Should I avoid the cosmetic ingredient tocopherol acetate?

Cosmetic ingredients and the power of chemistry

Cosmetics sold as natural or organic cosmetics do not contain ingredients that are made from natural raw materials.

Naturally derived ingredients contain impurities and pesticides, so they are highly refined and processed to be safe for use in cosmetics.

Also, even if they are called "naturally derived ingredients," they do not necessarily come directly from plants or animals that exist in nature. For example, they often involve artificial processing, such as extracting specific fatty acids from vegetable oils to create synthetic oils.

About natural ingredients: They're not actually natural! Natural ingredients in cosmetics

Tocopherol acetate, which will be discussed in this article, is one such ingredient. It is a synthetically processed version of natural vitamin E.

Are chemicals bad?

"Chemicals are bad. Only natural things are good."

I don't mean to go to such extremes, because if it's safe and good for your skin, your health, and the environment, I don't think it's so bad to use the power of chemistry.

In fact, synthetic ingredients can be more sustainable than natural ingredients made by over-harvesting plants that grow in the wild. They may also be safer and free of impurities.

However, this varies from ingredient to ingredient, and mixing chemicals can result in ingredients that pose risks.

Tocopherol acetate synthesized from vitamin E and acetic acid

There is a cosmetic ingredient called "tocopherol acetate." It is made by mixing vitamin E with acetic acid. It is included in many cosmetics, but what kind of ingredient is it?

Tocopherol acetate is a type of vitamin E. It is a synthetic ingredient made by adding acetic acid to natural vitamin E.
Because it has a strong antioxidant effect, it is used in cosmetics as an antioxidant, which means it is an ingredient to prevent discoloration and deterioration of cosmetics.

The added acetic acid is the main component of vinegar, which is also used to make chemicals used in wood glues, synthetic fibers, and fabrics.

Tocopherol and tocopherol acetate

Cosmetics contain tocopherol , a vitamin E ingredient that is considered to be highly safe. So why does tocopherol acetate, which is made by adding acetic acid to tocopherol, exist?

There are two reasons.

Adding acetic acid reduces production costs and also exerts a strong antioxidant effect, allowing for longer storage periods.
For manufacturers, this means it will be easier to process, ship, store, and sell cosmetics.

Safety of Tocopherol Acetate

It is natural for manufacturers to want to make their products stable and low cost, but what about the safety of the tocopherol acetate produced in this way?

allergy

In 2012, a Japanese woman was reported to have had an allergic reaction to tocopherol acetate, developing itchy red spots seven months after starting to use the lotion.
However, allergic reactions to tocopherol acetate are considered very rare, and the CIR, which investigates the safety of cosmetic ingredients, also considers tocopherol acetate to be a safe ingredient.

Hydroquinone contamination

The US EWG , which evaluates the safety of ingredients for consumers, has indicated that tocopherol acetate may be contaminated with hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is an ingredient that is banned from general cosmetics in the US and Europe because it is considered to pose a risk of allergies, severe skin irritation, and pigmentation.

About hydroquinone: Is it okay to continue using the skin whitening ingredient hydroquinone?

Even if tocopherol acetate itself is safe, there is a possibility that it may have been contaminated with a substance that has a strong effect. As long as the effect is not zero, it is a bit worrying.

Tocopherol Acetate is Basically Safe

While the above concerns are certainly valid, there is no need to be overly concerned just because the product contains tocopherol acetate.

However, there are safer options such as tocopherol that contain the same vitamin E ingredient. People with sensitive skin or those who want to choose safer cosmetics do not need to go out of their way to use products that contain tocopherol acetate.

In order to find cosmetics that suit your skin and values, it might be a good idea to pay a little attention to what ingredients may pose certain risks.