Regardless of your skin type, a moisturizer will always be a key part of an effective skincare routine. Keeping a good hydrating cream in your stash makes all the difference if you want to maintain soft, healthy skin. There are a variety of formulas that can help to target specific skin concerns, but one ingredient that we don’t hear about as often is vitamin E.
Vitamin E acts as a natural moisturizer and antioxidant that helps to improve skin texture and promote cell turnover, leaving you with youthful, radiant skin. “Vitamin E is also amazing for scar treatment; you can support the healing process by massaging it into the scarred area,” says esthetician and founder of Skin By Brownlee & Co., Sylvia Brownlee.
Editor's Choice
Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
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Whether you’re dealing with scarring or dryness or simply need a skincare revamp, adding vitamin E to your routine is a quick way to reveal calm, smooth skin. According to Brownlee, it’s best to incorporate the ingredient into your nighttime routine in between cleansing and applying your final heavy creams. “By doing this, it can help repair skin damage while you sleep. However, it's incredibly important to treat the skin from the inside out,” she says. “If you want to increase your vitamin E intake, introduce vitamin E-rich foods into your diet with hazelnuts, almonds, spinach, kale, avocado, kiwi, & kale.”
Along with nutritious foods, having a vitamin-rich beauty routine is wildly beneficial. So, to help you elevate your product stash, we gathered seven of the best vitamin E moisturizers you should consider trying. See our choices below.
1
Editor's Choice
Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Lightweight Face Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Might not be suitable for oily skin
If you were a bit weary about eating your vegetables as a kid, your parents would be very happy to hear that you are consistently taking your daily dose of spinach and kale—even if it’s in the form of a moisturizer. This airy formula might feel lightweight on the skin but is chock-full of nourishing ingredients. Hyaluronic acid, vitamins, and green tea work together to combat dryness and signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles.
Size: 2 oz
Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “I love how light this moisturizer feels on my skin. Having very dry skin myself, I was always under the impression that I'd need a thick cream to feel hydrated, but this cream keeps my skin feeling moisturized all day long.”—Tasha Nicole Smith, beauty assistant
Pros
- Great smell
Cons
- Absorbs very quickly
The benefits of skin care don’t have to be reserved for your face when you can give your body the same amount of love. This rich body cream is packed with a blend of vitamin E, apricot oil, and hyaluronic acid to smooth and moisturize your skin.
Size: 6.5 oz
Nordstrom rating: 4.8/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “This is a powerhouse body balm. It is luxuriously rich and buttery but also absorbs quickly, leaving skin feeling nourished, soothed, soft, and, calm. If you’re prone to allergies or dry itchy skin, this really helps calm the skin (and results are as much instant as they are long term).”
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Pros
- Non-greasy
Cons
- Pricey
If you deal with sensitive or reactive skin, redness and irritation can be a common occurrence. This gentle, non-greasy formula nourishes your ace using vitamins E and B5 to prevent irritation and ward off dry skin.
Size: 8 oz
Nordstrom rating: 4.3/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I have been looking for a great new moisturizer and tried other products from this brand before and decided to give it a try. This product is light weight and not oily. I've used it everyday for about 6 months now and have no plans to switch to another face moisturizer.”
Pros
- Vitamin-rich
Cons
- Works best with products from the same line
Getting healthy-looking skin doesn’t always mean splurging on the most expensive products and treatments. This affordable daily moisturizer combats dehydrated skin with nourishing niacinamide, which helps control excess oils, as a blend of vitamins brightens and relaxes the skin.
Size: 1.7 oz
Sephora rating: 4/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “This is such a staple in my beauty routine! For the price it’s become my favorite moisturizer. I use it right out of the shower after cleansing with the oat balm by the same brand and I love it.”
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Pros
- Deeply hydrating
Cons
- Can feel a bit oily
Using a thicker, more concentrated consistency at night helps to replenish your skin as you sleep so that you wake up with a radiant, healthy glow. Along with vitamin E, this cream has cocoa butter and cotton seed oil to lock in moisture.
Size: 1 oz
Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I love this night cream – I was a little wary at first because it goes on thick and very oily, but the difference it has made in my skin is incredible. It not only leaves my skin very well-hydrated and healthy-feeling, it somehow also helped get rid of my acne and texture on my forehead. I am genuinely shocked at the difference it has made in my skin and now won't go a single night without using it.”
6
Best to Relieve Irritated Skin
Derma E Derma E Tea Tree and Vitamin E Relief Cream – Deeply Moisturizing Tea Tree Lotion – Vitamin E Cream Soothes, Calms and Nourishes Dry, Irritated Skin, 4 oz
Now 42% Off
Pros
- Cooling sensation
Cons
- Might not be suitable for sensitive skin
When your skin is feeling stressed or dull, and you’re looking for total relief, this tea tree cream calms and revives your tired skin. This clean brand uses naturally derived ingredients to ease itchy and irritated skin. The hydrating formula is gentle enough for daily use and won’t feel sticky or heavy.
Size: 4 oz
Amazon rating: 4.4/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I can't get enough of this stuff. I know the smell is not for everyone but I absolutely love it. It's moisturizing, it has a slight cooling/tingling sensation, and it works so well. I could probably take a bath in it and I'd be happy. I'm a huge fan of Derma-E and this solidified my love for that company.”
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7
Best for Soft Skin
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Brightening Vitamin C Moisturizer
Pros
- Plumps the skin
Cons
- Small amount of product per bottle
For youthful-looking, visibly healthier skin, this cream uses vitamin C and E to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Rich with antioxidants and a superfood complex, this moisturizer deeply penetrates and hydrates, giving you plump, glass skin-like results.
Size: 1.7 oz
Sephora rating: 4.6/stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “I have sensitive skin and tend to break out easily but didn’t have any issues at all with this moisturizer. I own a few different medical grade moisturizers and always reach back for this one. It truly makes my skin better overnight.”
What are the benefits of using Vitamin E Creams?
While it might just seem like a buzzy skincare trend, vitamin E actually has major restorative benefits. “Vitamin E creams can help keep your skin moisturized and hydrated, reduce the appearance of fine lines and uneven textures, and help improve skin elasticity,” says Brownlee. “People with dry, mature, or sensitive skin would benefit the most from using Vitamin E.”
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It is said that vitamin E works best in conjunction with vitamin C. Why is that?
Every superhero needs their right-hand man. That's kind of how vitamins E and C work together. They support each other to help repair your skin. “Vitamin E works best in conjunction with vitamin C because vitamin C helps to regenerate vitamin E after it’s been oxidized,” says Brownlee. “Because of this, vitamin E can continue to work for a longer period of time. The synergistic effect of combining the two allows Vitamin E to be more effective than when used alone.”
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Why Trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com editors spoke with skincare experts about the absolute best vitamin E moisturizers. The authors personally tested a number of these products and scoured reviews for the top-rated products on the market.
Tasha Nicole Smith
Beauty Assistant
Tasha Nicole Smith is ELLE Magazine's beauty assistant. She loves all things hair, makeup, and skincare so you’ll find her talking about it here. She enjoys Marvel movies, a good pair of vintage heels, and lemon drop martinis and also shares a birthday with Beyoncé, which is her go to fun fact.
