You know by now that there are dozens, even hundreds, of skin care ingredients that may be included in various formulations. And there's certainly no shortage of claims regarding the efficacy of those ingredients. Sadly, many of these ingredients lack substantial research that includes double-blind, placebo-based clinical studies to support the claims. Vitamin E is one of the few ingredients for which a significant amount of research has been conducted.  

Vitamin E is is the collective name for a set of 8 related tocopherols and tocotrientols, with α-tocopherol(also referred to as alpha-tocopherol) being most easily absorbed and used by the body. It is a fat-soluble antioxidant that can deliver a number of benefits to the skin. Today, let's take a closer look at Vitamin E and how it protects skin cells. I'll also explain why combining it with Vitamin C increases its effectiveness. Finally, I'll describe a few topical applications that use Vitamin E to protect and heal the skin.

Advantages Of Vitamin E  

There are several ways in which Vitamin E offers protection. First, as a powerful antioxidant, it helps to protect against free radical damage. Because free radicals cause damage by breaking down collagen fibers, they lead to wrinkles and other long term damage. Vitamin E prevents that from happening. It is also effective for protecting the skin's outermost layer from early UV damage, limiting the potential for sunburns.

Vitamin E is particularly useful as an ingredient in topical formulations because it is easily absorbed into the skin. This helps it to improve the effectiveness of active ingredients that are found in most well formulated sunscreens. Its absorption quality also helps it maintain the skin's protective barrier by preventing the loss of moisture.

Vitamins E And C: A Potent Duo  

Even though Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect skin cells, it's even more effective when combined with Vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant. Research has shown that both vitamins can enhance the antioxidative properties of each other. That makes them natural partners for the prevention of cellular damage caused by free radicals. Studies show that they work well together to inhibit lipid peroxidation - a condition that results in the breakdown of lipids or fats.

Topical Application  

By preventing the spread of free radicals, protecting the epidermis from UV damage, and increasing the efficacy of active sunscreen ingredients, both Vitamins E and C are potent ingredients. In addition, formulations that include both tend to yield better results than either vitamin can deliver on its own. Here are a couple of solutions that use Vitamin E to protect and maintain the cellular structure of your skin.
[Link Removed] - This extremely popular and effective sunscreen not only contains effective sun filters, but also Vitamin E to further protect skin cells against UV damage.  

Sharmani Pillay is a Registered Pharmacist who specializes in women's wellness. She owns and operates an anti aging skin store at [Link Removed] 

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