What Panthenol Does Other Than Hydrating Skin

We have all heard about how B5 gel hydrates. As it turns out, the ingredient in these B5 gel products is actually Panthenol, a natural substance known as pro-vitamin B5, which is a precursor to vitamin B5. What does it actually mean? And what other skin benefits does it provide other than hydrate?

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What is Panthenol?

When a product claims to contain vitamin B5, it actually means Panthenol, which precisely speaking is a pro-vitamin, or precursor, that when applied topically gets converted into vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is present in all living cells and is an essential nutritional component of coenzyme A, which serves as a cofactor for a variety of enzyme-catalyzed reactions that are important in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids, proteins, gluconeogenesis, sterols, steroid hormones, and porphyrins, and therefore, life in general.

When Panthenol is added to a skincare product, typically at a concentration range of 0.5–5% (usually up to 3% for everyday skin care, and 3-5% for healing purposes), it binds and holds on to water and effectively hydrate the skin, thanks to it being a humectant. What many people do not know is that hydration is only one of its many skin benefits.

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Skin Benefits of Panthenol ① Hydrates

As mentioned above, Panthenol is a humectant, which means it attracts water from the atmosphere, pulls it into the skin, and hydrates the stratum corneum. Optimum molecular mass, hydrophilia and low polarity enables its penetration into all layers of the skin, and therefore helps infuse water into cells and retain moisture deep within the tissue.

Moreover, studies have found that Panthenol increases the mobility of lipids and proteins in the stratum corneum, subsequently improving hydration.

TWELVE BEAUTY
Ideal Moisture Level Serum  <- Click to shop

Formulated with various hydrating ingredients, such as Saccharide Isomerate, Panthenol, Glycerin and long-chain Sodium Hyaluronate, as well as prized organic botanicals like White Genepì and Mallow, it helps to provide long-lasting hydration while forming a protective layer on the skin surface to lock in moisture. It also improves the skin's barrier function, soothes irritations, fights free radicals, reduces inflammations, protects against UV rays, and repairs the skin.

KLUR
Immersion Serum Concentrate  <- Click to shop

Besides having a wide range of ultra hydrating ingredients, including Green Tea Water, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Panthenol and Sodium Hyaluronate, the serum is also packed with 3 forms of Peptides to stimulate collagen synthesis and micro-circulation, improve skin barrier and hydration, reduce wrinkles and inflammation, regenerate collagen fibers, and rejuvenate skin. Whilst, Niacinamide, Reishi, Gotu Kola, White Tea and Chamomile etc. are added to brighten, fight free radicals, hydrate and soothe.

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Skin Benefits of Panthenol ② Locks in Moisture & Strengthens Skin Barrier

Different from other humectants like hyaluronic acid, Panthenol is also a emollient by nature. This means it can seal any cracks in the skin to prevent trans-epidermal water loss, and help the skin maintain softness and elasticity.

Although scientists are still learning how exactly it works (potentially because of its role in the enzymatic processes outlined above), Panthenol has also demonstrated the ability in protecting and strengthening the skin barrier, which helps prevent water loss and the growth of bacteria and allergens on the skin, resulting in a reduced chance of clogged pores, acne, and inflammatory issues like redness, itchiness, eczema and dermatitis.

TWELVE BEAUTY
Ultra Revitalising Elixir  <- Click to shop

With a base of rare distilled Mallow, 5% Niacinamide and Panthenol, and ingredients including Saccharide Hydrolysate, Sodium PCA, Saccharide Isomerate, Allantoin, Rice Starch, as well as precious botanicals, this powerful yet gentle formula provides long-lasting hydration, soothes irritations, improves the skin's natural barrier and water retention function, reduces inflammations, fights free radicals, pollution and allergens, whilst brightening and repairing the skin.

EATH LIBRARY
Wise Awakening Advanced Nourishing Toner  <- Click to shop

Besides the brand's patented core brightening complex Face Reactor™ to visibly brighten, even skin tone, and lighten hyperpigmentation, this ultra hydrating Korean medicine-based formula instantly hydrates the skin to help restore skin balance, elasticity, and skin health after cleansing, Whilst, organic ingredients such as Niacinamide, Gotu Kola, Adenosine, Purslane, Houttuynia Cordata, Cynanchum Atratum, Goji Berry, Squalane, and Panthenol etc., provides soothing, calming, detoxing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial actions to the skin, as well as stimulates collagen synthesis to slow signs of aging and smoothes wrinkles. 

