Vitamin E: Origin, Properties, and Uses.

Profile: Vitamin E and its derivatives.

Fiche d'identité : Vitamine E et ses dérivés.

Commonly known as: Vitamin E, α-tocopherol, tocotrienol.

I.N.C.I. list name: Tocopherol / Tocopheryl Acetate.

Extraction process: Extraction from vegetable oils (sunflower and soybean oil).

Source: Plant-based.

Botanical name: Helianthus annuus (sunflower) and Glycine max [L.] Merr. (soybean).

Family: Asteraceae (sunflower) and Fabaceae (soybean).

Extracted part of the plant: Vegetable oil from sunflower seeds and vegetable oil from soybean sprouts.

Origin, provenance: Europe.

Chemical properties: Liposoluble vitamin; Soluble in oil; Insoluble in water.

Properties: Colloidal solution, emulsion, balm, oil, hydroalcoholic solution, aerosol.

Required dosage in cosmetic products: Unregulated; Often used at concentrations less than 0.5%.

Function: Antioxidant, masking agent, skin conditioning agent.

Specificities: Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, healing, depigmenting, brightening, moisturizing, photoprotective, vasoconstrictive.

Benefits: All skin types, particularly dry skin, hyperpigmented skin, dull skin, mature skin, and skin prone to discomfort; All hair types.

Properties

Anti-inflammatory: Prevent and temporarily alleviate certain discomfort sensations (redness, itching, etc.) by reducing the inflammatory response through the inhibition of certain processes involved in the production of pro-inflammatory biomarkers;
Antioxidant: Protects various skin cells from damage caused by oxidative stress by acting as a free radical scavenger and preventing lipid peroxidation ;
Healing: Promotes the wound healing process by stimulating microcirculation through the dilation of blood vessels;
Depigmenting: Diminishing the appearance of brown spots due to its ability to inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of melanin;
Moisturizing: Preventing skin dryness and improving skin hydration by preventing water loss through the creation of a film on the surface of the epidermis;
Photoprotective: Protecting the skin from various harmful effects caused by solar radiation by absorbing a portion of UVB rays.

Applications

Facial Care (shaving oils, scrubs, masks, purifying face serums, moisturizing creams, makeup removers, eye contour treatments, beard cleansers, lip balms);
Body Care (balms/creams/moisturizing lotions, body scrubs, massage oils, after-sun treatments);
Hair Care (shampoos, conditioners);
Hygiene (deodorants, shower gels);
Makeups (eyeshadows, lip oils, bronzing concentrates, nail polishes).

Contraindications, Usage Precautions

Well-tolerated by all skin types, vitamin E is safe when it is incorporated into cosmetic products at concentrations of 0.5% or less. However, excessive dosages of tocopherol (>0.5%) can potentially lead to skin irritation or sensitization reactions. Furthermore, individuals with a history of allergic reactions should avoid vitamin E. However, before using a product containing vitamin E, first perform a skin test on a small area of the body.

Vitamin E is an organic substance that the body fundamentally requires for its growth and functioning. It was first identified in 1922 by Herbert EVANS and Katharine BISHOP, who observed that female rats on a lipid-deprived diet could become pregnant, but no fetus would develop. However, pregnancies were carried to term when the diet was supplemented with lettuce leaves or wheat germ. Later, in 1924, Bennett SURE demonstrated that a compound removed from a diet induced sterility in male rats: Vitamin E. It also received the name tocopherol, from the Greek "tokos" for "offspring" and "phero" meaning "to produce". Found in large quantities in vegetable oils, there are eight types of Vitamin E: α-, β-, γ- and σ-tocopherols and their corresponding tocotrienols. Among them, the most active and stable form is α-tocopherol, while the most abundant in the diet is γ-tocopherol.