Surprising Vitamin E Benefits for Skin & Nails

You've probably heard about Vitamin E and that it's supposed to do great things for our skin and nails. We're here to tell you, it does! 

Vitamin E has superpowers in keeping your skin and nails healthy and beautiful. It can be used as a supplement or as an ingredient in lotions, creams and other products to achieve great results. We're talking about getting smoother skin, treating certain skin conditions or making your nails strong and shiny.

Vitamin E is actually not one vitamin but a group of fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant effects. It truly has so many great benefits that we wanted to highlight them all in this article. 

Let's look at vitamin E benefits for the face and Vitamin E for nails and how to get the most out of it.

Vitamin E supplements and skincare

When used as a supplement, vitamin E has some great benefits such as preventing coronary heart disease and inflammation, promoting eye health, and lowering cancer risks. Though keep in mind that only a Doctor should prescribe these supplements. 

You can get vitamin E through your diet, too, by including olive oil, extra vegetables and nuts. However, studies have shown that topical treatments work faster when it comes to skin benefits. 

When used in products such as lotions, creams and gels or applied directly as vitamin E oil (usually sold as capsules) has some incredible benefits for skin and nails. 

For best results, it's recommended to use a cream or oil with vitamin E. This powerful ingredient is also often used together with vitamin C in serums to combine the benefits from the antioxidant properties. 

A pro tip: if you're looking for a product with vitamin E, it's usually indicated as tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate in the product's ingredient list. 

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Vitamin E benefits for skin and nails 

Is Vitamin E good for skin? While there is always new research and studies coming out, it's well known that Vitamin E has some impressive benefits for your skin.

It has powerful antioxidant properties that fight inflammation and the effects of free radicals. Products with vitamin E are also very moisturising.

Structurally, having a strong skin barrier helps your skin retain water and stay hydrated more easily.

Moisturising skin 

You can reap some great vitamin E benefits for the face as it's an incredible moisturiser for any skin type, but especially for dry, dehydrated and flaking skin.

While its effects may be fairly subtle the benefits of Vitamin E is it likely makes moisturisers work better. It doesn’t treat any specific skin hydration issue per-se but assists with general skin ageing and lack of moisture. This is why it is thought to have a powerful role in moisturisers by preventing skin from losing moisture and softening the skin.

Healing wounds and scarring

There's research showing that vitamin E can speed up wound healing, which includes cracked or injured skin. 

In a similar way to the way Vitamin E helps to lighten dark spots, it may also help with acne scarring. The skin repair qualities it contains, combined with a strengthened skin barrier means it helps to prevent further acne scarring on the skin.

Calming itchy skin

Topical vitamin E oil does well penetrating the surface and protects the top and middle layers of the skin. So, if you suffer from such skin conditions as eczema or have dry, itchy skin, vitamin E could help reduce these unpleasant symptoms thanks to its moisturising properties. 

May help with atopic dermatitis. 

Skin dermatitis is caused by skin inflammation and manifests as redness, swelling, and sometimes a burning sensation. Because Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, it's thought it may bring down inflammation levels and speed up healing.

Fine line and wrinkle prevention

One of the main vitamin E benefits for the face is that it helps prevent fine lines, wrinkles and premature ageing. Due to its moisturising benefits, the skin is deeply hydrated and looks more youthful. 

Increase resistance to sun overexposure

It's been established that the sun has serious damaging effects, and we all know that one of the best ways to prevent this and premature ageing is to protect the skin from sunburn. Vitamin E can help here, too, as some studies have shown that it absorbs UVB light and could potentially prevent or reduce sunburn. 

Once again, the deep moisturisation that vitamin E provides also helps soothe dry skin and relieve sunburn. However, it is important to remember that these products are definitely not substitutes for sunscreen.

Fights free radicals

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and can protect your skin from free radical damage. Free radicals can cause serious damage to your skin's natural barrier, causing spots, wrinkles, drying and premature ageing. Because UV and other environmental toxin exposure reduces vitamin E levels in the skin, replenishing it is crucial.

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Vitamin E benefits for Lips

Vitamin E’s skin-softening benefits make it a fantastic ingredient in lip care. The skin barrier of the lips is especially delicate and so requires a little extra TLC. In lip balm Vitamin E can play an important role as it both seals in moisture and provides anti-oxidant benefits.

Vitamin E benefits for nails 

Our customers often ask questions such as, does vitamin E help nails grow or reduce damage from nail polish. Let's take a closer look at the vitamin E benefits for nails.

Boosting nail health

Vitamin E oil and products containing it have great moisturising benefits that support nail health. They may help prevent cracked cuticles and dry skin around the nails. 

We also recommend using vitamin E oil for nails that are brittle or that easily crack or flake. 

Reversing nail damage

Many conventional nail polish and nail polish removers can significantly damage your nails. They weaken, become flaky and brittle. To reverse this damage, use vitamin E oil to moisturise nail beds and cuticles. 

Eliminating nail yellowing

Most people have experienced nail yellowing after wearing toxic nail polish for too long. Applying vitamin E oil may help fade this unpleasant side-effect. Just make sure you're not wearing any nail polish or about to apply polish (polish will not adhere to oil) while you're treating your nails! 

Very hydrating

Vitamin E oil is super hydrating and can increase moisture to the nail bed and the skin around the nails. Applying it regularly can help restore the health of your nails, making them strong and shiny. 

Boosting nail nutrients

Basically, nails are dead keratin cells supported by the accumulation of blood flow. That blood flow delivers vitamins to the nails and keeps them healthy. Vitamin E supplements help provide your blood with the right amount of nutrients vital for your nail growth and condition. 

How to use vitamin E products

If you're wanting to get vitamin E benefits for your skin, you can choose either vitamin E oil or products that contain it. 

When using oil, apply it directly onto a dry or affected area of your skin in the evening. 

Oil is an excellent option if you have a specific condition, but if you want to get overall benefits, we recommend using a lotion, moisturiser or serum with vitamin E. Use it as part of your general skincare routine. 

For nails, simply apply the vitamin E oil directly onto your nails before bed and massage it in. You could use it during the day too, however, you should reapply after washing your hands. 

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SCOUT skincare with vitamin E 

Here at SCOUT we value vitamin E immensely and use it in many of our products. 

Our Nail Polish Remover with Kiwi Fruit, Rose Water & Aloe Vera and vitamin E softens the skin and strengthens the nails whilst removing all types of nail polish colour.

The popular Pressed Powder Foundation with Vitamin E & Jojoba balances oil production, helps achieve a flawless complexion and nourishes and revitalises the skin throughout wear. 

And our best-selling Pure Colour Organic Lipstick with Orange, Jojoba, Vitamin E & Shea Butter smooths, nourishes, and restores any damage to the lips.

 Potential Side Effects of Vitamin E

Vitamin E is considered comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores. This can ultimately lead to breakouts and irritation. So if you are prone to acne and breakouts, start slowly and do some testing before using Vitamin E.

If used in its pure form and applied directly to the skin, Vitamin E may cause inflammatory type reactions, especially for the delicate and more sensitive skin around your eyes.

It's important to mention that you should always test any Vitamin E products before using them all over your face and body. Apply a small amount on your hand to determine whether you possibly have an allergy or sensitivity.