Pure vitamin E oil has a long-proven history as a super healer for common skin ailments such as stretch marks, sunburns, signs of aging (lines and wrinkles), and dry skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema). Vitamin E is actually made up of a group of antioxidants that work together to protect cells of the body from damage and aids in the repair of damaged cells. The great thing about pure, organic vitamin E oil is that it’s incredibly versatile. You can apply the oil directly to your face and body or mix a few drops into your favorite moisturizer, body lotion, or serum.
Before you add this potent remedy to your routine, it’s important to make sure that you are using a high-quality, all-natural vitamin E oil. Why? As you’ll learn below, not only are synthetic vitamin E oils ineffective compared to bioavailable natural versions, but poorly formulated products often contain a whole host of undesirable ingredients that are not beneficial for your skin. In this article, we’ll break down the benefits of natural vitamin E oil, how to use vitamin E oil to achieve glowing skin, and an explanation of how we use Vitamin E.
What is Organic Vitamin E Oil? Where Does Organic Vitamin E Oil Come From?
Organic vitamin E Oil is naturally derived from non-GMO seeds (wheat germ, soybeans, sunflower seeds) and leafy greens (spinach, turnip greens). When choosing an organic vitamin E oil, you may find it challenging to decipher the difference between natural and synthetic versions.
There are eight major isomers of natural vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol, alpha-tocotrienol, beta-tocopherol, beta-tocotrienol, gamma-tocopherol, gamma-tocotrienol, delta-tocopherol, delta-tocotrienol), but only one is recognized and the most abundant in human tissues and existing studies; alpha-tocopherol.
In natural skin care products, this naturally plant-derived oil will show on the ingredients list “d alpha-tocopherol.” This is not to be confused with its synthetic counterpart “dl alpha-tocopheryl.” Synthetic vitamin E oil is produced from petrochemicals and should be avoided, not only because our bodies are designed to discriminate between natural and synthetic, but also according to Robert Acuff, PhD, Professor and Director, Center for Nutrition Research at East Tennessee State University: “studies suggest without question that natural Vitamin E delivers at least twice the impact as synthetic E”.
Benefits of Vitamin E Oil for Skin
Acting as an antioxidant (prevents free radical damage which leads to premature aging) and working synergistically with other vitamins and minerals, vitamin E oil is an extremely versatile and beneficial ingredient in a wide range of skin care products. The top three proven benefits of vitamin E oil are:
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Protects & Treats Sunburns: When combined with vitamin C and applied topically, vitamin E oil was shown to provide UV protection and decrease sunburn cell formation.
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Speeds Up Healing: In another study, Vitamin E (when combined with Vitamin C and Zinc) showed great results in treating wounds by enhancing the “antioxidant protection against oxidative stress,” decreasing the healing time.
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Helps Treat Eczema: Vitamin E, when taken orally, also showed great promise for those with eczema. Remission rates in one study make vitamin E oil a potentially powerful tool for those with the condition.
Vitamin E Oil can either be taken orally or applied topically to benefit your skin. As with all vitamins taken orally, it’s always best to consult with your doctor as to the correct dosage. In some cases, topical application of vitamin E oil has actually worsened the appearance of scarring, so use with caution. Those with open wounds and cuts are advised against the topical application. Additionally, because many vitamin E oils are derived from wheat germ, those with gluten-intolerance should be wary and first do a spot test.
Myths About Vitamin E Oil
Treating stretch marks naturally is a debate of heavy discussion in which vitamin E oil often plays a starring role. On its own, there is no proof vitamin E oil can get rid of stretch marks, however, when Vitamin C and E Oils are combined, they work together to repair and protect collagen, healing epidermis damage. There are also some studies that indicate a potential for vitamin E to protect against skin cancer. This, unfortunately, should not be taken too seriously, as no human studies exist to date to confirm.
How Much Natural Vitamin E Oil Should You Use?
When it comes to potency, a 0.1% concentration of vitamin E oil is all that is needed to effectively increase vitamin E levels within in skin. Thus, you don’t need a super-strong solution to see results. You’ll often see the content or amount of vitamin E oil listed as “IU” not “mg,” and this simply stands for “international units” measuring the bioavailability or potency of the product.
The potency you need will depend upon the condition which you’re addressing. So, how do you choose between 500 IUs and 5,000 IUs of Vitamin E? Higher IU vitamin E oils are typically best to use if you need intense hydration for very dry, cracked, or flaking skin. Higher concentrations also work great as targeted spot treatments for skin concerns such as stretch marks, sunburns, fine lines, and wrinkles. Lower IU Vitamin E oils are usually best for maintaining and supporting overall skin cell function. If you just want to add a little glow to your skin, then add a few drops of a low concentration vitamin E oil to your existing organic skin care regimen.
Which Vitamin E Oil Is Best for The Skin?
The most powerful vitamin E oil is a pure, non-GMO, organic oil that has no cheap fillers or synthetic preservatives. You can use a pure vitamin E oil product or simply cut open a vitamin E oil supplement capsule and use the pure oil inside. Vitamin E actually acts as a natural preservative, so no added preservatives are needed; however, it isn’t uncommon to find skin serums with added beneficial oils (argan, tamanu, rosehip oil, frankincense), vitamins, and omegas. Ultimately, the effectiveness of vitamin E oil will come down to using a high-quality product.
Our standards for vitamin E oils are they must be free from denatured alcohols, parabens, irritants, phthalates, formaldehyde, ethoxylated ingredients, polysorbates, phenoxyethanol, petrochemicals, triclosan, TEA/DEA, synthetic fragrances and colors. We use these oils as additives to our essential oils because they act as a natural antioxidant. Per Essential Oil Safety, Tisserand | Young, Second Edition, lavender and many other essential oils should contain an antioxidant. The Vitamin E we use is 100% a-tocopherol and is organic.
"Regulatory guidelines
Has GRAS status. According to IFRA, essential oils rich in linalool should only be used when the level of peroxides is kept to the lowest practical value. The addition of antioxidants such as 0.1% BHT or a-tocopherol at the time of production is recommended (IFRA 2009)." Tisserand | Young