The One Thing Your Skin Needs This Summer

There are lots of reasons that Vitamin E oil is the perfect skincare ingredient for summer: it's a multitasker that can do just about anything. Perhaps most notably, there's its awesome ability to act as a natural sunscreen — as things heat up and beach days become more and more frequent, it's important to get all hands on deck in the SPF department, and if a simple oil is part of that, all the better. Then, there's the fact that it's very moisturizing — which is always an important component of every person's routine, even in the heat of summer. Heck, you can even apply it to your scalp, to help achieve a thicker mane — it's uses are manifold.

Really, when you think about it, it's pretty much the ultimate multipurpose ingredient — another thing that makes it a logical match for the lazy days of summer. Heck, it might just be your secret weapon to getting through all the beach days, long hikes, and chlorinated pools in one piece. So, before you head to your favorite beauty supply store to pick out your new serum, let's take a quick look at vitamin E oil's many, many benefits.

1. It Blocks Free Radicals

The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream, $13, Amazon

Free radicals damage skin and can contribute to aging and skin damage — so it's important to block them by any means necessary. Luckily, vitamin E oil can be a very useful ally in this respect — as celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas explained to the Huffington Post, "It has basic antioxidant properties that everyone needs. It is unavoidable that we are all suffering from environmental stress. [Vitamin E oil] protects the skin against cell mutation in the sun and pollution."

2. It Acts as a Natural Sunscreen

The Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating Face Mist, $18, Amazon

In part because of its aforementioned free radical-blocking properties, it's widely thought vitamin E oil can protect you from the sun's harmful rays, especially when combined with vitamin C, as Bustle previously reported. More research on the subject is needed at the time, but it's worth a try, right? Just make sure you're concurrently using SPF in other forms.

3. It's Got Anti-Aging Benefits

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $130, Amazon

As New York-based plastic surgeon Dr. Stafford R. Broumand explained in the aforementioned Huffington Post piece, "Vitamin E oil works to block free radicals from the body, which play a large part in the aging process. If we can fight off free radicals, then we can reduce wrinkles and keep the skin youthful-looking."

4. It's Brightening

Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer, $46, Bloomingdale's

Due once again to its ability to block free radicals, vitamin E oil can work wonders on scars and dark spots. As Dr. Broumand put it to HuffPo, "Free radicals can also prevent the healing of scars, so applying vitamin E oil will help to repair and improve the appearance of the damaged tissue."

5. It's Seriously Moisturizing

Burt's Bees Mama Bee Nourishing Body Oil, $10, Amazon

In addition to all those skin-brightening anti-aging benefits, vitamin E oil also happens to hugely moisturizing. You can use it lightly on your face, or even on your body to keep things extra baby soft this summer.

6. It Can Thicken Hair

Trader Joe's Vitamin E Oil, $3.99, Amazon

Apparently, applying vitamin E oil to your scalp can help encourage hair growth and help repair damage, according to Livestrong. Perfect for the double whammy of pairing voluminous beach waves with actual, hair-damaging waves at the beach.

7. It Can Heal Nails

Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail & Cuticle Oil, $5, Amazon

If it's good for your skin and hair, it's only logical that it'd be good for your nails too, right? Applying a coat of vitamin E oil to your nails and cuticles can help keep them healthy, according to the Oprah website.

8. It Makes A Great Lip Balm

Sephora Collection Super Nourishing Lip Balm, $6, Sephora

Hey, your lips could always use a little sun/free radical protection, so vitamin E oil-infused balm isn't such a bad idea. Its protecting properties combined with its moisturizing properties make it the perfect lip balm ingredient.

9. It's Fun to Eat

In addition to being applied directly to the skin, Bustle has previously reported that Vitamin E oil can be taken internally for some of the same benefits — and according to the USDA, there are high levels of Vitamin E oil in foods like sunflower seeds and almonds.

10. It Can Keep Your Skin Clear

GNC Evening Primrose Oil 500, $28, Amazon

Some forms of vitamin E oil, like Evening Primrose Oil, are star products for keeping hormonal acne in check. Who knew?

11. Khloe Kardashian Uses It

Apparently, her nighttime routine includes Bio-Oil, vitamin E oil, and Aquaphor (as eye cream). Is it something you'd give a try?