Tocopheryl Acetate (Synthetic Vitamin E)
The question

Is Tocopheryl Acetate (Synthetic Vitamin E) safe in sunscreen?

CautionSunscreen

Synthetic ester form of vitamin E. The synthetic "dl-" form is less bioavailable than natural "d-" vitamin E and may not convert as efficiently to active tocopherol in skin.

What the research flags

  • Vitamin E acetate linked to EVALI (e-cigarette lung injury) when inhaled as aerosol — not relevant to topical use
  • Lower bioactivity than natural d-alpha-tocopherol
  • Synthetic "dl-" form is derived from petrochemicals
  • Contact sensitization in rare cases

Other sunscreen ingredients on file

Sources & references

  1. [1]
    DatabaseIngredient database — 706810-TOCOPHERYL_ACETATE
  2. [2]
    Peer-reviewedPubMed / NCBI — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ref 32004772
  3. [3]
    Peer-reviewedPubMed / NCBI — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ref 15720142

Research disclaimer: Ratings reflect peer-reviewed research and regulatory assessments available at the time of publication, not the dose or formulation of any specific sunscreen product. This is not medical advice.