-UVB, sunburn-associated erythema, edema, and skin sensitivity in hairless mice. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1632644/

Malka Hochberg, et al. (2006). Role of antioxidants in prevention of pyrimidine dimer formation in UVB irradiated human HaCaT keratinocytes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16765564/

S Makpol, et al. (2014). Comparable down-regulation of TYR, TYRP1 and TYRP2 genes and inhibition of melanogenesis by tyrostat, tocotrienol-rich fraction and tocopherol in human skin melanocytes improves skin pigmentation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24589959/

Suzana Makpol, et al. (2013). Comparative effects of biodynes, tocotrienol-rich fraction, and tocopherol in enhancing collagen synthesis and inhibiting collagen degradation in stress-induced premature senescence model of human diploid fibroblasts. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24396567/

Pyrimidine dimer. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/pyrimidine-dimer

Leslie Baumann, MD, Cosmetic Dermatology, 2nd edition, Vitamin E - pages 293-294

Carla Caddeo, et al. (2018). Tocopherol-loaded transfersomes: In vitro antioxidant activity and efficacy in skin regeneration. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30201294/

Ichiro Kurokawa, et al. (2019). Split-face comparative clinical trial using glyceryl-octyl-ascorbic acid/ascorbyl 2-phosphate 6-palmitate/DL-α-tocopherol phosphate complex treatment for postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, postinflammatory erythema and atrophic scar in acne vulgaris. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31149741/