Let’s be honest. New skincare trends emerge all the time. From castor oil making a comeback to a renewed interest in witch-hazel,1 choosing the right product to suit your skin can be a minefield.
As a nation, we’re serious about our skincare too. It’s thought that nearly 8.5 million of us use a face cream or lotion every day.2 That makes choosing the right product even more important, especially as we dedicate a lot of time and effort taking care of our complexions.
When it comes to skincare, vitamin E oil isn’t a new thing. But it’s undoubtedly making headlines in the beauty world at the moment.3 If you’re wondering whether it’s worth the hype, we’ve got everything you need to know below.
What is vitamin E oil?
Vitamin E is the name we give to a group of fat-soluble compounds, which are thought to be useful for maintaining your everyday health. They’re classed as an essential nutrient because the body can’t make them itself. Instead, you can get vitamin E through the food you eat or through dietary supplements.4
Most of the time, we get all the vitamin E we need from a healthy and balanced diet. Vitamin E is naturally produced by plants, and the richest sources include peanuts, sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, and pistachios. You’ll also find vitamin E in vegetable oils and some fruits and veggies.5
Vitamin E is also a common ingredient in beauty products. You may find vitamin E available in capsule form or included on the label of your favourite beauty product.6
Vitamin E oil benefits
Vitamin E oil has been hailed as one of the most popular beauty ingredients in recent years.7 Whether sold as a single-ingredient solution or included on the ingredients list of must-have products, there’s no doubt that beauty gurus have been singing this vitamin’s praises.
Some of the reported vitamin E oil benefits include:
It’s worth bearing in mind that some studies refute the benefits of vitamin E oil. Some argue that it has no effect, while others suggest that it using it topically could cause irritation.13
If you choose to take vitamin E supplements or use it on your skin, remember to closely follow your selected products ‘how to use’ guidelines. If you notice any unwanted side effects, stop using it immediately. Allergic reactions can happen, so it’s recommended that you do a patch test before applying liberally.14
Nevertheless, vitamin E is generally considered safe for most people to use in the correct dosages.15
Different uses for vitamin E oil
Vitamin E might be listed as ‘tocopherol’ or ‘tocopheryl acetate’. These are just alternative names for the ingredient.
From face cleansers and toners to moisturisers and serums, you are likely to be able to find vitamin E in a wide range of different skincare products. You can also buy vitamin E oil, which is usually a single-ingredient product. If you choose a vitamin E oil, this can be applied underneath your moisturiser. Otherwise, it’s usually best to follow the guidelines of your chosen product.16
You’ll also be able to find vitamin E supplements, which usually come in the form of capsules.
Expertly reviewed by:
 |
Reviewer: Manisha Taggar
Manisha started her career at a Cosmetics distributor as a Regulatory Technologist followed by a Regulatory Affairs Officer, ensuring the regulatory compliance of cosmetic products from colour cosmetics to skincare. After 3 and half years in this role, Manisha joined Holland & Barrett as a Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate in 2019. Manisha specialises in Cosmetic products, both own-label and branded lines, ensuring that these products and all relating marketing material comply to the EU Cosmetics Regulation. |
Last updated: 2 December 2020
Sources
1 https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/skincare/a33455558/most-searched-beauty-ingredients-2020/
2 https://www.statista.com/statistics/302527/face-creams-and-lotions-usage-frequency-for-women-in-the-uk/
3 https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/skin-care/a27532030/vitamin-e-for-skin-benefits-products/
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3997530/
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4120831
6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4578028/
7 https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/skin-care/g28649883/vitamin-e-oil-for-skin/
8 https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E
9 https://www.idoj.in/article.asp?issn=2229-5178;year=2016;volume=7;issue=4;spage=311;epage=314;aulast=Keen
10 https://www.idoj.in/article.asp?issn=2229-5178;year=2016;volume=7;issue=4;spage=311;epage=314;aulast=Keen
11 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583891/
12 https://www.byrdie.com/vitamin-e-oil-uses
13 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10417589/
14 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318168
15 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4976416/
16 https://www.stylist.co.uk/beauty/vitamin-e-skincare/407276
