Everything You Need to Know About Vitamin E
In a world of flashy active ingredients, some of the simple ones sometimes get lost in the noise. Vitamin E is an unsung hero of skin and body care. With nurturing and nourishing properties, it's definitely worth turning your attention to this humble – but no less effective – skincare ingredient. Below, everything you need to know about Vitamin E.
WHAT IS VITAMIN E?
Vitamin E is a common skincare ingredient found in many formulations. You might also see it listed as tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate. Vitamin E is a skin-identical ingredient, meaning it's found naturally in the composition of the skin. It plays an important protective role in skin health, helping to defend the skin against pollution and environmental aggressors that can wreak havoc on the SKIN'S MICROBIOME. As we age, our natural reserves of Vitamin E deplete, so using it topically in our skin and body care products is a great way to boost the skin with antioxidants.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAIN BENEFITS OF VITAMIN E?
Aside from its antioxidant properties, Vitamin E is also a super hydrator for the skin. It functions as both a HUMECTANT (absorbs water into the skin from the atmosphere) and as an emollient (traps water in the skin to prevent cellular water loss). This makes it fantastic for dry or dehydrated skin. It also has numerous skin-healing and anti-inflammatory benefits, so can be great if you're experiencing an impaired SKIN BARRIER or conditions like ECZEMA, itching or irritation. In protecting against free radicals and encouraging collagen synthesis, Vitamin E can also help to smooth out the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Anecdotally, it has been used to help accelerate wound-healing and to fade scars and stretch marks.
WHO CAN USE VITAMIN E?
Vitamin E is well-tolerated and well-absorbed by most skin types. It's particularly useful for those with dry, flaky skin; people with eczema and psoriasis; and those with an impaired skin barrier. Like with any topical product, we recommend undertaking a patch test prior to use.
DOES VITAMIN E PLAY NICELY WITH OTHER INGREDIENTS?
Yes! Vitamin E works particularly well with Vitamin C. Together, these two are a forced to be reckoned with. Vitamin C has a tendency to be unstable on its own, but Vitamin E can help to stabilise it. This pair provides a strong level of antioxidant protection.
HOW DO I INCORPORATE VITAMIN E INTO MY BODY CARE ROUTINE?
Vitamin E is gentle enough for daily use. We are big fans of Vitamin E, so we added it to our hydrating BODY MOISTURISER. Luxuriously nourishing and pH-balanced, it infuses the skin with long-lasting hydration and NATURALLY ACTIVE ingredients. You can find Vitamin E in our BODY POLISH, a clever physical-chemical hybrid exfoliant that deeply clears the skin while leaving it nourished. Due to Vitamin E's healing abilities, we also included it in the moisturising cushion that borders our REFILL BLADES. This helps to cushion the skin during shaving.