What is "TOCOPHEROL" and what does it do?
Role: ANTIOXIDANT
Family: VITAMIN E
Comedogenic index: 0
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is an antioxidant commonly used to help protect the skin from free radicals and strengthen the skin barrier.
Vitamin E (tocopherol) can visibly improve hyperpigmentation when used at a concentration of 1%.
In general, lower quantities are used in skincare for their antioxidant benefits and to help preserve the stability of delicate ingredients.
Vitamin E also provides some UV protection by reducing the damage caused by UVB rays, but is not a substitute for sunscreen. Combining it with vitamin C can reduce sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
It is easy to formulate, stable and relatively inexpensive.
Description of tocopherol
Tocopherol is the name given to one of the four forms of vitamin E. These are d-alpha-tocopherol, d-alpha-tocopherol acetate, dl-alpha-tocopherol and dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate. The prefix "d" indicates that the product is derived from natural sources, such as vegetable oils or wheat germ; while the prefix "dl" indicates that the vitamin has been created from a synthetic base.
Research has shown that natural forms of vitamin E are more effective than their synthetic counterparts, but both have antioxidant activity. You'll most often find vitamin E listed as tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate on the ingredients list.
Vitamin E is a naturally occurring component of healthy skin, and its most prevalent antioxidant after ascorbic acid (vitamin C). It offers important antioxidant properties to help defend against pollution and other environmental stresses that would otherwise weaken the skin, causing unwanted changes.
In skin care formulas, vitamin E also functions as a good supporting ingredient. For example, in vitamin C-based products, vitamin E will provide a key electron that vitamin C (in the form of ascorbic acid) needs to stabilize. Vitamin E also works well with other antioxidants such as rosemary, ferulic acid and the amino acid taurine.
Tocopherol used in skin care is almost always oily, as it is derived from sources such as soy, rice bran or linseed oils, among others. It has a characteristic yellow to gold or even light-brown color and a subtle odor.
Vitamin E is found in many foods: vegetables, oils, seeds, nuts, corn, soy, whole-wheat flour, margarine and even some meat and dairy products.
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