Oral and topical vitamin E supplements have been used in skincare routines since ancient times and can be applied both through ingestion and topical application after breaking the capsule. However, due to the numerous beneficial effects and common misuses of vitamin E, it might be worth exploring what exactly vitamin E does for your face and how to apply it effectively and safely.
Table of Contents
- What Is Vitamin E and Why It Matters for Skin?
- Benefits of Applying Vitamin E Capsules to Face
- Oral vs. Topical Vitamin E
- How to Apply Vitamin E Capsules to Your Face Properly
- Those Who Should Avoid Topical Vitamin E Application
-
Common Misconceptions About the Use of Vitamin E
- Vitamin E in Foods vs. Supplements
- Key Takeaways
- FAQs
What Is Vitamin E and Why It Matters for Skin?
Vitamin E is an antioxidant which protects skin cells from the harmful effects of free radicals that are caused by sun exposure and other factors. Moreover, vitamin E is a part of the skin's natural oil (sebum) that is needed to form its moisture barrier.
Benefits of Applying Vitamin E Capsules to Face
1. Antioxidant Properties - Vitamin E assists in eliminating free radicals that lead to premature skin aging.
2. Moisturizing effect - Being fat-soluble, it helps in strengthening the moisture barrier of the skin.
3. Skin barrier functioning - The healthy skin barrier is crucial in preserving the moisture barrier and keeping irritants out.
4. May help skin recover from UV radiation - There is some scientific data that claims that vitamin E, particularly when paired with vitamin C, can help the skin to react to oxidative stress caused by UV radiation, but it cannot replace sunscreen protection.
5. Traditional use for scars and marks appearance - Even though it is widely used for such purposes, the evidence of the effectiveness of using vitamin E for the reduction of scars is quite controversial - it shows little effect in some cases and even negative one in others.
Oral vs. Topical Vitamin E
Form
|
How It Works
|
Considerations
|
|
Oral capsules |
Absorbed through digestion, supports overall antioxidant status |
Supports general skin health as part of overall nutrition; effects on facial skin specifically are more indirect |
|
Topical (breaking open capsules) |
Applied directly to skin |
Concentrated oil form can be too heavy/occlusive for some skin types and may cause breakouts or irritation in acne-prone or sensitive skin |
|
Topical serums/creams (formulated) |
Vitamin E blended into a proper skincare formulation |
Generally better tolerated than raw capsule oil, since formulation accounts for texture, stability, and skin compatibility |
How to Apply Vitamin E Capsules to Your Face Properly?
- Patch test the product. Apply to the inside of your forearm or around your jawline and leave for 24-48 hours before applying to your face.
- Apply in moderation. This is a heavy product.
- Do not use if you have acne-prone or oily skin since the thick consistency and occlusive properties of raw vitamin E oil could clog your pores.
- Try combining the vitamin E capsules with a lighter oil or moisturizer rather than using alone.
- Apply at night. The thick consistency makes it unsuitable for application during the day under makeup or sunscreen.
- Do not apply to skin that has any open wounds.
Those Who Should Avoid Topical Vitamin E Application
- Individuals with sensitive and oily skin types due to its thickening property that causes clogging for some people
- Individuals who are sensitive or allergic to vitamin E or tocopherol-containing products
- Individuals with active skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea and should seek advice from a dermatologist
- Individuals applying it to fresh cuts and scars since some research suggests that topical vitamin E can sometimes increase the appearance of scars and induce contact dermatitis
Common Misconceptions About the Use of Vitamin E
- Applying an excessive amount, thus making your skin greasy instead of moisturized and hydrated
- Applying it as a spot treatment for acne because it will be too thick for acne-prone skin
- Expecting drastic improvement in scars when there is little evidence that supports its effectiveness in this regard
- Neglecting the patch test for the product on their face
Vitamin E from Food vs. Supplements
Source
|
Examples
|
|
Nuts and seeds |
Almonds, sunflower seeds |
|
Vegetable oils |
Sunflower oil, wheat germ oil |
|
Leafy greens |
Spinach, broccoli |
|
Fortified foods |
Some cereals and fortified oils |
|
Oral supplements |
Standardized capsule doses, useful if dietary intake is insufficient |
For general skin health, adequate dietary vitamin E intake supports the skin from within, complementing (rather than replacing) any topical use.
Key Takeaways
- Vitamin E is a true antioxidant, which helps to maintain the protective layer of your face and fights oxidation.
- Application of this nutrient on a bare skin directly out of the capsules may be too rich for acneic or irritated skin types, and patch testing is necessary.
- The ability of vitamin E to fade scars is questionable, but people believe that it does this successfully.
- Oral consumption of vitamin E through nutrition is good for skin health as well.
Conclusion
Vitamin E provides the true antioxidant and moisturizing properties to the skin of your face. However, it doesn't solve all the problems of your facial skin, especially scar fading. Using this product carefully (with patch testing, moderation, and right for your skin) helps to benefit from its real properties without facing typical mistakes.
