We agree it can be hard keeping on top of all the vitamins and their functions, but there’s one super skincare ingredient that often gets sadly overlooked - Vitamin E.
Vitamin E has been used in dermatology for over 50 years, but it’s not going to the backbench anytime soon! This important antioxidant is a key ingredient in many of your favourite cosmetic products - but yet, many skincare enthusiasts know little about its secrets! We put together this guide to answer your most commonly asked questions about Vitamin E in skincare to become an ingredient expert. You can also read about our other skincare faves like Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Retinol and more in our Skincare News section.
What does Vitamin E do?
Vitamin E is a naturally occurring antioxidant that protects the skin from free radicals - these are the nasty, minute particles that develop in your skin from inflammatory agents like UV radiation, air pollution, cigarette smoke.
Free radicals are determined to find and damage healthy skin cells by breaking down your skin's production of collagen, leaving you with more wrinkles, dark spots and fine lines. Vitamin E replenishes the skin, providing a barrier to these particles from developing and combats any previous damage. Unlike many other antioxidants, Vitamin E is also very hydrating - it acts as both a humectant (helps absorb water in the skin) and an emollient (helps keep the water there!).
Where does Vitamin E come from?
To get technical, Vitamin E actually refers to a group of molecules that are normally provided to the skin through the sebum (a waxy/oily substance that we secrete to coat the outer layer of the skin). Humans normally get most of their Vitamin E from dietary sources like vegetable oils, nuts, avocados, spinach and whole grains.
As we get older, our skin has a much harder time absorbing and retaining Vitamin E in our sebum, so using supplements or applying Vitamin E topically in skincare products is super important to give your skin the vitamin boost it needs! You can find Vitamin E in a number of moisturisers, serums and eye creams.
What are the benefits of Vitamin E in skincare?
Vitamin E has many benefits in skincare but is most often used for its function as a powerful barrier against skin nasties like UV radiation, pollution and other harsh environmental factors that break down the skin’s natural defences and dry the skin out. Daily topical application of Vitamin E replenishes the sebum and repairs the lipid barrier, fixing all the cracks in the skin that might be letting moisture out and damage in.
Not only does it combat free radicals from damaging the skin, but it also works to promote and protect collagen production - the really important protein in the skin that keeps it from sagging and developing wrinkles. Vitamin E helps soften skin and smooth your complexion. It allows for long-lasting moisture retention - believed to be up to almost 16 hours of hydration! As an antioxidant, it discourages sebum (oil) oxidation, which prevents blackheads from developing - so you can get glowing skin without causing breakouts as other oil serums might provide.
So to summarise, just some of the many skincare benefits of Vitamin E include:
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Protects the skin from harsh environments that dry the skin
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Repairs skin lipids to retain moisture and rebuild natural defences
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Helps to prevent skin sagging, wrinkles and fine lines
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Soften skin
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Discourages sebum oxidation (prevents blackheads!)
Is Vitamin E safe for skin?
Vitamin E, when applied correctly, is very safe for the skin. You can apply it directly to the skin, but as it has a fairly thick consistency on its own, it's best to apply it with enough time to let it absorb before applying any makeup or other products to the skin. It’s often used as an overnight treatment!
Vitamin E can have benefits on all skin types when in the right dosage. As everyone’s skin will be different (same with all skincare products and ingredients!), it’s always a good idea to do a patch test to observe any possible irritation before applying to the face.
If you have particularly oily skin already, you might use a smaller amount of product or apply it less frequently to help balance oil production but not overload the skin.
Is Vitamin E or Vitamin C better for your skin?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions around Vitamin E, but the answer is… use both! While both ingredients provide powerful skincare benefits, when combined together, the combination is more effective in combatting skin damage than either vitamin on its own. Vitamin C is fantastic for brightening the skin and tackles removing dark spots and skin pigmentation in just a few weeks of routine application.
When paired with Vitamin E, this skincare super duo works to brighten a dull complexion, improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, and strengthen skin defences against the impact of a harsh environment. They’re extremely compatible because Vitamin C is great for targeting the outer layer of the skin, while Vitamin E dives deeper as it's oil-soluble - your skin gets a full rejuvenation!
Get the best of both worlds with a serum jampacked with both - the Boost Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum!
How do I use Vitamin E in my skincare routine?
Daily application is recommended and a good quality serum allows you to incorporate Vitamin E into your skincare routine easily.
The Boost Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum including Vitamin E and Niacinamide is a must-have. This Brightening Serum helps provide you with bright, glowing and radiant skin in just 28 days. The serum quickly penetrates your skin to protect against skin-damaging free radicals that accelerate the signs of ageing. It also supports the natural production of collagen and ensures immediate, long-lasting hydration.
All it takes is just 2-3 drops applied to the fingers and massaged into the skin once a day after cleansing! Super easy, super soothing and super fast to see results!
Alternatively, give your skin the overnight treatment with the Boost Lab Retinol.
Night Renewal Serum with Vitamin E. This super serum is a night-time skin hydration formula designed to reduce skin damage that causes wrinkles, dry skin, loss of firmness and elasticity, and uneven pigmentation. It’s the perfect renewal potion that works its magic, plumping and hydrating while you sleep so you can wake up with revitalised skin.
We’re a big fan of serums when incorporating Vitamin E in your routine because they’re the perfect skin solutions that can be taken anywhere and applied in seconds.
Did you learn something new about this supercharged ingredient? Find out more about other skincare secrets from Boost Lab here or find your perfect solution by taking the Skin Advisor quiz to learn more!
Feel the skincare difference with the Boost Lab Retinol Night Renewal Serum and Boost Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum at just $29.95 each or get your money back guaranteed.
