Everything You Need to Know About Vitamin E for Your Skin

Vitamin E is both a nutrient and an antioxidant, with a vast history of use in dermatology. Besides being effective, it’s also easy to find, easy to use and can be found in a variety of products you probably already own. But is vitamin E good for your skin? And how do you know if you should be incorporating it into your skin care routine? To learn more about the ample benefits of vitamin E—also known as alpha tocopherol—we reached out to board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali. Here’s what he had to say, and what we discovered about vitamin E for your skin.

What Is Vitamin E?

Before you learn about the benefits of vitamin for your skin, it’s important to understand the basics. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble compound, mainly found in certain plant oils, and the leaves of green vegetables. Foods rich in vitamin E include canola oil, olive oil, margarine, almonds and peanuts. You can also get your vitamin E from meats and certain fortified cereals.

As an antioxidant, vitamin E is known for helping protect the skin’s surface against free radicals that can cause damage to our body’s largest organ. What are free radicals, you ask? Free radicals are unstable molecules triggered by a variety of environmental factors, including sun exposure, pollution, and smoke. When free radicals are exposed to our skin, they can begin to break down collagen and elastin, causing the skin to show more prominent signs of aging—think: wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots.

Vitamin E, often regarded as the “skin vitamin,” has plentiful antioxidant properties. “Vitamin E is a great antioxidant that combats against free-radicals that harm your skin,” says Dr. Bhanusali. Let’s get into the benefits, shall we?

The Skin Care Benefits of Vitamin E

Vitamin E Benefit #1: Protect Against Free Radicals

Vitamin E is first and foremost an antioxidant. It can help shield the skin against damage caused by environmentally-induced free radicals. When looking to adequately protect your skin against aggressors, reach for a serum or cream formulated with antioxidants like vitamin E or C, and pair it with a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen. Together, antioxidants and SPF are an anti-aging force to be reckoned with. 

Keep in mind, however, that little support exists for vitamin E helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkling, discoloration, or other signs of skin aging. It plays an important role in the prevention of premature skin aging, but is not necessarily an ingredient that can help reduce said signs of aging.

Vitamin E Benefit #2: Hydrate the Skin

Because it is such a thick, dense oil, vitamin E makes for a great moisturizer, especially for people with dry skin. Apply it onto your cuticles or hands to hydrate stubborn dry patches. Be careful about applying pure vitamin E onto your face. Since it is a thick oil, we recommend looking for a serum or cream formulated with vitamin E (more on that below) instead. 

Our Favorite Skin Care Products from the L’Oreal Portfolio of Brands Formulated with Vitamin E

Now that you know what vitamin E can do for y our skin, shop some of our favorite skin care products from the L’Oréal portfolio of brand that are formulated with the ingredient.  

SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E

This serum is an antioxidant lover’s dream. It boasts a maximized concentration of pure, stable resveratrol synergistically enhanced with baicalin, and vitamin E. As for what it can do, the formula can help neutralize free radical damage, and protect and strengthen the skin’s natural defenses. See our full review of SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E here.

SkinCeuticals Resveratrol B E, $153 MSRP

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture

Use this daily facial moisturizer for lightweight hydration before applying makeup. It’s a pore-minimizing moisturizer for normal or oily skin, and it’s formulated with a combination of vitamin E and algae extracts and delivers a smooth finish.

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture, $62 MSRP

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60

Remember when we said antioxidants and SPF make a great team? Instead of applying them separately, reach for this sunscreen that is formulated with antioxidants like vitamin E as well as broad-spectrum SPF 60 to protect skin against harmful free radicals and UV rays. 

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Sunscreen Milk SPF 60, $35 MSRP

La Roche-Posay Active C10

This concentrated anti-wrinkle cream can help visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and boost your skin’s radiance. It’s formulated with vitamin E, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and more, making it the perfect product pick for sensitive, dry, and mature skin.

La Roche-Posay Active C10, $52 MSRP