VITAMIN
E
Ingredient Spotlight
W
e all know how important it is to
take your vitamins for sustained
good health and the same principle
applies to your skin: supply it with the right
nutrients and it will flourish. If we asked you
to write down the most common vitamins used
in skin care, we bet Vitamins A and C take up
the top two spots but to complete the magic
trio, you need to include Vitamin E.
If you’ve not hea rd much about Vitamin E, we
get it. Its showier brethren often hog the lime-
light, but it has been a staple of dermatology
treatments since the 1950s and its amazing
skin benefits are just as relevant today. Primarily
an antioxidant, Vitamin E is an oil-soluble
vitamin that not only protects the skin cells
and DNA against environmental damage from
things like pollution, but has the ability to
minimise UVB-induced damage. If you have
overdone it in the sun, UVB rays cause the skin
to redden and, in some cases, burn. Vitamin E
can soothe and calm inflamed skin while pro-
tecting the fibroblasts from destruction,
essentially preventing some of the key signs of
sun-induced ageing from developing, hence its
inclusion in most aftersun lotions. You may
have also noticed Vitamin E or its more scien-
tific name Tocopherol (you should also look
out for Tocopheryl Acetate, an alternative to
pure Vitamin E that is more stable and less
acidic) in your favourite antioxidant serum,
usually paired with Vitamin C. This is because,
together, this antioxidant duo work to enhance
and support each other in the fight against
environmental damage, with Vitamin C
working best at the surface and Vitamin E
doing its job down in the lower layers.
And what a job it does. Aside from its impressive
antioxidant prowess, Vitamin E is an under-ap-
preciated hydrator. Used topically, it plumps
and softens the driest of skins to tackle dehydra-
tion lines and create a more radiant complexion,
and foods naturally rich in the ingredient (such
as avocados, vegetable oil and some fish) can help
to moisturise the skin from the inside when
consumed as part of a balanced diet.
Its anti-inflammatory benefits are not just great
for calming sun damaged skin either. Those
with sensitive skin prone to redness and irrita-
tion can greatly benefit from using creams and
serums formulated with Vitamin E, as it helps
to minimise visible redness and can support
better wound healing, improving skin’s ability
to function more efficiently during the day.
Despite its relatively low profile compared to
other antioxidants on the scene, Vitamin E can
be found in every step of your beauty routine,
from your cleanser to your sunscreen, in your
foundation and in your face powder. In fact,
you’re probably already using it. So keep at it.
ISSUE #09 | 2018 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 25