The stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the skin, serves as an important barrier against UVB rays and environmental pollution. For healthy skin, antioxidants are required to be present at the stratum corneum to fight free radicals.

Some antioxidants and nutrients of larger molecular weight are unable to penetrate the stratum corneum and hence have limited effect on skin protection.

Research shows that topically applied tocotrienols effectively penetrate skin and accumulate in the stratum corneum. Being a powerful antioxidant, tocotrienols serve to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals and confer anti-aging benefits. ^[14]

When taken orally, significant amounts of tocotrienols were found to accumulate in skin tissue compared to other parts of the body. It is the polyunsaturated structure of tocotrienols that facilitates even distribution of tocotrienol molecules among skin cells. ^[1]

This unique ability of tocotrienols to be distributed uniformly in skin may confer protection against oxidative stress and help to maintain a healthy skin barrier.

Melanin is a class of pigment that determines skin color and excessive production of melanin leads to skin pigmentation. Researchers from Fukuyama, Japan found that delta-tocotrienol could limit melanin synthesis which might be useful in treating hyper-pigmentation. ^[15]