Vitamin E (or tocopherol) is a natural component of healthy skin. While it’s often overshadowed by trendy newcomer ingredients, this powerful (yet gentle!) antioxidant is great for all-around skincare.

It can effectively defend the skin by neutralizing free radicals caused by pollution and other environmental stressors. This strengthens, tightens, and firms skin over time - oh, and it adds moisture too! 

Big-Picture Benefits

Shield Against Free Radicals

First thing’s first - Vitamin E is an excellent antioxidant, which means it can protect against free radical damage and defends the skin against pollution and other environmental aggressors.

On top of that, it has been shown to decrease UV-induced photodamage, thereby decreasing the risk of skin cancers and stabilizing the skin barrier.

But there’s something more - it can also protect the skin from sun damage by absorbing UV light, working as a kind of shield for the skin. Unfortunately, it’s rapidly depleted by UVB, which is why lots of products combine it with other antioxidants (particularly vitamin C). This helps stabilize the vitamin E and help it remain effective against UV damage.

Accelerate Healing

Vitamin E is shown to accelerate wound healing by both dropping the time it takes for wounds to heal and by increasing the breaking strength of wounds.

Moisturize

Vitamin E can keep lipids fresh in the skin, thereby helping to protect your skin’s natural protective barrier. This can prevent moisture from leaving and provide lasting hydration for the skin.

Anti-Inflammatory

By protecting against free radical damage, Vitamin E soothes the skin and calms its natural inflammatory process. This, in turn, can slow inflammation-induced signs of aging.

Precautions

Those with very sensitive, oily, or acne-prone skin should use Vitamin E with caution, and it can cause a dermatitis-like reaction for certain groups.

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