Vitamin E or tocopherol is the most beneficial substance for the face. Even more: it is one of the main vitamins in cosmetology. Surely you also have some kind of facial product with tocopherol, but what do you know about it?
In general, there is not just one tocopherol, it is a whole group of similar substances. They are united by the ability to destroy free radicals, aggressive elements that accelerate cell aging and damage them. Previously, vitamin E was isolated from wheat germ, now it is mainly from soybean and sunflower oils.
In cosmetics, vitamin E can be designated as follows:
- Tocopherol acetate;
- Tocopherol succinate;
- Tocopherol nicotinate;
- Tocopherol linoleate.
What is vitamin E for?
One of the vital vitamins, the deficiency of which leads to systemic disorders in the body. It belongs to the fat-soluble category and is more fully absorbed in combination with vitamins A, C, D, zinc and selenium. It has a pronounced antioxidant property: it inhibits oxidation processes, prevents damage to healthy cells by decay products.
Vitamin E regulates the processes of tissue restoration of the skin, mucous membranes, internal organs, the production of collagen, hormones, and amino acid metabolism. Its normal level ensures timely tissue regeneration, protection from excessive ultraviolet radiation, exposure to carcinogenic substances, premature aging, normal functioning of the reproductive system, and hematopoiesis.
What to do
If you are concerned about the quality of your skin, order vitamins early. First you need to go to the doctor and find out what the reason is. Maybe the body does not have enough iron, or the person has hypothyroidism - only an examination will determine this. If the indicators are normal, the doctor will prescribe a test for vitamin levels in the blood. When there are few of them, the diet is first changed. Supplements are prescribed only to those who have digestive problems.
“Most vitamin A comes from foods rich in beta-carotene and provitamin A carotenoids. These are powerful antioxidants. They neutralize the effect of free radicals, which break down collagen and contribute to the appearance of wrinkles, explains Nadezhda Nabatnikova. “The substances also reduce skin sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, providing natural protection against redness and pigmentation caused by the sun.”
The norm for a person from the age of four is 5000 international units of vitamin A. He should receive it from food of animal and plant origin. The best source is cod liver. One teaspoon of its oil contains 150% of the daily requirement. A lot also contains beef liver, salmon fillet and tuna. The plant richest in vitamin A is sweet potato, one hundred grams of which covers the daily requirement. Kale, winter squash and turnips contain it in abundance, with carrots only coming in sixth. Important: heat-treated root vegetables are taken into account, not raw ones.
Some people, tired of acne, buy systemic retinoids and take dosages from the Internet. This is dangerous - if the dosage is exceeded, these drugs cause fetal malformations - auricular atresia, underdevelopment of the limbs, atrial septal defect and displacement of large vessels. Therefore, a dermatologist prescribes systemic retinoids after a pregnancy test and the patient’s commitment to use double contraception - hormonal pills plus a condom.
“When using systemic retinoids and other vitamin A preparations, a teratogenic effect on the fetus is possible. Therefore, even before taking dietary supplements, and even more so medications, it is worth consulting with your doctor,” says Nina Alexandrova. “The unfavorable effect of high doses of vitamin A persists even after stopping its use, depending on the drug - from 1 month to 2 years.”
Symptoms of Vitamin E Deficiency
Hypovitaminosis in childhood causes the development of dermatitis, rickets and decreased vision. Long-term deficiency slows down the development of speech, provokes anemia, neurological disorders: coordination of movements, attention.
In adults, the condition of the skin and hair worsens, inflammatory and endocrine diseases occur more often, the cardiovascular system suffers, fertility decreases, women experience menstrual irregularities, and premenstrual syndrome is severe. With severe hypovitaminosis, hormonal imbalance, infertility, and signs of early aging develop. If a vitamin E deficiency is detected, in addition to correcting the diet, it is necessary to take special pharmaceuticals.
Application for eyelashes and eyebrows
Eyelashes definitely require additional care and nutrition. To strengthen them, you need to take 1 ampoule of vitamin E, mix it with 2 drops of jojoba oil and linseed oil. Apply the mixture using a clean brush to previously cleaned mascara eyelashes.
Leave the product for 1-2 hours and then blot with a napkin. Apply the mixture very carefully so that it does not get into your eyes. It is recommended to use this remedy at least 3-4 times a week for 1 month. Then you should take a short break and continue the procedure. It is recommended to slightly change the composition. For example, take apricot and rosehip oil. This product helps strengthen eyelashes, give them shine and accelerate growth.
Eyebrows also need very careful care. It consists not only in giving shape, but also in strengthening. To make your eyebrows grow much faster and acquire a beautiful shine, you need to take 1 ampoule of vitamin E, 0.5 tsp. almond oil and 5 drops of grape seed oil. Mix all components thoroughly. Apply the prepared mixture to your eyebrows and leave for 30 minutes. Then remove the remaining product with a napkin.
