We often encounter various products that promise rejuvenation and radiance. Among these, vitamin E serums stand out. But what makes this kind of serum so unique? Beyond containing vitamin E, these serums are often formulated with other complementary ingredients, which can help deliver even more impressive results to your skin. 

But what’s the deal with vitamin E anyway? Here, we’ll explain the multifaceted benefits of this vitamin, and how you can incorporate it into your skincare routine with the right serum for your skin.

What is vitamin E? 

Vitamin E is renowned for its potent antioxidant properties. It protects cells from free radicals, which are harmful molecules that can cause cell damage and potentially lead to serious health concerns. The most significant form of vitamin E for our health is alpha-tocopherol.¹

Vitamin E and your skin 

Vitamin E is still a key player in skin wellness, even after its 50-year streak as a staple in skincare routines across the country. The vitamin is an ingredient in numerous cosmetic products.²

Here’s a breakdown of all the ways it can contribute to skin health:

Guarding against oxidative stress

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, helping ward off the damage instigated by free radicals. It combats oxidative stress, neutralizing the detrimental impacts of environmental assailants like UV radiation, pollutants, and toxins.³

Sunburn protection

Vitamin E provides some degree of protection against the harmful effects of UV radiation. Specifically, it protects skin from oxidative stress, helps prevent sunburn, and mitigates UV-induced damage. However, its effectiveness depends on its stable formulation in skincare products.⁴ You should always use sunscreen before stepping out into the sun to ensure your skin stays protected.

Skin healing and repair

Vitamin E has been applied therapeutically for various skin disorders, like atopic dermatitis, acne, and psoriasis. While it may provide symptomatic relief and improvements for specific skin conditions, more rigorous research is necessary to ascertain its effectiveness across different dermatological contexts. Keep in mind that the benefits you derive from vitamin E will differ based on factors such as your skin type, the formulation and concentration of the product, and your holistic skincare routine.⁵

Other vitamins that are great for your skin 

Vitamins A and C are also important for maintaining and enhancing the health and vitality of your skin. Here’s how they can help.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is mainly known for its anti-aging properties. It’s a member of the retinoid family and plays a key role in regulating skin cell functions. When used topically in derivatives like retinol or tretinoin, vitamin A can promote a more rapid turnover of skin cells, strengthen your skin’s natural protective barrier, and preserve collagen—the protein responsible for your skin’s firmness. As a result, products containing vitamin A often show notable improvement in wrinkles and a slowdown in the skin’s aging process.⁶

Vitamin C

Then there’s vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that works like a shield for your skin, protecting it against the harmful effects of environmental factors such as UV radiation and pollution. By reducing oxidative stress, vitamin C neutralizes harmful free radicals—aka, those unstable molecules that can damage our skin cells. 

Vitamin C also protects against photoaging, helping prevent issues like wrinkles, pigmentation, and textural irregularities from prolonged exposure to UV radiation. It plays a role in increasing collagen synthesis, helping skin remain youthful. Two added benefits of vitamin C are its ability to replenish skin’s vitamin E levels and its potential to combat pigmentation.⁷

The role of vitamins in skincare goes beyond these two examples. Vitamin D and antioxidant vitamins, including coenzyme Q, can also offer your skin various benefits—from treating particular skin ailments to safeguarding your skin against environmental stressors.⁸

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P.S. We did the homework so you don’t have to:

1. National Institutes of Health. Vitamin E. Office of Dietary Supplements.(2021, March 26)

2. Keen, MA. and Hassan, I. Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. (July, 2016)

3. Keen, MA. and Hassan, I. Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. (Ibid.)

4. Keen, MA. and Hassan, I. Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. (Ibid.)

5. Keen, MA. and Hassan, I. Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. (Ibid.)

6. Zasada, M. and Budzisz, E. Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. (August, 2019)

7. Al-Niaimi, F. and Chiang NYZ. Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. (July, 2017)

8. Shapiro, SS. and Saliou C. Role of vitamins in skin care. Nutrition. (October, 2001)

9. Keen, MA. and Hassan, I. Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. (Ibid.)

10. Keen, MA. and Hassan, I. Vitamin E in dermatology. Indian Dermatol Online J. (Ibid.)

Kristen Jokela is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Curology. She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL.

* Subject to consultation. Subscription is required. Results may vary.

Written by

Curology Team

Medically reviewed by

Kristen Jokela, NP-C