Vitamin E is on a lot of ingredient lists. Whether you’re looking at Beard pills, shampoo, hand cream, or beard oil, it seems to be everywhere. But what does Vitamin E actually do when applied to your skin and facial hair? 

We look to answer this question and more in this detailed article.

What is Vitamin E Oil?

Vitamin E is naturally found in many different sources: 

• Seeds and Nuts
• Fish
• Green Leafy Vegetables
• Fruits
• Beans & Legumes
• Oils

Vitamin E is sometimes called tocopherol. It can be used as a topical skincare product but is also taken as a dietary supplement. The term vitamin E refers to a group of 8 different lipophilic compounds, alpha, beta, gamma, and delta-tocopherol, and alpha, beta, gamma, and delta-tocotrienol (source). The compound used in most supplements and cosmetics is alpha-tocopherol. 

What skin types are compatible with Vitamin E Oil?

Vitamin E has a comedogenic rating of 2, meaning it has a moderately low likeliness of clogging pores. Men with oily skin may want to patch test a beard care product with vitamin E just to be safe that acne or other adverse side effects don’t occur.

What are the Benefits of Vitamin E Oil?

Powerful Antioxidant

Vitamin E is a very useful antioxidant. It is effective in reducing UV damage in the skin and protecting from free radicals released by any oxidative damage (source).  The oil has also been shown to promote soft, healthy skin. 

Soothes Skin Conditions

Vitamin E is likely to be beneficial for those with atopic dermatitis, eczema, or other dry, itchy skin conditions. Taking vitamin E supplements has been proven useful against these conditions, and while there is less research on the use of topical oils on this matter, it is likely to have a positive impact (source). 

Wrinkle Reducer

Studies have found that tocopherol is also useful as an anti-aging ingredient, as it was found to significantly reduce UVB-induced wrinkle foundation, in part by encouraging collagen synthesis within the skin (source), and also by preventing matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs are responsible for degrading proteins such as collagen and elastin, contributing to photoaging (source). 

Nourishes Skin

Vitamin E oil is usually found in beard oils or conditioners which provide nourishment and help to resolve dry or itchy skin. Many beard products that contain vitamin E also contain carrier oils such as:

• Jojoba oil: helps to supplement the skin’s own oil production
• Argan oil: a great moisturizer 
• Sweet almond oil: sweet-scented and good for soothing the skin
• Coconut oil: great for moisturizing the skin
• Castor oil: a useful anti-inflammatory and moisturizing oil 
• Avocado oil: a great antioxidant 

These all boast their own array of benefits for the hair and the skin, and most of them act as efficient moisturizers for the skin underneath the beard. Moisturizing the skin beneath the beard can help to prevent beard dandruff and improve the appearance of the beard. 

Supports Beard Growth

There isn’t a massive amount of research on how vitamin E supports beard hair growth, however, it has been shown to preserve the lipid layer on the scalp and skin providing the hair with a strong base, and potentially helping improve your beard texture. 

It has been claimed that vitamin E can increase blood circulation and thus affects the hair follicles, but this is largely unproven.

What are Some Side Effects of Vitamin E Oil?

Irritation

While rare, when introducing any new topical solution to your skin there is always a chance of skin irritation, inflammation, redness, or stinging. This might be a result of the oil itself, how it was prepared, or if it has simply spoiled. Always check the shelf life of your cosmetics, and remember that it is always important to do a small patch test prior to wider use.  

Beard Care Products that Contain Vitamin E Oil

If after reading about the beard benefits, you are interested in using vitamin E oil on your beard, then check out some of these beard care products with tocopherol in their formula:

• Jack Black’s Pure Science Beard Oil with Kalahari Melon Oil and Vitamin E: designed to soften facial hair and produce a shinier and healthy-looking beard
• Duke Cannon’s Best Damn Beard Oil: designed to protect the skin and moisturize to combat psoriasis, eczema, beard itch, and acne with a fresh cedar fragrance
• Rocky Mountain Barber Company’s Bamboo Beard Balm: designed to hydrate, condition, and protect your beard and face 

Making Your Own Beard Oil with Vitamin E Oil is Easy

If you want to start using vitamin E oil, but you don’t want to buy a beard product from someone else, you can always make your own beard oil! It’s easy to do, and we have a few starter recipes which let you add as much or as little vitamin E as you’d like. 

You can also add in other oils such as scented essential oils or carrier oils in order to reap more benefits from your DIY beard oil. Our guide has information on which oils combine to form which aromas, or you can experiment and make your own.