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There’s some anecdotal and scientific evidence that applying vitamin E products to your face can reap benefits, but not all of them are true.

Vitamin E is a nutrient your body needs to support your immune system and help your cells to regenerate. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that make getting enough essential to your everyday health.

Vitamin E is most commonly known for its benefits for skin health and appearance. It can be applied topically to your face to reduce inflammation and make your skin look younger.

Many people also swear by the effects of topical vitamin E when it’s applied to the face overnight.

Vitamin E oil can be used on your face as an overnight anti-aging treatment. Since vitamin E has a thick consistency, it’s best to apply it before bed so that it can fully absorb.

If applied in the morning, you may have difficulty putting makeup or serums on top of it.

Typically, you can apply a serum or oil mixture containing vitamin E as an all-over treatment on your face. This is different than using vitamin E to spot-treat a blemish, using a beauty treatment mask for a brief period of time, or taking an oral supplement that contains vitamin E.

Applying vitamin E as an anti-aging or skin-conditioning agent overnight involves letting the product completely absorb into your skin.

Most over-the-counter anti-aging creams contain between .05 and 1 percent vitamin E as one of their active ingredients. Look for a product with a high concentration of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol is often the ingredient name), or search for pure vitamin E oil.

Here’s how to apply vitamin E oil to your face as an overnight treatment:

  1. Wash your face clean of any makeup or other skin products. Rinse your face afterward with lukewarm water, and pat your skin dry.
  2. If you’re using pure vitamin E oil, mix one or two drops of it for every 10 drops of a carrier oil, like jojoba oil, almond oil, or coconut oil.
  3. Apply the mixture or the vitamin E serum of your choice to your skin using your fingers. Rub your face in small circular motions as you apply the treatment so that you stimulate circulation and spread the product out as far as it will go.
  4. Wait at least 20 minutes after application before resting your face on a pillow or any other surface. This treatment is best repeated once or twice a week as part of a skin care routine about 30 minutes before bedtime.

You’re probably already getting enough vitamin E in your diet, but adding more through healthy foods could help speed up your cell synthesis and make you feel healthier overall.

Foods that are high in vitamin E include almonds, blackberries, and avocados.

Vitamin E oral supplements

Vitamin E oral supplements can support your body’s nutritional needs.

A benefit of vitamin E oral supplements may be glowing skin that looks younger. You can find oral supplements online and in most health food stores.

Daily vitamin E intake for adults shouldn’t exceed 15 milligrams.

Vitamin E spot treatment products

Some people use topical vitamin E products as spot treatments for acne scarring, but research on if they work is inconclusive.

If you’d like to try it, use pure vitamin E oil or find a product that lists a high concentration of alpha-tocopherol and apply it to the scarred area. Wait for the product to absorb fully before blotting it dry.

Though it may be hard to apply makeup over an area you have spot-treated with vitamin E, it may be best to avoid doing this treatment overnight. Vitamin E’s consistency can clog pores, especially in areas that are prone to acne.

Vitamin E masks

Beauty mask treatments that contain vitamin E may have skin-softening and anti-aging benefits. Masks with vitamin E tend to be paired with other ingredients, such as vitamin C.

Create your own vitamin E mask by combining vitamin E oil with skin-soothing almond oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, honey, and mashed avocado. Leaving this mixture on your face for 10 to 20 minutes may boost your skin’s clarity, brightness, and softness.

Remember that vitamin E is fat-soluble, which means it can build up in your skin layer as well as in your body.

To keep from clogging your pores or throwing off your skin’s natural oil balance, don’t use vitamin E treatments more than once or twice a week.

Using vitamin E oil for your face can help you in several different ways.

Keep in mind the evidence to back up these benefits varies, and some of it is largely anecdotal.

Hyperpigmentation

Dark patches on your skin can be caused by too much pigment (melanin), which is triggered by hormones or other causes. Called melasma, this condition is believed to be treatable through the use of topical vitamin E.

Studies show that hyperpigmentation may be only moderately affected by using topical vitamin E oil. The most effective way to use vitamin E to treat hyperpigmentation is to pair it with vitamin C.

Preventing aging and wrinkles on your face

Vitamin E is high in antioxidants, and it affects blood circulation. That might be why people notice a difference in the firmness and structure of their skin after topical use of vitamin E oil.

A 2013 review of the literature tells us that vitamin E and other natural ingredients rich in antioxidants are generally accepted as a treatment for delaying wrinkles, also called photoaging.

Treating acne scarring

Some people swear by vitamin E as a treatment for acne scarring. However, studies to understand if vitamin E works for this purpose indicate it isn’t as effective as one might think.

While vitamin E does promote circulation, it doesn’t appear to speed healing. That means that using it for acne scarring might not give you the results you want.

For smooth, soft lips

Topical vitamin E oil can be used to relieve chapped, dry lips. Since vitamin E promotes cell turnover and regeneration, using it on dry lips brings new cells to the surface faster.

The thick and oily consistency of vitamin E oil can also prevent further irritation.

Vitamin E isn’t an effective remedy for everyone. If you experience frequent breakouts or have pores that clog easily, applying topical vitamin E oil could aggravate your symptoms.

Taking oral vitamin E supplements for a short duration is safe for most people, but taking them for over a year can cause vitamin E to accumulate inside of your body. Too much vitamin E in your bloodstream can result in a reduced platelet count and blood thinning.

If you take blood thinners or if you have a bleeding disorder, speak with your doctor before starting vitamin E oral supplements.

You can find vitamin E products and supplements nearly everywhere. While health food stores and beauty supply stores might be your best bet, you can also try your local pharmacy or even the grocery store. You can also look for vitamin E oil for face products on Amazon.