In addition, you can mix 1 ampoule of vitamin E and 10 drops of sea buckthorn oil. Moisten the sponge in the resulting product and rub it into the eyebrows with light massaging movements. Leave for 20 minutes. Then take a clean sponge, moisten it in a decoction of medicinal herbs and remove the remaining oil mixture. It is recommended to do such cosmetic procedures 2-3 times a week.
How to take vitamin E correctly
When administered orally, capsules with alpha-tocopherol are swallowed whole without crushing. Drink with enough water. Recommended time of administration is during meals. It is advisable to include foods rich in vitamin E in your diet.
The treatment regimen is individual, depending on the physical condition and age. For prevention, adults are recommended to take 400 mg. vitamin per day. The course of therapy depends on the type of disorder present. It is recommended to take the vitamin cyclically: daily for several weeks, with repeat treatment after a break.
The drug does not affect the ability to drive vehicles and complex equipment, does not cause drowsiness, decreased performance, or changes in the speed of psychomotor reactions.
Rubbing into skin
The second way to use vitamin E is externally, and we’ll start by rubbing it into the skin of the face. To do this, buy vitamin E: it is found in the form of an oil solution (at the pharmacy) and in its pure form (cosmetic solution). The cosmetic solution is, of course, more concentrated. And more expensive.
It is not prohibited to use vitamin E in its pure form on the face; the main thing is to maintain safe dosages. If you overdo it, you can provoke itching and allergies, rashes and red spots. It follows from this that only a small amount of concentrate will be used.
This means that rubbing pure tocopherol makes sense if there are local problems on the face. For example, rashes, deep wrinkles, peeling. A safe amount of pure vitamin E is simply not enough for the entire face.
Therefore, most often vitamin E is added somewhere. Either in store-bought cosmetics or in homemade mixtures. Moreover, there are no substances incompatible with tocopherol: it is extremely stable.
Cooking instructions
The recipe is simple. All of the above should simply be mixed in a glass jar and placed in a low water bath. It's simple - boil water in a separate pan and immerse the jar inside. Of course, it is necessary that it stands firmly and water must not be poured inside under any circumstances. Control its level - do not boil too much liquid.
Stir the ingredients occasionally to help them melt and combine faster. When this happens, you will need to pour them into a separate jar in which the cream will be stored. It is important to wait until it hardens before you can start using it.
This product should be stored in a dark and cool place (chilled product will also allow you to achieve an anti-edematous effect). Use it every day before bed, and very soon you will see the result.
You can use this cream at any age. Some people make a huge mistake, believing that young skin does not need care - supposedly youth forgives everything. But this is a fatal misconception. The sooner a girl begins to take care of her skin, the fewer problems she will have with it and the later the signs of aging will appear. And ladies who ignore self-care usually grab their heads at 30 years old and think why they were so “unlucky” to encounter wrinkles at an early age.
Application for hair
To strengthen curls, it is recommended to apply vitamin E to your hair in its pure form, and also use it to prepare masks. This remedy helps to cope with existing problems and restore their beauty. Tocopherol helps solve many problems, namely:
- tissue hydration;
- oxygen supply to hair follicles;
- strengthening the blood circulation process;
- adding shine and silkiness;
- restoration of weak and damaged strands.
When you apply vitamin E to your hair in its pure form, you can make it strong and healthy. In its pure form, this product is much more useful, as it delivers oxygen to the surface of the scalp much faster. At the same time, hair begins to grow at a much faster rate.
For external use, you can also use healing masks. To stimulate the growth of curls, add volume and shine to them, it is recommended to use vitamin E with mustard and egg. Apply the mask for the first time for 10 minutes, and by the end of the course increase the time to 1 hour. Take 2 tbsp. l. mustard powder, pour the same amount of warm water. Add the beaten yolk, add 1 tsp. vitamin E and burdock oil. Mix everything thoroughly, wet your hair, apply a mask. Wrap in a towel and rinse thoroughly at the end of the procedure.
Do I need to wash off tocopherol from my face?
Tocopherol has special structural properties that allow it to be quickly absorbed into the skin layers. After applying the vitamin solution, there are practically no traces left on the skin after some time. Therefore, there is no need to rinse off the liquid vitamin; you just need to wait until it is completely absorbed. If tocopherol is used as a component of a mask, then the remnants of the cosmetic product that are not absorbed are wiped off the face with a clean napkin. Usually, the instructions for use of the care product indicate after what time it is necessary to remove what has not been absorbed.
Nicotine for all problems
If you are not sure which vitamins you need, pay attention to B3, also known as niacin. In its properties, this substance is close to niacinamide; more precisely, niacinamide is extracted from nicotinic acid. Nicotine can do everything: eliminate wrinkles, even out complexion, strengthen the skin, heal damage and rejuvenate.
However, it is not suitable for sensitive thin skin. Contraindicated for people with rosacea. It has one drawback - it can slightly irritate the skin because it dilates the capillaries. If you overdo it, you will get redness for several hours.
Add to the cream carefully, no more than 1 drop per application. Do not mix with aggressive components, acids, vitamin C and retinoids.
