TOCOPHEROL

Name / description

alpha-Tocopherol; 3,4-Dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H-benzopyran-6-ol; Vitamin E

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTIOXIDANT

Inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and deterioration of ingredients

FRAGRANCE FUNCTIONAL

Functional ingredient (excipient) of perfume oils and / or flavours

SKIN CONDITIONING

Maintains the skin in good condition

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Origin

plant/synthetic

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Occurrence in cosmetics

Skincare creams, sunscreens

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Occurrence in other products

In high-quality plant oils (eg wheatgerm oil, sunflower oil, linseed oil, olive oil), cereal germs, yolk, nuts, wholemeal products, dairy products, butter and margarine

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Background information on use in cosmetics

Vitamin E (INCI: TOCOPHEROL) is part of the fat-soluble vitamins. It develops a cell protection and also supports the regeneration of the skin. With its lipophilic properties it protects, more particularly, the cell membranes and the cells of the skin against so-called free radicals. Moreover, Vitamin E helps at the improvement of the surface structure and the increase in the moisture-retaining capacity of the skin. In the epidermis the Vitamin E is the most important antioxidant for cell protection. It intercepts aggressive compounds which are caused by UV radiation in the skin and hence prevents a premature skin ageing. In this way it protects the cell membranes, lipoproteins and the depot fat against oxidation. Fragrances or mixtures of fragrances are often referred to in the cosmetics area as "perfuming agents" or "perfume oils" or "parfum oils". On the cosmetic products they are declared with the INCI name "PARFUM". These are undiluted individual substances or their mixtures which originate from natural raw materials or can be produced (semi-) synthetically. They are starting materials for the production of perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne and other perfumed cosmetic products. The average content of fragrances amounts in perfume to 15-30 %, in eau de parfum to 10-14 %, in eau de toilette to 6-9 %, in eau de cologne to 3-5 % as well as in skin creams, shampoos, hair and deodorant sprays to approximately 0.2-1 % and approximately 1-3 in deodorant sticks. The perfume oils include essential oils, resinoids and absolutes. The sources are, amongst others, flowers, leaves and stems, fruits and fruit peels or roots of plants; woods, grasses or herbs, needles, resins and balsams. Moreover, only compounds isolated from natural products such as aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols etc. are used (geraniol, citronellal, citral, eugenol, menthol) as well as semi-synthetic (citronellol, geranyl acetate, jonone) and synthetic scents (eg phenylethyl alcohol and linalool) are used. Scents of animal origin such as musk and ambra are only rarely used.

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Belongs to the following substance groups

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.