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Last Updated on December 10, 2025 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

4 skincare benefits of vitamin E

What the heck does vitamin E do in skincare? It’s the one Vitamin that is pretty much in all your skincare products and yet, it’s the one we know the least. Ok, you’ve heard it’s an antioxidant and you’ll always find it in Vitamin C products to help them work better, but… Vitamin E does a lot more than that. Let’s break down what this vitamin is, the skincare benefits of Vitamin E, and if it has any side effects you should be aware of:

What The Heck Is Vitamin E?

Vitamin E isn’t just one ingredient. It’s a group of ingredients. The most common are:

  • alpha-topcoherol
  • alpha-tocotrienols
  • beta-tocopherol
  • beta-tocotrienols
  • gamma-tocopherol
  • gamma-tocotrienols

Basically, if you see “tocopherol” or “tocotrienols” somewhere on the packaging, that’s vitamin E in disguise. This fat-soluble group of vitamins is present in a lot of foods, too. My faves are avocado and nuts, but you can also find it in green and yellow vegetables, meat, corn and some diary products.

By the way, if you see the “d” prefix (such as d-alpha-tocopherol), it means it comes from a natural source. If you see the “dl” prefix (such as dl-alpha-tocopherol), it’s made in a lab. They both work well, but the natural kind seems to do the job a little bit better.

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Superpower #1: Vitamin E Has Antioxidant Properties

Let’s start with the obvious: vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. It constantly patrols your body, looking for free radicals. When it finds one, it quickly destroys it. Problem is, the vitamin E your body naturally makes depletes with age and sun exposure. Yep, the more time you spend in the sun without sun protection, the sooner your body goes through its supply of vitamin E. That’s why you want to add some back through your skincare – you’ll replenish the stock and kill even more free radicals. Take that, wrinkles!

Related: 5 Things You Need To Know About Antioxidants In Skincare

Superpower #2: Vitamin E Has Photoprotective Properties

Vitamin E gives you some protection from the sun, too. Before you get too excited, no, it’s NOT a substitute for your sunscreen. Vitamin E can help boost its protection, but it won’t replace it. Studies show vitamin E reduces the severity of your sunburn and improves the effectiveness of the UV filters in your sunscreen. Isn’t it awesome? While it’s capable of doing this alone, Vitamin E provides better photo protection when used with its BFFs, vitamin C and ferulic acid.

Related: Spotlight On Ferulic Acid: What Is It And How Does It Help Vitamin E In Skincare?

Superpower #3: Vitamin E Has Moisturising Properties

Vitamin E (especially the a-tocopherol acetate form) is a great moisturiser, too. Here’s how it works: vitamin E strengthens the skin’s natural barrier, reducing water loss. Think of your skin barrier like a roof – when it’s intact, water can’t escape. Vitamin E repairs those tiny gaps where moisture usually sneaks out. Now that moisture’s locked into your skin, it softens and plumps it up. Sure, it’s not as moisturising as shea butter and mineral oil but hey, every little bit helps.

Superpower #4: Vitamin E Is A Preservative

It’s not over. Vitamin E has one more trick up its sleeve. It helps your skincare products last longer. Vitamin E isn’t your usual antioxidant. It doesn’t kill bacteria and germs that find their way into your precious lotions and potions. Instead, it prevents the light from oxidising (i.e. making ineffective) the active ingredients in your products. Without its help, they wouldn’t last you as long.

Related: Alternatives To Parabens: Which Ones Are Safe And Effective?

Can Vitamin E Heal Scars, Too?

You’ve probably noticed I haven’t included scar healing as a superpower. Turns out, this is a job vitamin E CAN’T do. Studies shows that vitamin E can’t help scars heal. If anything, it can make things worse.  In 90% of cases, topical vitamin E either had no effect on, or actually worsened, the cosmetic appearance of scars. What can I say? Nothing’s perfect.

Related: Why Vitamin E Won’t Heal Your Scars

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Does Vitamin E Has Any Side Effects?

Vitamin E is pretty innocuous. But, it can cause allergies or irritations in some people. It’s rare, but it can happen. Always do a patch test. I know it seems irrelevant when the chance of something going wrong is so small, but better safe than sorry, you know what I mean?

What Are The Best Skincare Products With Vitamin E?

  • MaeLove Glow Booster ($27.95): The cheapest Vitamin C serum in this list, it does everything the others do, but it contains a citrus extract that may be irritating for sensitive skin. Available at Maelove.
  • Paula’s Choice C15 Booster ($46.75): It’s enriched with Hyaluronic Acid and glycerin to deeply hydrate skin. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, and SpaceNK.
  • Skinceuticals CE Ferulic ($169.00): The original Vitamin C serum, it costs an arm and a leg, but it works wonders and delivers what it promises. Available at Dermstore and Skinceuticals.

FAQs

Can I use vitamin E if I have oily skin?

Hell yes! Look, I get why you’re worried – anything with the word “oil” in it sounds like a recipe for a grease slick. But vitamin E isn’t going to turn your face into a frying pan. It actually absorbs into your skin and does its thing without leaving you looking like you dunked your face in olive oil.

How much vitamin E do I need in my skincare products to actually see results?

Honestly? Most products with vitamin E contain somewhere between 0.5% to 1%, and that’s enough to do something useful. But here’s the thing – you’re probably not going to find the exact percentage on most bottles unless you’re buying from a brand that lists everything.

Can I use vitamin E around my eyes?

Yeah, you can. The skin around your eyes is thinner and more sensitive than the rest of your face, but vitamin E is gentle enough to handle it. Just make sure whatever you’re using is actually meant for the eye area – or at the very least, it’s fragrance-free and doesn’t have a bunch of irritating crap in it. If you’re using pure vitamin E oil, be careful. It’s thick and can migrate into your eyes if you’re not careful where you put it. Nobody wants blurry vision because their eye cream went rogue.

Should I use vitamin E in the morning or at night? Does it even matter?

Both work. In the morning, it teams up with your sunscreen to give you better protection from UV damage. It’s also fighting off free radicals from pollution and all the other crap your skin deals with during the day. At night, vitamin E focuses more on repair mode. Your skin’s busy fixing itself while you sleep, and vitamin E helps with that process – especially the antioxidant and barrier repair stuff.

Can I just buy pure vitamin E oil and put it straight on my face?

You can, but I’m not sure you’ll love it. Pure vitamin E oil is thick. It doesn’t spread easily, it sits on top of your skin feeling heavy and greasy, and it’s way more likely to cause irritation than when it’s properly formulated into a serum or cream with other ingredients. If you really want to use straight vitamin E oil, do a patch test first.

Better idea: buy a bottle of vitamin E oil and add a drop or two to your regular moisturizer. You get the benefits without the heaviness, and you’re less likely to break out or get irritated. Plus, it’ll last you forever because you’re only using tiny amounts.

The Bottom Line

Vitamin E doesn’t often get the recognition it deserves, but it can do wonders for your skin. It prevents wrinkles, protects you from the sun, moisturises your skin and even helps your skincare products last longer. But it won’t heal your scars.