Which types of vitamin E prevent essential oil oxidation?

Robert,

I would really appreciate it if you could tell me what type of vitamin E to use to slow the oxidation of essential oils, as in cream. Is it just tocopherol? Or some other type?

Thank you for your time.
Stephanie P.

PS. I enjoyed your webinar very much!

Hi Stephanie,

There are four principal isomers (chemical subtypes) of tocopherol:

alpha
beta
gamma
delta

There are also sub-types of each one.

You can use ‘mixed’ tocopherols: all four in various proportions. But my preference for essential oils is to use alpha-tocopherol, specifically d-alpha tocopherol. Here is a supplier that sells small quantities, as well as large.
Because it is very viscous, you may want to mix it 50/50 with a fatty oil or essential oil before adding to your product. You don’t need much – the tocopherol should be added at 0.1% by weight of the total product. Putting more in won’t be more effective.

Although ‘tocopherol’ and ‘vitamin E’ are often used synonymously, vitamin E is actually even broader, because the term encompasses both tocopherols and tocotrienols.

- Robert

The Nova Studio

February 20, 2013 at 11:15 am

This is so helpful – we have students ask about the different types of Vit-E all the time!

Linda

February 22, 2013 at 5:10 pm

Hi,
I have read (don’t remember where) that tocotrienols is superior and better to use than tocopherol. Is it true? Which is more natural?

Thanks,
Linda

robert

February 23, 2013 at 12:26 pm

Linda – tocotrienols and tocopherols both occur in nature. How natural they are depends on how they are made though! “dl” isomers point to synthetic origin. Tocotrienols are not very antioxidant, but they are great to add to skin products as dermal nutrients (vit. E).