AN-Vitamine E
Vitamin E
Type of ingredient | Skin barrier booster, anti-oxidant |
Available forms | Serums, creams. |
Origin | Alpha-tocypherol (the form of vitamin E that humans can metabolise) is usually produced synthetically, but can also be found in natural products. Avocado, pumpkin and wheat germ oil are all excellent sources of the vitamin for both topical and internal use. Vitamin E is an antioxidant vitamin and oil. It is often found in topicals or moisturizers with antioxidant blends. It is also used in cosmetics as tocopherol acetate. |
Main benefits | Seals in moisture, smoothes the skin, antioxidant. Protects from the sun, soothes the skin. Formulas containing vitamin E revitalize skin exposed to the environment. |
Characteristics | Vitamin E helps keep your skin’s protective barrier intact. The main benefit of vitamin E is its ability to speed up the healing of skin damage such as burns and wounds by up to 50%. It also has the ability to increase the moisture content of the skin. It is an antioxidant which prevents blackheads, among other things, as the peak of hardened sebum trapped in the pores darkens due to oxidation, vitamin E can help slow this process. |
Target group | In general, anyone with dry skin. Vitamin E is not recommended for sensitive skin. |
Frequency | You should only use vitamin E once a day, preferably at night, as it is usually too thick to be made up. |
Association | Vitamin C and ferulic acid |
Dissociation/ Contraindication | Retinol/Vitamin A |
Side effects | When used in its pure form, in a capsule and applied directly to the skin, vitamin E can cause dermatitis-like reactions especially for the thinner, more sensitive skin around the eyes. It could also clog pores and for those prone to acne and rashes, make the problem worse. Risk of allergic reaction. |
Use | It is important to note that when used in skin care formulations, vitamin E is only offered in low concentrations. If you have a scar or a specific area you wish to treat, pierce a vitamin E capsule and apply the oil to that area for a few weeks. |