Discover the skin benefits of Vitamin E
Healthier living with vitamin E is easy when it comes to men’s skin. The antioxidant ingredient can be consumed in your diet but also included in your products. Here are the facts you need.
You probably already know the important role vitamins and minerals play in your general wellbeing and a balanced diet. But did you know that Vitamin E is the most commonly occuring vitamin in our skin? Other prominent ingredients like Vitamin C are getting all the good press right now, due to their brightening or blemish reducing qualities. But if it’s optimal skin health you’re after, Vitamin E is a must-have ingredient.
The good news is that you can give your skin’s health a boost of Vitamin E with both the foods you eat or treatments and products you apply topically. The not-so-good news is that the Vitamin E in our skin is under constant strain from daily life, busy schedules and free radicals such as light or air pollution. So what is this popular skincare ingredient doing for you and how can you give your skin the best chance or replenishing or holding on to its Vitamin E skin supply? In this article we’re exploring the trusty skin health essential and giving you the facts you need to start using it.
What actually is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is actually a group of eight different vitamins, all of which play their part in maintaining a healthy balance within your body. The most common type of Vitamin E in our bodies as well as in skincare products is Alpha Tocopherol. You’ll find it occuring in both pure, natural ingredients as well as in synthetic, lab-grown versions.
Vitamin E and your body
From the tips of your nails to the end of your hair and most things in between, Vitamin E helps you, your immune system, and every other fibre in your body to function and stay strong and healthy. It’s been proven to support the fight against viruses and is an all-round essential ingredient for living well. In addition to featuring on a lot of our skincare product packaging, you can find Vitamin E in a range of healthy foods like avocado, nuts, oils and wholegrains. It gets stored in the fatty cells within us and should form part of a regular, varied diet.
Vitamin E and men’s skincare
While the vitamin is important when it comes to your diet, you can also deliver Vitamin E directly to your body using skincare products. Its main benefit is that it protects the body against oxidative stress or free radicals (which leads to the ageing process). These are the molecules we encounter every day such as sunlight, air pollution, and even the screens from our computers or tablets. A regular top up of Vitamin E helps to ensure the skin has a fighting chance of combating these skin ageing elements, keeping our complexions healthier and looking fresh.
Vitamin E is nothing new in skincare for men. The ingredient has been used for decades due to its effect on the condition and health of our skin as well as reducing visible lines or dark circles. As trendier ingredients like Retinol or new innovations come to the fore, it has taken a back seat. But we’ve always believed in the power of Vitamin E for conditioning the skin both in a controlled diet and applied directly to the skin. We chose to include the ingredient in our Major Hydrator Face Moisturiser because we believe it promotes skin health naturally and can also be useful in plumping the appearance of the skin, which in turn gives you a youthful, healthy glow.
Vitamin E and skin stress relief
As a preventative measure Vitamin E in skincare products works wonders, helping to counteract the effects of pollution and daily exposure to free radicals. But the ingredient can also help your skin recover, something that comes in very handy for men after shaving. Using a razor on the skin, regardless of your skin type or if you have sensitivity when shaving, causes stress and dryness. You might not realise it but over time this adds up to cause damage that can’t be repaired. Soothing your skin with a Vitamin E-rich and hydrating product can alleviate the risk of long-term damage to your face as well as providing more instant relief or softness. You know that burning sensation you get from a shave? Or perhaps you’re dealing with ingrown hairs or general discomfort? A protective layer of Vitamin E could be just the thing you need. If any of these skin concerns sound familiar to you, try the How Smooth Calming Post Shave Cream. The product contains tocopherol (Vitamin E) and a generous amount of cushioning shea butter for an instant repair following your shave.
Vitamin E Vs Vitamin C
Unsure which of these two renowned vitamins you should be incorporating into your skincare routine? Give both a try! Each one is an effective antioxidant that gets to work whether you consume it orally or apply it topically. Vitamin C, which you’ll recognise from a range of fruits and other foods, tends to sit on the top layer of your skin while Vitamin E (most commonly oil soluble) penetrates more deeply, so each one delivers their own benefits without getting in the way of the other. We included Vitamin C rich ingredients Aloe and Grapefruit oil in our Skin Saviour Body Moisturiser because both help to promote skin health and hydration while also helping it feel revitalised. The vitamin has also shown in certain cases to reduce blemishes, brighten the complexion, and even out the skin’s tone. But if it’s long term skin health and conditioning you’re after, there is no substitute for the good old fashioned skincare staple - Vitamin E.
To browse the full range of natural James + Jake products, including our Vitamin E infused Major Hydrator moisturiser for men, click here.