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Benefits of
Vitamin E for Skin

Our guide to what you need to know about vitamin E, how to use it and why it's so good for your skin.

Read Time

5 min

In short:

Vitamin E for Skin
What Does Vitamin E Do for Your Skin?
Vitamin E benefits for skin
Vitamin E for Your Face
NIVEA Skin Care With Vitamin E
How to Get More Vitamin E
Vitamin E Facts Overview
Care for Your Skin with NIVEA
NIVEA products with Vitamin E

Vitamin E
For Skin

Vitamin E is a key ingredient in skincare. But why should you use it? And what does Vitamin E do for your skin? We’re going to dive into the benefits of this popular skincare ingredient, explore ways you can make the most of it, and find out how you can get the best possible results when using vitamin E for skin.

What is Vitamin E?

Vitamin E refers to a group of fat-soluble compounds that function as an antioxidant¹ and contribute to the normal functioning of the human body in areas like reproduction, vision, brain health, blood health, and, as we’ll cover in this article, healthy looking skin.

Using Vitamin E in skin care

Since Vitamin E contributes to healthy-looking skin, it’s a common ingredient found in skin care products such as face creams, oils, serums, body lotions, sunscreens, and makeup. So why is it so popular and what are the benefits of using vitamin E for skincare routines?

Vitamin E
Benefits for Skin

There is a lot of clinical and anecdotal evidence that Vitamin E is beneficial for skin. Below are a few of the common skin benefits commonly associated with Vitamin E. Please note that not all of these benefits are applicable to all skincare products containing Vitamin E, as overall formulas are responsible for any benefits to skin:

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1. Helps to defend against free radicals

Vitamin E’s antioxidant properties can help to defend against free radicals that may contribute to wrinkles and dull skin.

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2. May help the skin to retain moisture

Vitamin E is commonly associated with improving skin hydration and acting as a moisturizer. While data on this claim is limited, some studies have shown that topical application of Vitamin E can help improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture². Since Vitamin E is naturally found in skin’s sebum² (the oily substance our skin naturally produces to help keep itself hydrated), those with naturally oily skin typically have skin more rich in Vitamin E³.

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3. May help support even skin tone look

Vitamin E is an ingredient commonly found in anti-aging creams and serums due to its correlation with helping to neutralize, guard, or defend against free radicals. Certain skincare products containing Vitamin E and other antioxidants like Vitamin C may help contribute to reducing the look of fine lines and uneven skin tone appearance³.

What about Vitamin E helping with wound healing or helping to fade scars?

While claims are widely made regarding the benefits of Vitamin E in scar fading and wound healing, there is actually not enough clinical evidence to support that either of these claims are true², and some studies have even shown the opposite.

Vitamin E
for your face

Since your face is the most exposed part of your body to the elements year-round, helping to protect it from environmental damage is important, and Vitamin E can play a role in that. Tocopherols are the most abundant form of Vitamin E found in the human body² and you may see an ingredient labeled this way on cosmetic products. Skin care products for the face containing Vitamin E may label Vitamin E as ‘tocopherol’ or ‘tocopheryl acetate'³.

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NIVEA skin care
with Vitamin E

NIVEA offers several skin care products in formulas enriched with Vitamin E to provide nourishing benefits to your skin.

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Versatile skin care with Vitamin E for body and face

NIVEA Soft is a versatile moisturizing cream enriched with Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E for lasting softness. Appropriate for use on the face, body, and hands, NIVEA Soft intensely moisturizes and leaves skin feeling fresh with a non-greasy, lightweight formula that provides 48-hour hydration. The new vegan formula contains no animal-derived ingredients and is formulated to quickly absorb into the skin. For use with all skin types, including oily, dry, sensitive, and normal skin.

Men’s skin care with Vitamin E

NIVEA offers several skin care products for men, including moisturizers, cleansers, and shaving products containing Vitamin E. NIVEA MEN skin care products are dermatologically-tested and many cater to sensitive skin.

Body lotion with Vitamin E

NIVEA Essentially Enriched Body Lotion is enriched with Hyaluronic Acid, Almond Oil and Deep Nourishing Moisture to give 72 hours of moisture to provide healthy looking skin with every use. This body lotion is non-greasy and quick absorbing, delivering rich care for dry to very dry skin.

NIVEA Essentially Enriched Body Lotion

NIVEA Cocoa Butter Body Lotion is a deeply moisturizing body lotion that provides a healthy-looking glow and 48 hours of noticeably smoother-looking skin thanks to its formula combining Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter. This moisturizing body lotion soothes and pampers dry skin after just one application.

NIVEA Cocoa Butter Body Lotion

Lip balm with Vitamin E

NIVEA Dewy Lip Care enriched with Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid gives lips a noticeable moisture boost leaving them feeling soft and smooth with a dewy lip look. Enriched with Shea Butter and Almond Oil, this lip balm glides on smooth with a light, non-sticky feel, in a vegan formula containing no animal derived ingredients.

NIVEA Dewy Lip Care

How to get
More Vitamin E

There are more ways to get Vitamin E than just topical applications. Similarly to Vitamin C, the human body doesn’t produce its own Vitamin E and it must be acquired through foods rich in Vitamin E, or, in the case of some people who may have trouble absorbing fat or who are dealing with other health conditions, dietary supplements⁴.

Vitamin E facts Overview

1. What it does:
Acts as an antioxidant to help protect the skin against the damage from free radicals.

2. Application:
Vitamin E is a common ingredient in skin care products. Vitamin E can also be applied directly to the skin as pure Vitamin E oil.

3. Found in:
Vitamin E naturally occurs in many common foods such as nuts, seeds, and green, leafy vegetables5.

4. Features:
An effective fat-soluble antioxidant, Vitamin E supports healthy looking skin, particularly when paired with other antioxidants

Care for your
Skin with NIVEA

NIVEA body lotions, lip care products, men’s skin care, and more are formulated to provide your skin with the care it needs to feel soft and smooth. From skin firming products to shaving products, to the signature NIVEA Creme, there is a NIVEA product to help support your skin.

Browse All NIVEA Skin Care Products