How To Use Vitamin E Skincare

Vitamin E has many benefits for your dry skin.

When applied topically, vitamin E is a skin conditioning agent, a powerful antioxidant and it can protect your skin against photodamage from the sun.

What is the best way to use vitamin E in your skincare?

This article will discuss:

• What is vitamin E?
• What is topical vitamin E?
• Things to consider when using vitamin E skincare:
• What type of skincare product?
• What type of vitamin E? 
• What is source of vitamin E?
• What is dose of vitamin E?
• How to apply vitamin E skincare?
• Safety - who should avoid vitamin E skincare?
• Summary
• References

What is vitamin E?

Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble compounds that are important for skin health.

There are 8 types of natural vitamin E.

There are four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta).

As an essential vitamin, vitamin E cannot be produced by the human body and must be obtained from your diet, supplements and/or skincare.

What is topical vitamin E?

Topical vitamin E refers to the application of vitamin E directly onto the skin in the form of creams, lotions, oils, or serums.

The concentration and formulation of topical vitamin E can vary depending on the specific product and intended use.

Topical application allows the vitamin E to be absorbed directly into your skin, where it can exert its potential benefits.

Learn more: Topical Vitamin E for Skin - What Is It?

Topical vitamin E has many benefits for your skin.

When applied topically, vitamin E is a skin conditioning agent, a powerful antioxidant and it can protect your skin against photodamage from the sun.

Learn more: 5 Benefits of Vitamin E for Dry Skin

Things to consider when using vitamin E skincare

There are many different skincare products that contain vitamin E.

There are several things to consider when choosing vitamin E skincare products:

• What type of skincare product?
• What type of vitamin E? 
• What is source of vitamin E?
• What is dose of vitamin E?
• How to apply vitamin E skincare?
• When to apply vitamin E? Day or night?
• What products can I use with vitamin E?
• Safety - who should avoid vitamin E skincare?

What type of skincare product?

Topical vitamin E comes in the form of creams, lotions, oils, serums, balms or other skincare preparations that contain vitamin E as an active ingredient. 

These products are designed to be applied externally to the skin to deliver the benefits of vitamin E directly to the targeted area.

When choosing what type of product, consider if you prefer a skincare product that is light or heavy textured, quick absorbing/non-greasy or slow absorbing and barrier forming.

For instance, a vitamin E oil or serum is more likely to be light and quickly absorbed, whereas a vitamin E balm may be heavier and greasier feeling.

What type of vitamin E?

Topical formulations often include various forms of vitamin E, including alpha-tocopherol, mixed tocopherols, tocotrienols and synthetic forms of vitamin E.

These different forms of vitamin E can be found in various concentrations and combinations in topical formulations, such as creams, lotions, serums, and oils, aimed at promoting skin health, protecting against environmental stressors, and providing moisturization.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel (Panel) assessed the safety of tocopherols and tocotrienols and concluded these ingredients are safe as used in cosmetics (Andersen et al, 2002; Fiume et al, 2018).

1. Alpha-tocopherol

Alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active and common form of vitamin E.

Functions in skincare: antioxidant, skin-conditioning agent

2. Mixed tocopherols

Tocopherols are a blend of alpha-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol and/or gamma-tocopherol.

Functions in skincare: antioxidant, skin-conditioning agent

3. Mixed tocotrienols

Tocotrienols are a mixture of alpha-tocotrienols, gamma-tocotrienols and delta-tocotrienols.

Function in skincare: skin-conditioning agent

4. Tocopheryl acetate

Tocopheryl acetate is the ester of tocopherol and acetic acid.

Tocopheryl acetate is a stable ester form of vitamin E. It is commonly used in skincare products due to its enhanced stability and longer shelf life. 

Functions in skincare: antioxidant; skin-conditioning agent

 

What is source of vitamin E? 

Vitamin E is naturally found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. 

Tocopherols are the more common form of vitamin E.

The best sources of tocopherols are raspberry seed oil, blackcurrant seed oil, apple seed oil, wheat germ oil, soybean oil, corn seed oil and sunflower seed oil (DellaPenna et al, 2005; Pieszka et al 2015).

