6 Reasons Vitamin E is your Skin's Best Friend
The Benefits of Vitamin E: Your Skincare Best Friend
With microneedling, jade rollers, and odd skincare treatments (Kim K’s infamous vampire facelift, anyone?) being so on-trend, it’s clear to see that most of us have a fascination with finding the “next big thing” in skincare. We never quite know what researchers, dermatologists, and celebrities will recommend next! It’s always exciting to try new products in hopes that it will be the one thing that solves our skincare dilemmas.
However, in a world of trendy beauty buzzwords and ingredients, sometimes it’s refreshing to get back to the tried-and-true basics.
Vitamin E is an essential vitamin that we’re all familiar with, whether in food or as a key ingredient in skincare. This compound has been found effective in skincare products for many years, yet many don’t know of the incredible benefits that this ingredient can offer.
This guide will show you all of the wonderful ways in which Vitamin E can help your skin on the inside and out (no placenta facials required).
It’s an Antioxidant
This is a word you’ve probably seen quite a lot in regard to skincare. Antioxidants prevent the buildup of free radicals in the body. When talking skincare, free radicals are unstable molecules in the skin. When each molecule becomes unstable, it can damage the molecules surrounding it.
This leads to a chain reaction that can weaken your moisture barrier and result in a loss of nutrients, including your skin’s naturally-occurring Vitamin E. This is most commonly caused by exposure to UV rays, pollution, smoking, and other environmental and lifestyle factors.
Thankfully, Vitamin E is here to save the day! When applied to the skin, it will neutralize those free radicals and help replenish any lost nutrients. This vitamin will help repair and prevent any further damage, leading to healthier and happier skin.
It Nourishes and Heals the Skin
One of the greatest benefits of Vitamin E is its nourishing, hydrating qualities. Since it easily mixes with the naturally occurring oils on your face, it is an easy and effective way to add moisture and nutrients to the skin, preventing dryness and cracking, as well as reducing environmental stressors.
Another added benefit of Vitamin E’s nourishing power is that it is ideal for healing scars and sunburns. The sun can cause a dramatic reduction in Vitamin E, so adding it back through skincare is a great way to reduce any lasting damage and heal the skin. This ingredient is great for use on commonly dry parts of the body, such as your elbows and ankles. It can also be used to treat and soothe chapped lips.
It Will Protect Your Moisture Barrier
A healthy moisture barrier is the key to nourished, supple skin. The moisture barrier (also called the oil or skin barrier) is your body’s defense mechanism for the skin, acting almost like your own personal bodyguard. It is designed to keep dirt, debris, and other pesky irritants out while retaining and producing oil that keeps the face hydrated.
Unfortunately, this barrier is easily damaged and causes a host of problems when it’s not working efficiently. Even those of us with oily skin have to keep this in mind, as a damaged skin barrier will often over-produce oil in order to make up for dehydrated skin. Harsh chemicals, dehydration, and sun exposure can all cause damage to this sensitive barrier.
Because of its nourishing properties, Vitamin E is a great source of hydration for the skin and works well for restoring the moisture barrier. It is “oil-soluble”, which means that it can easily dissolve into the oils on your skin.
This allows it to work its way deep into the epidermis and moisturize from the ground up. Thanks to the nature of this amazing ingredient, it will easily bond with your moisture barrier, creating healthier and more hydrated skin that can withstand the elements more effectively.
It’s Anti-Inflammatory
Vitamin E’s effectiveness at improving the skin’s hydration and protecting it from harmful exposures also makes it the ultimate anti-inflammatory ingredient. This ingredient is naturally soothing to the skin and protects irritated skin from further damage, thanks to its powerful properties as an antioxidant. It has even been used in the treatment of eczema and psoriasis to help alleviate flaking and redness. Use Vitamin E to combat puffy eyes, hyperpigmentation, or inflamed skin.
It’s Anti-Aging
Everyone should know that there’s nothing wrong with aging. It happens to everyone eventually and it’s something to be thankful for! However, as we age, moisture retention drops, and skin can become dry, dull, and damaged. For the same reasons this vitamin is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, it is a powerful anti-aging remedy as well.
Thanks to Vitamin E’s excellent nourishing and moisture-retaining power, it can easily make up for lost hydration in the skin and help restore a diminishing moisture barrier, which can be a cause for the dryness. This prevents fine lines, wrinkles, and even acne that may be caused by excessive dryness.
It Helps Boost Other Skincare Ingredients
Vitamin E is the ultimate team player. It works well with many skincare ingredients, and can even boost their effects. When worn under sunscreen, the powerful antioxidants in Vitamin E make for an excellent and effective second line of defense for preventing sun damage. It also makes for a perfect complement to Vitamin C, as both vitamins can boost each other’s effectiveness in brightening and evening the skin’s appearance.
All in all, it’s clear to see that this amazing skincare ingredient comes with lots of incredible benefits we could all use in our products. After all, who doesn’t strive for healthy, nourished, and damage-free skin?
Be sure to also keep in mind that your face isn’t the only part to focus on when it comes to skincare! The skin on your body also deserves proper care and Vitamin E has amazing qualities that can combat dryness and damage on all parts of the body. No matter what your age or skin type is, consider looking for products with Vitamin E to benefit your skin.
