Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant commonly found in hair and skincare products. This simple vitamin helps prevent carrier oils and butters from going rancid and smelling off. There are eight distinct forms of Vitamin E including alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherol and alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienol. Alpha, also know as tocopherol, is the only form of Vitamin E that is recognized to meet human requirements so naturally, it’s the form that is most studied. Numerous foods provide vitamin E including nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, and significant amounts are available in green leafy vegetables and fortified cereals. Most vitamin E is in the form of gamma-tocopherol from soybean oil. Essential formulates with and sells two types of vitamin E; vitamin E TPGS and non-GMO vitamin E from Sunflower.
Vitamin E TPGS (INCI: Tocophersolan)
Vitamin E TPGS is a highly stable form of vitamin E. This form of vitamin E is stable when exposed to oxygen, heat, light, or oxidizing agents but unstable in an alkaline environment. For this reason, it is always important to be aware of the pH of your products. The raw material for vitamin E-TPGS is d-a-tocopherol, derived from soybean oil distillate. Vitamin E TPGS is used in hair and skincare formulations as a water-soluble vitamin E and as an enhancer for other actives in the formulation. It also serves as ethanol-free, hypoallergenic, non-irritating emulsifier.
Most vitamin E is derived from soybeans, however, the process to produce vitamin E requires a lot of soy. It takes about 20 acres of soybeans to produce only 2.2 pounds of vitamin E. While soybeans themselves aren’t in any short supply, the process of distilling and deodorizing the oil to produce vitamin E is creating a shortage of the vitamin. This is leading to adulteration of vitamin E with cheaper, more readily available ingredients such as rosemary extracts. Essential Wholesale is not willing to gamble with quality when it comes to ingredients so we have chosen to use only non-GMO vitamin E derived from sunflower. The sunflowers are sustainably grown in Argentina and are in massive supply, so there is little concern of shortage or fluctuating prices. Also, the sunflowers are non-GMO, which is hard to find with soy products. We have found the quality to be very high and this vitamin E performs beautifully in formulations.
The table below shows the composition of Non-GMO Vitamin E
Ready to try a fun recipe with Vitamin E? Check out the Pumpkin Spice Coffee Scrub Bar!
Pumpkin Spice Coffee Scrub Bar
Pumpkin spice, coffee, sugar, it’s the perfect fall treat! This fun twist on traditional body scrubs slowly melts into your skin as you use it to exfoliate in the bath or shower. No more dipping your hands into messy jars!
Equipment You’ll Need
Mixing Bowl
Scale or measuring cups/spoons
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Easy
Approximate yield: 1 Pound or approximately 4 – 4oz bars
Approximate cost per pound: $9.50
Suggested packaging: organza bags or plastic bags
Suggested retail price: $8 – $12 each bar
Ingredients
- 0.1349 LBS 1 Cup 14% Fresh ground coffee
- 0.5395 LBS 2 Cups 54% Cane Sugar
- 0.2698 LBS 1 Cup 27% USDA Certified Organic Natural Cocoa Butter Wafers
- 0.0324 LBS 2 Tbsp 3% Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix
- 0.0135 LBS 1 Tbsp 1% USDA Certified Organic Jojoba Oil
- 0.0100 LBS 1 Tsp 1% Vitamin E oil Natural Non-GMO
Directions
- Add ground coffee, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice to a mixing bowl and blend well.
- Melt cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and Vitamin E together and slowly pour over coffee, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice mixture.
- Mix well and spoon into molds.
- Refrigerate for 24 – 48 hours and then carefully remove from molds while still cold. Once at room temperature, place in your packaging.
- Use anytime you want in the shower or bath!
Please note that this recipe has not been challenge tested for preservation efficacy. If you use this recipe for market sales, it is up to you to ensure the safety of the product. We strongly recommend 3rd party challenge testing. If you need additional help, please contact us at info@ewlnatural.com or 866-252-9639.
