Why You Need A Vitamin E Serum In Your Stash All Year Long

Last Updated on January 1, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

I’ll admit it: I’m all about Vitamin C. I love the dewy glow it gives my skin. Plus, it helps fight wrinkles, too. Vitamin E? I never cared much for it. I didn’t have to. This antioxidant seems to find its way in almost every skincare product I use. Do you really need a separate Vitamin E serum? Before meeting Ecooking Vitamin E Serum, I’d have said no. Now, I’m not so sure. Here’s everything you need to know about this serum and whether it deserves a place in your skincare routine:

What’s In Ecooking Vitamin E Serum?

VITAMIN E

FYI, Vitamin E hides under the name Tocopherol in the ingredient list. Here’s what it’s doing in Ecooking Vitamin E Serum:

• Antioxidant: It destroys free radicals, the nasty molecules that give you wrinkles and dark spots.
• Photoprotection: It reduces the severity of your sunburn and improves the effectiveness of the UV filters in your sunscreen.
• Moisturiser: It strengthens the skin’s protective barrier, reducing water loss.

Who knew Vitamin E could do so much?

Related: 4 Reasons You Need Vitamin E In Your Skincare Routine (And 1 You Don’t)

SHEA BUTTER OIL

Butyrospermum Parkii Oil is the scientific name for shea butter oil (and no, contrary to urban legend, it doesn’t come from sperm. Phew!). Derived from the nuts of the shea tree, which grows in West Africa, this oil is rich in fatty acids that strengthen your skin’s protective barrier and deeply moisturise skin. It’s one of the most moisturising things on the planet, so expect your skin to be super soft. The catch? It can be greasy and cause breakouts in people with oily, acne-prone skin.

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

• Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate: makes the balm feel silky when you’re spreading it around. Also acts like glue to keep all the oil and water ingredients from separating into a disgusting mess sitting in your jar
• Dicaprylyl Carbonate: lightweight oil that absorbs fast so you don’t feel like you rubbed bacon grease on your face. It helps everything glide on smoothly without dragging your skin around.
• Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil: wheat germ oil packed with vitamin E and fatty acids that feed your skin what it needs, calms down irritation when your skin’s throwing a fit.
• Squalane: your skin already makes squalene naturally, it just moisturises skin.
• Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil: they processed plant oil to make it thick and solid, gives the balm its texture so it’s not just runny oil, also keeps it from going bad as fast.
• Linoleic Acid: omega-6 fatty acid your body can’t make on its own, keeps your barrier strong and helps with breakouts and inflammation.
• Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil: sunflower oil that’s light and gentle, brings extra vitamin E and linoleic acid without clogging your pores.
• Linolenic Acid: omega-3 that teams up with linoleic acid to calm inflammation and keep your skin barrier actually working.

Texture

This serum glides on all silky and smooth, but then it sits on your skin with this weird tackiness that hangs around for a few minutes. It’s not greasy and it’s not sticky exactly, but you definitely feel like you’ve got something on your face.

Fragrance

There’s no fragrance at all, which is perfect because who wants their face smelling like a department store. It doesn’t even have that fake “unscented” smell where they’re trying to cover up the ingredient smell with more chemicals, it just smells like nothing. Maybe the tiniest hint of oils if you stick your nose right up to it but honestly you won’t notice.

How To Use It

Slap this on after you’ve washed your face and before your moisturizer, right in that serum step where all the concentrated stuff goes. Pump a few drops onto your fingers and spread it over your face and neck. A pea-sized amount covers your whole face so don’t go crazy or you’ll just waste it and end up tackier than you need to be. You can use it morning or night but it works really well in the morning between your vitamin C and sunscreen because vitamin E makes both of those things work better. At night it’s great too because your skin soaks up all that moisture while you sleep, and you might even skip your night cream because this is doing enough on its own.

Packaging

Dark glass bottle with a pump and honestly it’s pretty much perfect. The dark glass keeps the vitamin E from going bad when light hits it, and the pump means you’re not sticking your dirty fingers in there introducing bacteria every time you use it. The pump gives you just the right amount too, not huge globs or pathetic drips, it’s controlled. The bottle’s small enough to travel with but doesn’t feel cheap, and the label is clean and simple without a bunch of unnecessary design crap. My only complaint is 20ml disappears faster than you’d think even though you don’t need much, so I wish they made a bigger size for people who want to use it on their body or just don’t want to repurchase constantly.

Performance & Personal Opinion

This thing genuinely makes my skin barrier stronger in a way I can actually feel. My skin stays soft all day even when it’s freezing and windy outside and normally everything would leave me dry and peeling. I love that it doesn’t pill when I layer it with my vitamin C and sunscreen in the morning, and it actually makes those products work better because vitamin E boosts other antioxidants and UV filters.

The tackiness annoyed me at first but I got over it pretty fast because the results are worth it. My skin just feels healthier now, smoother and tougher, and I keep touching my face because it feels so nice. It’s not a must-have like you’ll die without it, but it’s one of those things that takes your whole routine up a notch.

What I Like About Ecooking Vitamin E Serum

• Your skin barrier gets noticeably stronger so harsh weather doesn’t destroy you anymore
• Layers perfectly with vitamin C and sunscreen without pilling or being weird
• Tiny amount goes so far that the 20ml bottle lasts way longer than it looks like it shouldkin
• Pump is hygienic and gives you the perfect amount every time
• No fragrance, vegan, no parabens, all that good stuff
• You can use it on dry patches, sunburns, tattoos, basically anywhere that needs serious help

What I DON’T Like About Ecooking Vitamin E Serum

• That tacky feeling takes a few minutes to go away and it’s kind of annoying
• 20ml is stingy when you want to use it on your body too
• Might be too thick if you’re super oily or acne-prone

Who Should Use This?

• Dry skin that needs serious moisture and barrier repair, this is your thing.
• Perfect if you’re dealing with brutal weather whether that’s freezing winters or intense sun because it protects your skin when conditions get rough.
• Sensitive skin will like that there’s no fragrance and it’s gentle despite being so moisturizing.
• If you layer actives and want something that works with your vitamin C and sunscreen instead of fighting them, this fits right in.
• kip it if you’re super oily or acne-prone and thick textures overwhelm you.

Does Ecooking Vitamin E Serum Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

£43 at Cult Beauty and Look Fantastic

Do You Need It?

I wouldn’t say Ecooking Vitamin E Serum is a must, but it’s a welcome addition in a skincare stash all year long. In winter, it protects your skin from harsh weather and in summer, it helps soothe sun damage.