Tocotrienols are a rarer form of vitamin E.

The best sources tocotrienols are annatto seed, palm oil, rice bran oil and blueberry seed oil (Youg et al, 2014; Li et al, 2016).

The amounts of vitamin E in plant oils depends on how the plants were extracted and processed. Unrefined and cold-pressed plant oils contain the highest amount of active nutrients.

 

What is dose of vitamin E?

Vitamin E concentrations between 0.1–1.0% are generally considered to be safe and effective for increasing vitamin E levels in the skin, but higher levels of alpha-tocopherol have been used with no apparent side effects.

Vitamin E as alpha-tocopherol or tocopherol acetate is used in over-the-counter products in concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 5.0% (reviewed by Aparecida Sales de Oliveira Pinto et al, 2021). 

Topical application of 5% and a daily dosage up to 600 IU of vitamin E can be considered safe in humans (Teo et al, 2021).

In a clinical trial with 30 patients with sun sensitivity, topical application of 10% tocopherols and 0.3% tocotrienols was shown to be safe (Pedrelli et al, 2012). 

In a clinical trial with 50 patients with actinic keratoses, topical application of 12.5% dl-alpha-tocopherol cream was shown to be safe for up to 6 months. Redness and itchiness were reported is several patients, however symptoms were reported with equal frequency among arms receiving vitamin E or placebo treatment. Presumably, reactions occurred in response to the delivery vehicle, the Vanicreme® base (Foote et al, 2009).

In a clinical study with 15 patients, 21% alpha tocopherol cream applied to surgical scars led to contact dermatitis in 5 patients (Baumann et al, 1999). 

Using high doses of vitamin E (i.e. 100% vitamin E) on your skin is not recommended, as this may increase the risk of dermatitis.

Albeit rare, the risk of contact allergy to topical vitamin E should not be disregarded. 

Talk to your doctor or dermatologist about using topical vitamin E.

How to apply vitamin E skincare?

Vitamin E skincare can be applied to your face, neck, chest and hands.

Vitamin E skincare can also be applied as a body product.

Vitamin E skincare can be applied day and night.

During the day, vitamin E can provide antioxidant support to protect against UV damage from the sun.

Vitamin E works best for photoprotection when it is paired with sunscreen or sunblock.

At night, vitamin E can help nourish and calm your tired skin.

Vitamin E skincare generally works well with other products, and can be combined with other actives.

Vitamin E works especially well when combined with vitamin C for antioxidant activity and photoprotection.

Who should avoid vitamin E for skin?

Topical vitamin E is generally considered safe for most people when used as a skincare product, but there are some individuals who should exercise caution or avoid it altogether:

1. Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may be allergic to vitamin E or have sensitivities to it. If you experience any signs of an allergic reaction, such as redness, itching, swelling, or hives, discontinue use immediately.

2. Skin Sensitivity: People with highly sensitive skin may be more prone to irritation from topical vitamin E. It's a good idea to perform a patch test on a small area of skin before applying it to your face or body.

3. Acne-Prone Skin: While some individuals with acne-prone skin find that topical vitamin E can help with scars and healing, others may find it too heavy or comedogenic, meaning it could potentially clog pores and worsen acne. It's essential to monitor how your skin reacts to vitamin E products and consult with a dermatologist if you're concerned.

4. Pre-existing Skin Conditions: If you have certain skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis, the use of topical vitamin E may exacerbate symptoms for some individuals. Again, it's best to consult with a dermatologist for personalized advice.

It's essential to remember that everyone's skin is different, and what works for one person may not work for another.

If you have concerns about using topical vitamin E or any other skincare product, it's always a good idea to consult with a dermatologist or skincare professional.

Learn more: Is Vitamin E Safe for Skin?

Summary

Topical vitamin E is safe for your skin and has benefits for your skin.

Look for skincare products that contain natural sources of vitamin E, including sunflower seed oil, soybean oil and apple seed oil. 

Choose skincare products with vitamin E as alpha-tocopherol over tocopheryl acetate. Tocopheryl acetate is safe and can help preserve your skincare products, but it does not have the same antioxidant activity as alpha-tocopherol. 

