The vitamin is mainly involved in metabolic processes like cell signaling, hormone balance, and gene expression, says Gonzalez. It’s also the most prevalent fat-soluble vitamin in the skin3—making it essential for maintaining skin health. Naturally, your body cannot produce vitamin E, so you need to ingest it through your diet or supplementation. Most people get enough vitamin E4 through the diet, so true deficiency is quite rare. (It’s found in sources like almonds, wheat bran, sunflower seeds, spinach, and broccoli.) However, you may not be getting enough to optimize the skin benefits, meaning you may want to consider finding a supplement with vitamin E—as well as using it topically. It also has antioxidative abilities.* “As an antioxidant, vitamin E fights against oxidative damage by [stabilizing] free radicals,” says Gonzalez.* It does so by donating an electron to free radicals, which neutralizes the molecular troublemakers. And according to Monica Auslander Moreno, M.S., R.D., LDN, this reduces the body’s level of oxidative stress, the process behind inflammation and skin aging. Vitamin E’s antioxidative properties can provide a generous dose of photoprotection5.* This is very important, as your skin has a front-row seat to a sunlit show. And while vitamin E isn’t a replacement for your regular sunscreen, it can certainly enhance your level of protection.* However, with vitamin E in the picture, you can help quell inflammation.* “Use of vitamin E may help manage signs of inflammation, like redness and swelling, by decreasing production of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins10 and interleukins,” says Camp.* Its anti-inflammatory effect on the skin can also help inhibit skin damage after sunlight exposure.* Yet, the mechanisms behind vitamin E’s moisturizing effect are unclear, says Camp. It may be related to the way it builds up in the lipid matrix in the outer layer of the epidermis, called the stratum corneum. It’s also likely that the vitamin accumulates in the sebaceous glands when it’s applied to the skin. Regardless, folks have reported great success using vitamin E as a moisturizer. It may be the pick-me-up your skin needs if it’s feeling dry and tight. Here’s the deal behind this power couple: Vitamin C regenerates vitamin E after the latter scavenges free radicals. This further reduces oxidative damage11 to cell membranes. Meanwhile, “vitamin E helps stabilize vitamin C and keeps it from degrading quickly,” says Camp. So, if you’d like to use vitamin E, don’t forget to invite vitamin C to the party too. And though it’s uncommon, topical vitamin E can also cause reactions like contact dermatitis or hives. If you have sensitive skin, always spot-test new products or oils on your forearm before using it on your face.
