All about Panthenol in care products

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Panthenol is a versatile ingredient that’s increasingly popping up in skin and hair care products. But what makes panthenol so special? This powerful provitamin B5 is known for its hydrating, restorative, and soothing properties, making it a favorite in the beauty and skin care world. In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into what panthenol is, how it works, and why it could be an essential ingredient for healthy skin and shiny hair. Read on to discover all the benefits and uses of panthenol!

What is Panthenol?

  • Panthenol is also known as provitamin B5. It is a derivative of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), is a versatile ingredient that is often used in cosmetics, beauty products and skin care products . It is an alcohol form of vitamin B5, which allows it to penetrate the skin better and thus reach deeper layers of the skin. So it is actually an alcohol, but it does not have the negative properties of alcohol. Unlike alcohol, it is said to have a calming and restorative effect. Due to its moisturizing and soothing properties, panthenol is often used in creams, lotions, hair care products and even make-up.

How does Panthenol work?

  • Panthenol has the ability to attract moisture. It works by penetrating deep into the skin and hair, where it is converted into pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is an essential component for supporting cell renewal and maintaining a healthy skin barrier. This gives panthenol the ability to retain moisture, which contributes to a smoother, hydrated and firmer skin. Thanks to this property, it is a real miracle cure for dry and sensitive skin.

  • Some important functions of panthenol are:

    • Hydration : It attracts and retains moisture in the skin, providing long-lasting hydration.
    • Protection : It forms a protective layer on the skin that helps prevent moisture loss.
    • Recovery : It promotes the healing of minor wounds and skin irritations, such as cuts and sunburn.

What is Panthenol used for?

  • Applications of Panthenol

    Panthenol is a powerful ingredient that has earned its place in the world of skin and hair care. It hydrates, restores and soothes. Panthenol is used in many different products for its versatile benefits. Below is an overview of the most common applications:

  • 1. Skin care

    In skin care products, panthenol is often praised for its moisturizing and soothing properties. It is used in:

    • Sensitive skin products : Panthenol is extremely suitable for dry and sensitive skin. Due to its calming effect, it is often used in products for sensitive skin or for skin irritations.
    • Anti-aging creams : It helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines by deeply hydrating the skin and restoring elasticity.
    • After-sun products : It promotes skin recovery after sun exposure and helps soothe sunburn.
    • Acne Treatments : Due to its soothing and moisturizing properties, panthenol can also help balance the skin during acne treatments, which often cause dryness.

  • 2.Hair care

    Panthenol is a common ingredient in shampoos, conditioners and hair masks. It can penetrate into the hair root, nourishing the hair from within. Think not only of shampoo for the head hair , but also of beard shampoos .

    • Hair Hydration : Just as it retains moisture in the skin, panthenol does the same for the hair, making it look healthier and shinier.
    • Strengthening of the hair structure : it helps to strengthen the hair follicle, resulting in fuller and thicker hair.
    • Protection against damage : It forms a protective layer around the hair, making it more resistant to heat, UV radiation and other environmental factors.

  • 3. Nail care

    Although less well known, panthenol is also used in nail care products to strengthen and hydrate nails and cuticles. It prevents nails from becoming brittle and helps repair split cuticles.

  • 4. Make-up

    Panthenol is added to make-up to make products last longer and be less drying to the skin. Lipsticks, foundations and mascara products often contain a small amount of it for extra hydration and softness.

Discover our care products containing Panthenol

What are the benefits of Panthenol?

  • Panthenol offers numerous benefits for both skin and hair. Below is an overview of the most important benefits.

  • 1. Hydration and repair of the skin

    One of the greatest benefits of panthenol is its ability to retain moisture in the skin. This ensures long-lasting hydration of the skin and reduces dryness, flaking and irritation. It also promotes the production of building blocks for the skin, which restores the moisture balance of the skin.

  • 2. Strong antioxidant and skin barrier improvement

    Antioxidants ensure that unwanted substances are retained for the skin. Panthenol supports the regeneration of skin cells and strengthens and improves the skin barrier, which is essential for protecting the skin from external damaging factors such as pollution and UV rays.

  • 3. Wound healing

    Panthenol has been shown to accelerate wound healing by reducing inflammation and stimulating cell renewal, making it an ideal ingredient for after-sun products and healing creams.

  • 4. Anti-aging

    Panthenol helps maintain healthy skin structure and elasticity, which contributes to a more youthful appearance. It softens fine lines and prevents the skin from becoming dry and dull.

  • 5. Calming effect and reduction of redness

    For those with sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema or dermatitis, it provides a calming and soothing effect. It helps to restore the skin and reduce the appearance of redness and irritation.

  • 6. Strengthening of the hair

    In hair care, panthenol not only makes hair shinier and healthier, but it also strengthens the hair structure, making it more resistant to heat and styling damage.

Is Panthenol safe?

  • Panthenol is considered very safe for use in cosmetic products. It rarely causes allergic reactions and is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. In some cases, people with extremely sensitive skin or allergies may experience a mild reaction, but this is rare. The ingredient has been approved for use in personal care products by several regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission.

Panthenol in Cosmetics: What Does Science Say?

  • Studies show that panthenol is effective in moisturizing and protecting the skin. According to studies, it helps reduce transepidermal water loss, which is crucial for maintaining the skin barrier. Another study highlighted that panthenol has a soothing and anti-irritant effect, which supports its effectiveness in treating skin irritations.

Panthenol compared to other ingredients

  • While panthenol is a common ingredient, there are other popular ingredients that offer similar benefits. Below, we compare some of these ingredients.

  • 1. Panthenol vs. Hyaluronic Acid

    Hyaluronic acid is another popular ingredient known for its hydrating properties. While both ingredients hydrate the skin, hyaluronic acid works primarily by attracting moisture from the outside, while panthenol retains moisture by penetrating deep into the skin. Both ingredients work well together for optimal hydration.

  • 2. Panthenol vs. Glycerin

    Glycerin is a commonly used humectant in skincare, as is panthenol. Glycerin works by drawing moisture from the environment to the skin, while panthenol is more focused on repairing and strengthening the skin barrier. Together they form a powerful duo to keep the skin optimally hydrated.

  • 3. Panthenol vs. Vitamin E

    Vitamin E is known for its antioxidant properties and is often found in anti-aging products. While vitamin E protects the skin from free radicals and reduces signs of aging, panthenol focuses more on hydration and skin repair. Both ingredients can be used together to protect and hydrate the skin.

How to Incorporate Panthenol into Your Daily Routine?

  • Incorporating panthenol into your daily skin and hair care routine is easy. Here are some tips to get the most out of this versatile ingredient:

  • 1. Choose products with a high panthenol content

    Pay attention to the label and look for products that list panthenol as one of the first five ingredients. This indicates that the ingredient is present in a high enough concentration to be effective.

  • 2. Use panthenol for specific skin problems

    If you suffer from dry, irritated or damaged skin, look for products such as creams, serums or lotions that contain this ingredient for targeted repair.

  • 3. Use it daily for hair

    Choose a shampoo and conditioner that contain panthenol to strengthen and hydrate hair. A hair mask with panthenol can be used weekly for extra nourishment.

  • 4. Men with beards: use it for beard care

    Panthenol is an ingredient that can also be found in beard shampoos .

  • 5. Combine it with other ingredients

    Panthenol works well with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin for maximum hydration, and with antioxidants like vitamin E for skin protection.

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