Topical Vitamin E

The fourth post in my series of Topical Skin Care focuses on Vitamin E

Vitamin E

WHAT:

• Protects the epidermis from early stages of ultraviolet light damage

• Increases the efficacy of active sunscreen ingredients
• Reduces the formation of free radicals upon skin exposure to UVA rays and other sources of skin stress
• Prevents the peroxidation of fats, a leading source of cell membrane damage in the body
• Reduces transepidermal water loss from skin and strengthens the skin's barrier function
• Protects the skin barrier's oil (lipid) balance during the cleansing process
• Reduces the severity of sunburn
• Skin absorbs and maintains levels of topical vitamin E, prolonging its benefits between applications

HOW:

• Vitamin E has earned the moniker "the protector" due to its potent ability to guard cells from free-radical damage and to inhibit inflammation. In one study, it reduced by nearly half the number of free radicals created after exposure to cigarette smoke

Other research has shown that when vitamin E is used before sun exposure, there is less redness and swelling, less destruction of lipids, and fewer sunburned cells.

• Further investigations have found that vitamin E's anti-inflammatory action can kick in to reduce damage after sun exposure.
• Also, because it's an oily material, vitamin E prevents moisture loss that leads to dryness and irritation.

EFFECTS & SIDE-EFFECTS: Pure vitamin E is well tolerated. Very few people are allergic to it

PRODUCTS TO TRY:

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• The Body Shop Vitamin E nourishing night cream and seaweed mattifying day cream,
• Neutrogena extra gentle cleanser,
• Aroma Magic nourishing cream,
• L’Occitane Precious Cream,
• Forest Essentials extra-rich body crème (their store is in Vashi in Inorbit Mall)
• Vaseline Intensive Care for dry skin.
• Rogan Badam Shirin Almond Oil
• Biotique Dandelion Extract Lotion

DIY Tip:

Foods such as Avocado, Almonds, Olive Oil, Wheatgerm oil, Nutmeg Oil & Papaya are rich in Vitamin E.

• The types of vitamin E most commonly used in skin-care products are alpha-tocopherol (which is the form most easily used by the skin) and tocopheryl acetate (which is more stable and converts to alphatocopherol).
• Use skin-care products that are formulated with at least 2 percent of these Es. (They should be listed within the first five ingredients.)
• Skin can absorb & retain Vitamin E - it is not washed off easily.
• Consider adding Avocado, Olive or Wheatgerm oil to your sunscreen before application.
• Soak Almonds overnight, make a paste the next day with some milk cream & apply as face pack. Scrub gently for 20 mins. Wash off.
• Add to Vitamin C Serum before use.