Vitamin E is a common ingredient in both natural and conventional beauty products. Vitamin E is an amazing ingredient. It is used as both a preservative and for it's moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
Benefits of Vitamin E:
- Protects the skin from free radical and ultraviolet light damage
- Strengthens the skin's barrier function
- Protects agains cell membrane damage
- It's anti-inflammatory
- It heals the skin
- It has antiaging properties
- Promotes hair growth
- Improves skin texture & moisture content
Vitamin E is most effective in it's natural form. According to Paula Begoun, author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, "research has shown that natural forms of vitamin E have more potency and a higher retention rate than their synthetic counterparts..."
Vitamin E may be listed on an ingredients list as tocopherols. To determine if it comes from a natural or synthetic source look for he "d" designation in front of the "alpha." If it has a "dl" prefix, it comes from a synthetic source. The synthetic version may also be listed as Tocopheryl Acetate. Synthetic Vitamin E can be contaminated with Hydroquinone, a known carcinogen with a Skin Deep hazard rating of 10.
However, even though it comes from a natural source, it may have safety issues. Much of the Vitamin E on the market comes from genetically modified sources, usually soybean or corn oil. Even many "all natural" or "organic" brands (brands that make an organic claim or use some organic ingredients but haven't certified the whole product) use GMO Vitamin E. Always look for brands that are certified organic or non-GMO.
There are numerous sources of Vitamin E, but one of the most common is palm oil. 90% of palm oil production is in Indonesia & Malaysia where it's extremely destructive to the environment, indigenous populations, orangutan populations and climate, even when certified organic or certified sustainable by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.
Also, since it is fat soluble, Vitamin E stores in your liver and fatty tissues. All the more reason to make sure it comes from a natural, organic source. Otherwise any pesticide residues, GMOs, or synthetics stay in your body.
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