Natural vitamin E produced by the body is supplied to the skin in the sebum that is delivered to the skin's surface through the sebaceous glands. People with oily skin that secrete more sebum have higher levels of antioxidant rich vitamin E which gives an added , albeit mild , photoprotective effect. This is perhaps one of the reasons why those with oily skin do not age quite as quickly as those with dry skin.

When exposed to direct sunshine vitamin E on the skin's surface is depleted as it gets to work to fight free radicals and oxidative stress caused by environmental insults such as irritants and UV light. As we age too we produce less sebum and therefore have less vitamin E available to us. Both these factors are major contributors to aging skin. Remember oxidative stress and inflammation are the two primary contributors to ageing!

When it comes to ageing – oily skin types are the lucky ones. Sebum contains antioxidant-rich vitamin E which provides an anti-aging effect

Almost all cosmetic formulations have vitamin E added to them, not just for its moisturising benefit but also because vitamin E helps to protect the lipids in the formulae from oxidising. Some botanical oils are prone to going rancid quickly when they come in contact with air, for example, borage oil. Others are naturally very rich in vitamin E, such as wheatgerm oil, an ingredient we use in our products.

Having read through all the benefits of vitamin A, B, C and E it is probably obvious to you that many of the actions of each are duplicated. That does not mean however that you can use one and forget the others. While they all work towards the same goal, their mechanisms for reaching that goal are different and that is why it is essential to incorporate each vitamin in its most stable format and correct concentration to support the health and vitality of our skin.