Look for skincare products that contain multiple tocopherols and tocotrienols instead of just alpha-tocopherol to maximize your vitamin E benefits. 

When applied topically, vitamin E is a skin conditioning agent, a powerful antioxidant and it can protect your skin against photodamage from the sun.

Choose skincare products that contain up to 5% vitamin E, as topical application of 5% vitamin E can be considered safe.

Avoid using high doses of vitamin E (i.e. 100% vitamin E capsules) on your skin, as this may increase the risk of dermatitis.

Our Dry Skin Love Apple Elixir 5% Vitamin E Face Oil contains 8 types of vitamin E from natural sources - including tocopherols and tocotrienols.

References

Andersen FA. Final report on the safety assessment of tocopherol, tocopheryl acetate, tocopheryl linoleate, tocopheryl linoleate/oleate, tocopheryl nicotinate, tocopheryl succinate, dioleyl tocopheryl methylsilanol, potassium ascorbyl tocopherol phosphate, and tocophersolan. Int J Toxicol. 2002;21(suppl 3):51–116.

Aparecida Sales de Oliveira Pinto, C., Elyan Azevedo Martins, T., Miliani Martinez, R., Batello Freire, T., Valéria Robles Velasco, M., & Rolim Baby, A.‘Vitamin E in Human Skin: Functionality and Topical Products’. Vitamin E in Health and Disease - Interactions, Diseases and Health Aspects, IntechOpen, 6 Oct. 2021.

Baumann LS, Spencer J. The effects of topical vitamin E on the cosmetic appearance of scars. Dermatol Surg. 1999 Apr;25(4):311-5.

DellaPenna D. A decade of progress in understanding vitamin E synthesis in plants. Proc. J. Plant Physiol. 2005;162:729–737.

Fiume MM, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Andersen FA, Heldreth B. Safety Assessment of Tocopherols and Tocotrienols as Used in Cosmetics. Int J Toxicol. 2018 Sep/Oct;37(2_suppl):61S-94S. 

Foote JA, Ranger-Moore JR, Einspahr JG, Saboda K, Kenyon J, Warneke J, Miller RC, Goldman R, Xu MJ, Roe DJ, Alberts DS. Chemoprevention of human actinic keratoses by topical DL-alpha-tocopherol. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2009 Apr;2(4):394-400. 

Li Q, Wang J, Shahidi F. Chemical Characteristics of Cold-Pressed Blackberry, Black Raspberry, and Blueberry Seed Oils and the Role of the Minor Components in Their Oxidative Stability. J Agric Food Chem. 2016 Jul 6;64(26):5410-6. 

Pedrelli VF, Lauriola MM, Pigatto PD. Clinical evaluation of photoprotective effect by a topical antioxidants combination (tocopherols and tocotrienols). J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2012 Nov;26(11):1449-53.

Pieszka, M., Migdał, W., Gąsior, R., Rudzińska, M., Bederska-Łojewska, D., Pieszka, M., & Szczurek, P. (2015). Native oils from apple, blackcurrant, raspberry, and strawberry seeds as a source of polyenoic fatty acids, tocochromanols, and phytosterols: A health implication. Journal of Chemistry, 2015.

Teo CWL, Tay SHY, Tey HL, Ung YW, Yap WN. Vitamin E in Atopic Dermatitis: From Preclinical to Clinical Studies. Dermatology. 2021;237(4):553-564.  

Yong S, Wong HK, Mardhati M, Tan S. Tocotrienol and tocopherol contents of annatto seed accessions. J. Sci. Technol. Trop. 2014;10:15-25.

Author Information

Dr. Natasha Ryz is a scientist, skin care expert and an entrepreneur. She is the founder of Dry Skin Love Skincare, and she creates skincare products for beauty, dry skin and pain relief.

Dr. Ryz has a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and she is a Vanier scholar. She also holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

Natasha is the former Chief Science Officer of Zenabis Global, and she oversaw extraction, analytics, and product development. Her team brought 20 products to market including oils, sprays, vapes and softgels.

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