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Skin Benefits of Panthenol ③ Anti-Inflammatory & Soothing

Panthenol has been demonstrated in many in vivo and in vitro studies to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Not only does it reduce UV-induced redness, it also greatly reduces skin roughness, cracking and itchiness, especially for people dealing with skin conditions such as dermatitis, irritations, and eczema.

In a study with 483 participants, of which 41.8% had atopic dermatitis, 19.7% had ichthyosis, 9.3% had psoriasis and 9.3% had contact dermatitis, all symptoms improved by over 80% after being treated with panthenol over a 3 to 4-week period.

TWELVE BEAUTY
The London Mask <- Click to shop

With a base of highly moisturizing organic rice, purified kaolin and natural squalane, as well as Comfrey, Mallow, Cucumber, Panthenol and Allantoin, this bestselling mask helps eliminate toxins and impurities, reduces pollution damage, and repairs skin, whilst soothing and softening even the most stressed skin.

TWELVE BEAUTY
Clear Beginning Hand Spray  <- Click to shop

Formulated with 0.1% Benzalkonium Chloride, an ingredient shown to be effective against coronaviruses at 0.05% as recommended by the Singapore Government's National Environment Agency, and deemed eligible by US FDA for use in healthcare personnel hand rubs. This hand sanitizer is also packed with skin-friendly ingredients, such as Squalane, Sodium PCA and Panthenol, to help leave the skin protected while feeling soft and moisturised without any sticky residue, making it the perfect hand sanitizer for those with sensitive, fragile, damaged, eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis skin. Individually lab-tested against bacteria, fungi and yeasts.

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Skin Benefits of Panthenol ④ Speeds Up Wound Healing

For a wound to heal and heal well, the skin needs to start the healing process from the inner layers, and be protected from external stimuli.

Panthenol speeds up cell turnover and stimulates the proliferation of dermal fibroblasts. This is crucial for wound healing, as fibroblasts are what help create structural skin proteins like collagen and elastin, both of which play a major role in proper tissue repair and wound closure.

In addition, Panthenol has been shown to decrease erythema, or skin reddening, when applied to wounds in the top layer of the skin, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. It further supports wound recovery by keeping the skin hydrated, which encourages skin regeneration, and strengthening the skin barrier, which blocks out bacteria and irritants.

In fact, clinical trials have shown that wounds that are treated with panthenol is more elastic and with more solid tissue regeneration and less scarring, making it a great ingredient to treat wounds resulted from scratches, acne, sunburns, cuts etc.

KLUR
Supreme Seed Delicate Purification Mask <- Click to shop

Formulated with Kaolin, Papaya Extract, Wild Cherry Bark, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice and Green Tea Leaf Water, it gently purifies and decongests to improve clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, and acne. Together with soothing and balancing Panthenol, Gotu Kola, Kelp, Ginkgo, Calendula, and Cacao amongst other botanicals, as well as nourishing oils, it also helps calm, soothe, and improve the appearance of redness and irritation.

TWELVE BEAUTY
Ideal Rebalancing Level Serum <- Click to shop

Enriched with hydrating ingredients like Saccharide Isomerate and Panthenol, as well as prized organic botanicals like Willowherb, White Genepì and Mallow, it helps to provide long-lasting hydration while forming a protective layer on the skin surface to lock in moisture. It also decreases sebum production, reduces pore sizes, soothes irritations, fights free radicals, reduces inflammations, repairs the skin and minimizes scars forming from acne.

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Skin Benefits of Panthenol ⑤ Reduces Wrinkles

Wrinkles form from the middle layer of the skin. By stimulating the proliferation of fibroblasts, which are what help create structural skin proteins like collagen, elastin and glycans, as well as downregulating inflammations that can lead to and accelerate the breakdown of collagen and elastin, Panthenol can help improve wrinkles and fine lines over time.

TWELVE BEAUTY
Rapid Eye Treatment  <- Click to shop

With ingredients such as Rice Peptides, Soybean Peptides, Panthenol, Superoxide Dismutase, as well as Butterfly Bush, Mallow, Masterwort, and White Genepì, the natural peptides and nutritional antioxidants in this lightweight eye cream prevent collagen and elastin breakdown, protect against UV-induced damages, brighten, reduce hyperpigmentation, fight free radicals, and activate microcirculation to decrease dark circles, under-eye bags and puffiness.

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