Even if you haven't heard the buzz about vitamin E oil chances are extremely high that this ingredient is used in a lot of your favorite skincare products. It’s everywhere—and for good reason. Dry skin? Fine lines? Redness? Yes, vitamin E treats all of those and more. Below, the experts break down the ingredient in more detail and explain what it is, its benefits, and why you should be using it.
What is vitamin E?
As Margarita Lolis, MD, New Jersey-based board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, describes it, vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in eight different forms. It can be found in oils, nuts, fruits, and vegetables for oral intake. But where skincare is concerned, Lolis points out that it can be naturally found in our body, and also found in many products as a topical vitamin E that you can apply.
“It’s an antioxidant and is naturally found in our own sebum. In fact, people with oily skin are found to have higher levels of Vitamin E, ” adds Krupa Koestline, a cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Consultants. She goes on to say that the two most common forms of vitamin E found in skincare are tocopherols and tocotrienols. Because vitamin E is lipophilic (“lipid loving,” she explains), it can penetrate the skin well to provide us with its many benefits.
How does vitamin E oil benefit the skin?
Vitamin E is mostly used for its antioxidant and hydrating properties. Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology, says it helps protect the skin from free radical damage and is also a humectant and emollient to help the skin lock in moisture and keep dryness at bay. Other benefits include its ability to help heal wounds such as scars and burns and its anti-inflammatory properties that can calm irritation and make it great for skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea. As Koestline explains, it is an anti-inflammatory agent that has been shown to help reduce swelling and redness by limiting inflammatory responses. She adds that some studies even suggest that it may help reduce redness and the appearance of newly formed scars. This can be incredibly helpful when dealing with pesky acne scars.
It is also known to provide some photoprotection from the sun. But don’t throw out your sunscreen just yet. Koestline says that vitamin E alone is not a true UV filter as it has a limited range of wavelengths it can absorb. But it can still provide some protection by reducing UV damage and providing a shield for our skin from environmental aggressors and further sun damage. So it's worth pairing with your favorite sunscreen for the ultimate sun protection against skin cancer.
Are there any downsides to using vitamin E oil?
The bad news is that vitamin E might not be suitable for all skin types. According to Garshick, vitamin E is a known allergen and could potentially cause irritation or an allergic reaction in some. Lolis adds that it is also comedogenic and contributes to breakouts. Both experts say that those with oily and acne-prone or sensitive skin should proceed with caution when incorporating it into their routines. Do a patch test to see how your skin reacts before applying it to your face. For any questions or concerns, consult your dermatologist for the best game plan if you’re keen on incorporating this into your routine.
What’s the difference between vitamin E and vitamin C?
Vitamin E and vitamin C are two of the most recognizable antioxidants in our skincare. While they do very different things for the skin— vitamin C targets pigmentation and dark spots thanks to its brightening properties, and vitamin E is a hydrator—they are often paired together. “Together, they are a powerhouse of DNA repair and protection,” says Lolis. Koestline agrees and says that when the two vitamins are combined with ferulic acid, they provide antioxidant protection, along with brightening and scar-reducing benefits. She adds that studies have shown that they perform better together than by themselves.
How do you use vitamin E oil?
Incorporating vitamin E oil into your routine is fairly easy, as it’s found in many beauty products. Koestline says it works well with all ingredients, so you don’t have to swap out certain products to use vitamin E. She adds that while it can be applied directly onto your skin, some might find the consistency a bit too greasy. For that reason, it is best used as part of a product like a moisturizer, lotion, or a cleanser. “Vitamin E is not the most stable compound and is best used when formulated and stabilized into [these products],” she says.
If you do choose to use the oil version, Lolis says it should be the last step of your routine so that it doesn’t hinder other products in your routine from penetrating the skin. “The order in which [vitamin E oil] is applied is crucial because creams cannot penetrate through oils, but oils can penetrate through creams,” she says. “Therefore, you want to apply it after your creams.”
Popular vitamin E products include the classic Bio-Oil Skin Care Oil and the expert-loved Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, which Garshick says provides protection from environmental aggressors, improve the appearance of fine lines, and boost radiance. If you’re looking for a cream that incorporates the ingredients, she recommends something like the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Night Cream, which also has retinol to plump the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
