As far as natural remedies go, Jason Natural Cosmetics Vitamin E Creme 25000 I.U. ($11.10, Amazon.com) sounds great, with 25,000 I.U. of vitamin E – over 1000 times the recommended daily oral dose per jar!   And with the ultra-affordable price tag, Jason Natural Cosmetics Vitamin E Creme 25000 I.U. may be a dream come true in the natural skin care market.  Just make sure you do not apply this cream to scars- and do not have oily skin, as the plethora of occlusive agents and emollients could make oily skin a nightmare.  For more, read on.

Vitamin E has numerous anti-aging benefits

One benefit to vitamin E: it scavenges free radicals. But it does work better in the company of other antioxidants. (Photo credit: sc63)

Check out this amalgam of research:

• Vitamin E prevents UV-induced oxidation of the skin.  (Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2001)
• Vitamin E inhibits matrix metalloproteinases, enzymes which degrade collagen.  (Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2002).

• Vitamin E helps maintain a healthy skin barrier. (Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2001)

Interestingly enough, it has been suggested that vitamin E always be used in conjunction with other antioxidants.  It turns out that UV light will cause vitamin E to create free radicals.  However, other antioxidants can stabilize free radicals and vitamin E by donating their own electrons (Free Radical Research, 1992).  Considering that Jason Natural Cosmetics Vitamin E Creme 25000 I.U. contains retinyl palmitate and vitamin C, I highly doubt this creme is photosensitizing, and am willing to bet it is more photoprotective, particularly when the jar is first opened.

Packaging Stinks

Tubes are better than jars, which let more light and air in.

My major problem with Jason Natural Cosmetics Vitamin E Creme 25000 I.U. is that it is packaged in a wide-open jar.  This makes the antioxidants more likely to react with light and air.  There’s really no way around it with this type of packaging – just try to open and close quickly (and tightly), and store in a cool, dark place.

May Actually Make Scars Worse

Do not apply vitamin E to scars – studies have shown it has no effect on most people, and can cause an allergic reaction in others.

Though some surgeons still recommend using vitamin E on scars, research from Dermatologic Surgery shows that vitamin E has no effect on scars – and can actually make them worse by exacerbating a reaction called contact dermatitis.  A better solution:  silicone scar sheeting, the only method proven by scientific research (Aesthetic Surgery, 2007) to make a difference in scarring.  I’ve also had some luck with Mederma, but I may be an outlier, as the independent research surrounding its efficacy is conflicting.

Bottom Line

If you want the full effects of vitamin E, the truth of the matter is, you’d be better off with a concentrated vitamin E/antioxidant serum.  While 25,000 IU is a nice-sized dose, Jason Natural Cosmetics Vitamin E Creme 25000 I.U. has the ingredients embedded in a largely oil-based formula, and many serums are embedded in alcohol, which helps the ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.

Still, for the money, I can’t say too much about Jason Natural Cosmetics Vitamin E Creme 25000 I.U..  I wish it was in a better container, and I would never apply it to scars or oily skin.  But for anyone else looking for hydration come nighttime, it’s not a bad deal at all.

Product Rating: 7/10

• High or optimized concentration of proven ingredients: 3/3
• Unique formulation or new technology:  1/3
• Value:  3/3
• Sunscreen: 0/1

Ingredients:  Aqua (Purifed Water), Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Hydroflorate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit. E), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Gel, Anthemus Nobilis (Chamomile) Extract, Calendula Offcinalis (Marigold) Extract, Glycerin (Vege), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Stearic Acid, Persea Gratissima (Avacado) Oil, Tocopherol Linoleate (Vit E), Cetyl Alcohol, Retinyl Palmitate (Vit A), Ascorbic Acid (Vit C), Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Potassium Carbomer

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