If you want to be a gold star beauty student, you’ll need to learn your ABC’s. Nope, not the ones you learned in preschool, we’re talking about the ABC’s of skincare. All of the ingredients you need to know about to find your skincare soulmates. Today, we’re covering E, specifically, all things vitamin E for skin. What it is, how it works and why you’ll love it. Settle in, this is a good one! 

What is vitamin E? 

The smarty pants in the skincare world will often refer to vitamin E as Alpha-tocopherol, but that’s a mouthful so we’re just going to stick with good old vitamin E. It has been a staple in the skincare world for over 50 years.  

One key thing to note with vitamin E is that it is oil-soluble. This makes it amazing for dry and even combination skin, but tread lightly if you have oily skin.   

Vitamin E can be produced synthetically, but is also found naturally in avocado and most commonly in shea butter (fats extracted from the nuts of a shea tree). It’s no secret that we’re big fans of the natural version, and you’ll find it in quite a few esmi products. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves!  

Vitamin E benefits for skin 

Now that we’ve got what it is down pat, is vitamin E good for the skin? An excellent question and we have some good news - it is amazing for your skin! The vitamin E benefits for skin can be broken down into three main areas; it is moisturising, protective and a great antioxidant. 

🌀 Moisturising  

Probably vitamin E’s biggest claim to fame is how deeply nourishing and moisturising it is. Vitamin E is a humectant, which means it draws in water from the environment to the skin cells and helps to keep them hydrated. If you have dry skin, no doubt you’re already a vitamin E fan. You’ll notice the almost immediate relief when you apply vitamin E products and see how they smoothen and moisturise the skin.  

The other key component of the moisturising equation is retaining moisture. Vitamin E is also an emollient, which means it traps water in the skin. It forms a kind of barrier around the outer layers of the skin, like a wall that keeps moisture where it should be; in your skin cells giving you a gorgeous, plump glow.  

It will also help to soothe any inflammation brought about by dryness. Flaky skin? With vitamin E, we don’t know her! 

🌀 Protective 

Think of vitamin E as your skin’s little warrior, protecting cells from moisture loss, but also sun damage. It is a photo-protectant so it helps to absorb a small percentage of UVB rays. But, and it’s a big ‘but’, this doesn’t mean you can ditch the sunscreen. Vitamin E cannot protect against UVA rays. That said, it does mean that vitamin E and sunscreen make the perfect couple, kind of like Bennifer.  

🌀 Antioxidant Properties 

To round out vitamin E’s triple threat, it is an incredible antioxidant. That word is thrown around a lot in this industry, but what is an antioxidant? Put simply, it means the product fights free radicals - the bad guys that can come from pollution. They are rogue molecules that attach themselves to skin and collagen cells and cause damage. Basically, we definitely don’t want them anywhere near our skin and vitamin E helps to keep them away. If you’re trying to slow down signs of ageing (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), vitamin E is a must.  

Products with Vitamin E 

Here at esmi, we’re captains of the vitamin E fan club. That’s why you’ll find it in quite a few of our little beauties.  

A super luxe Skin Treat like the 24K Gold Nourishing Oil is a dream for dry skin. It is non-greasy but rich in moisturising and antioxidant ingredients, one of course being vitamin E. It will give you a youthful complexion with the kind of glow that has to be seen to be believed. It will protect the skin barrier to keep all of the goodness locked in and actually smooth fine lines!   

For days when your skin is feeling extra dry and you need a super dose of TLC, the Ultra Nourishing Booster Mask is going to answer your prayers. It contains shea butter, a great source of vitamin E, to repair and protect. It reduces any signs of inflammation that you’ll often see in dry skin. Put on Real Housewives and let it work its magic.  

Vitamin E is a favourite among skincare lovers and it’s pretty easy to see why. It is deeply moisturising, protects the skin and fights off free radicals. If you have any other questions about vitamin E or which products you should be trying, chat to our skincare consultants - they’re more than happy to help!