Is Vitamin E the Best Vitamin for the Skin

Is Vitamin E the Best Vitamin for the Skin

Vitamin E was first discovered in 1922 through plants like nuts, spinach, whole grains, olive oil and the powerhouse of them all, the sunflower oil. There are 8 types of Vitamin E (alpha, beta, gamma, sigma tocopherols and their corresponding tocotrienols), with the gamma tocopherol being most abundant in diet while alpha tocopherol is the most abundant in the skin.     

In one cup of 218 grams of the sunflower seed oil, there is 89.5 mg or 448% of the recommended daily (dietary) value of Vitamin E, typically containing alpha, beta, gamma, omega tocopherols and alpha tocotrienol. Consuming Vitamin E through diet and supplements has health benefits by protecting your cells through its protective antioxidant properties, protecting your cells from harmful “free radicals”, helping your body fight against infection and in keeping your blood vessels clear of clots.
In a recent review of scientific studies, Vitamin E in the diet or in supplements, specifically those that are rich in γ-
(gamma) and δ-(delta) type of tocopherols (types of Vitamin E), is cancer preventive. 

How does it benefit the Skin? 

The topical application of Vitamin E on the skin, the largest organ of our body, provides tremendous benefits to the skin. 
 
As the matter of fact, our skin naturally produces Vitamin E within the sebum our skin produces to hydrate and protect our skin against inflammation and oxidation. Vitamin E deficiency can occur through changes in health and aging. Also, on a daily basis, Vitamin E levels on the skin goes through a natural renewal process as it works to reduce inflammation and oxidation on the skin. This process can be supported and enhanced through the topical delivery of additional Vitamin E to the skin.    

Skin Benefits of Vitamin E oil   

Vitamin E has many benefits to the skin. Here are some of our favorites:   

• Maintains youthful appearance of the skin by preventing moisture loss, reducing appearance of wrinkles and fine lines,  
• Preventing dry and flaking skin which helps skin alleviate symptoms of eczema  
• Reduce symptoms of psoriasis 
• Softens skin, improving its resiliency 
• Photoprotection (sunburn) against UV damage caused by sun exposure, reducing skin swelling, reddening and thickening (anti-inflammatory).  

The skin produces Vit E in its sebum naturally which oxidizes as it does its anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory work. This oxidation and natural bacterial (skin biome) activity of the skin, affect the skin’s protective acid mantle.  
 
Vit E is also, due to its oil friendly (lipophilic) nature is able to penetrate into deeper layers of the skin. Naturally, people with oilier skin have higher amounts of Vit E compared to people with dry skin.  Which is why, properly cleansing (see double cleansing) the skin at regular intervals and helping the skin maintain a healthy level of Vit E becomes important in helping the skin be at its best. Especially (and, unfortunately), as the amount of Vit E on the skin decreases with age, providing it topically to the skin is fundamental in antiaging skin care. 

It’s also important to note that the use of natural Vit E (such as those found in abundance in sunflower oil, is best for photoprotection) as the skin is able to convert it naturally for optimum antioxidant protection of the skin. The skin is less able to convert synthetic Vitamin E for antioxidant protection.

Vitamin E’s Synergy with other Vitamins and Nourishment 

Similar to benefits of oral supplementation of taking Vitamin E together with Vitamin C, topical application of Vit E together with Vitamin C increases  UV protection, decreased sunburned cells, decrease DNA damage and reduce erythema (aka skin redness) and decrease skin pigmentation (sunspots) after UV exposure.   

What is the best way to get Vitamin E through skin care products? 

Topical application of natural Vitamin E oil is one way but it tends to be thick and sticky – making it quite inconvenient. Skin care products that contain natural Vit E is better but should be in a formulation to prevent oxidation of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.   

As with any nourishment, the skin should be cleansed properly, to help the skin absorb nourishment more efficiently. To ensure that you are getting the maximum benefit Vitamin E has to offer to the skin, it should be applied in an emulsion with water to help deliver hydration and leveraging Vitamin E’s oil friendly properties to reduce moisture loss.    

Advantanges of Vitamin E in Sunflower Oil

Skin care products containing high oleic cold pressed and certified organic sunflower oil is extremely rich in natural Vitamin E.  The high oleic sunflower oil is an excellent carrier oil and helps prevent oxidation of vitamins and skin friendly nourishing ingredients. Studies have shown that sunflower’s oil ability to delivery Vitamin E and other essential nutrients to the skin, that it has powerful healing abilities, and it is used to protect the skin of premature infants with weakened immune systems.  
 
In addition to Vitamin E, a skin care product with added Vitamin C (should be the more oxidation resistant L-ascorbic Acid) is known to increase UV protection for the skin, making it a potent antiaging mix of vitamins for the skin. L-ascorbic Acid is naturally abundant in fruits and vegetables such as oranges, broccoli, leafy greens, grapefruit, peppers but also in the nutrient rich aloe vera.  
 
Skin care products that contain Vitamin E and C, formulated with certified organic high oleic sunflower oil and certified organic aloe vera, are the best for ensuring the skin is receiving the full protection it deserves! 

References:

1. Tocopherols and Tocotrienols in Common and Emerging Dietary Sources: Occurrence, Applications, and Health Benefits <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5085773/>  
2. An Update on Vitamin E, Tocopherol and Tocotrienol—Perspectives <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6257355/ >  
3. Vitamin E and Skin Health <https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E>  
4. Oil, vegetable, sunflower, high oleic (70% and over) <https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fats-and-oils/623/2>  
5. Vitamin E in Human Skin: Functionality and Topical Products <https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/77087>  
6. Topically applied sunflower seed oil prevents invasive bacterial infections in preterm infants in Egypt: a randomized, controlled clinical trial <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15295221/>