Vitamin E is in more of your products than you realise, and it's doing two jobs at once – one for your skin, and one for the formula it's in. Here's what it actually contributes.
What it is
Vitamin E is a family of fat-soluble compounds, of which tocopherol is the form you'll most often see on an ingredients list. You may also see tocopheryl acetate, a more stable derivative that skin converts.
It's oil-soluble, which is why it's so common in facial oils, balms and richer moisturisers, and less common in lightweight watery serums.
What it's used for
Two distinct roles. As an antioxidant, vitamin E is used in formulas aimed at supporting the look of skin against the visible effects of daily environmental exposure. As an emollient, it softens and conditions, leaving skin feeling smoother and more comfortable — particularly useful on dry or rough-feeling skin.
There's a third role that benefits you indirectly: vitamin E helps protect the oils in a formulation from oxidising, extending how long the product stays good. That's why it appears in ingredient lists so often.
The vitamin C partnership
Vitamin E and vitamin C are frequently formulated together, and for good reason: they're more stable in combination than either is alone, and they work in complementary ways — vitamin C is water-soluble, vitamin E is oil-soluble, so between them they cover both environments. Add ferulic acid and you have the classic antioxidant trio.
If you're buying one vitamin C serum, one containing vitamin E is a sensible choice.
Who it suits
Dry, normal and mature skin generally do very well with vitamin E. If your skin is oily or congestion-prone, be a little more selective — heavier vitamin E oils and balms can feel too rich, though a lightweight serum containing it is usually fine.
Pure vitamin E oil is quite thick and is best used sparingly, or mixed into a moisturiser rather than applied neat.
How to use it
Vitamin E is undemanding: morning or evening, no tolerance-building, no photosensitivity. In a moisturiser or oil it goes towards the end of a routine; in a serum, before moisturiser.
It layers comfortably with essentially everything, including retinol and the acids, where its conditioning character can make a demanding routine more comfortable.
Explore our vitamin E skincare, or see all active skincare.