Living in the midst of a worldwide pandemic has definitely made most people start reading up on different ways to boost their immune systems. We all seem to be looking for ways to improve our overall health in an attempt to prevent and fight off illnesses. And, undoubtedly, with that goal in mind comes more internet searches about vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, homeopathic tips for wellness, and so on and so forth. Maybe overall that's not necessarily a bad thing.
One thing is for sure though, we spend way more time focusing on trying to make our insides healthy than we do protecting, preventing and repairing our most important organ on the outside: our skin.
Yes, our skin! And, yes, it’s an organ; in fact it’s our body's largest organ, and we sometimes fail in nurturing it and protecting it the way we do other organs.
With that in mind we are going to dissect a super vitamin that not only is a mega force for helping your body on the inside, but it also provides many benefits to the biological structure that stares back at us in the mirror everyday.
Enter Vitamin B5, also commonly referred to as provitamin B5, pantothenic acid, panthenol, d-panthenol, dexpanthenol or dl-panthenol.
Wow, seriously, that's a lot of names. And, now that you know them, you might even recognize them from some of the ingredient labels on products you already have at home.
So, what is vitamin B5? What are the skin benefits? And, what products have it? Read on for those answers and more!
What is Vitamin B5?
Vitamin B5, belonging to the B group of vitamins, is one of the most important vitamins your body needs to maintain a perfect kilter. It is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it dissolves in water and is not actually stored in your body. It does many things for your insides like helps make new blood cells, and converts protein, fats, and carbohydrates into energy which is obviously very important. It also helps to further and maintain healthy looking skin, hair, eye function and a healthy liver.
Nearly all foods contain Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, which is good because it means people are rarely deficient in the vitamin. It also can help the body maintain adequate digestion, and can help the body naturally disperse and use other vitamins properly. It also plays a role in the formation of certain hormones, and can be taken orally to provide really holistic health support.
What we are really concerned with is the topical form and application of panthenol. When used cosmetically in skin care products, Vitamin B5 has been shown to help both hydrate and nourish to help combat irritation as well as provide for a smoother, clearer complexion.
Moisturizing Benefits
Vitamin B5, or panthenol, is a natural humectant.
A humectant is basically a substance that’s main job is to keep things moist. Vitamin B5 does this by preventing the epidermis of the skin from losing water.
This aids in keeping your skin from drying out and looking flaky or dehydrated, which are characteristics of premature aging skin. Nobody wants that. Also, the addition of this nutrient helps your skin appear smoother and more pliable, basically maintaining the elastic look of youthful skin. Most importantly it is an A student at upholding the skin barrier.
Now that you know this, look at the ingredients on the bottle of moisturizer you use daily. Does it have vitamin B5 or panthenol? If not, consider switching to a moisturizing product that contains the mega moisturizing nutrient.
One great product that combines the powerful humectant panthenol with a super antioxidant for maximum skin benefits is goPure Beauty’s Vitamin C Deep Hydration Moisturizer. By using a combination of vitamins C and B together in your skin care routine, you will achieve lasting hydration while also brightening your skin with the powerful antioxidant properties found in Vitamin C, which can also help protect your skin against environmental stressors that can cause premature aging.
Acne, Scars, and Dark Spots
To achieve healthier looking skin, vitamin B5 can be applied topically in natural skin care products, or it can be taken as a supplement. When applied topically, it has been shown to reduce the number of blemishes and marks caused by acne.
Additionally, vitamin B5 can help minimize the appearance of dark spots, a true sign of age when it comes to skin health.
Not only does it help protect from the environmental stressors that can contribute to dark spots in the first place, but it can also brighten your overall complexion and even out tone, especially in conjunction with vitamin C.
Anti-Aging Attributes
Collagen proteins act as building blocks and give your skin structure, while also providing strength and pliancy. When we lose collagen naturally as we age we start to notice things like fine lines and wrinkles. Elastin, in turn, also provides structure and stretch to the skin and tight appearance, when we lose it our faces inevitably start to show it with sagging skin and a loss of firmness.
Luckily we can help our skin by topically applying products with panthenol, as panthenol can work to rejuvenate your skin and bring back the firm, youthful texture that can start to disappear as your body naturally decreases its production of collagen as elastin with age.
The Rundown
If you are dealing with skin issues and having no luck finding a brand that lives up to its promises for brighter, more even looking skin, you should definitely consider trying a product that contains vitamin B5, or panthenol. It’s clear to see there are many benefits, whether topically applying the vitamin in a daily moisturizer or serum.
Note that you’ll not likely find a product with vitamin B5 in the starring role--it’s most commonly a supporting actor to help enhance the effects of ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid. One example is using it in combination with the powerful effects of retinoids in a product like goPure Retinol Cream to protect, repair and replenish your skin.
Thankfully, you’ll find vitamin B5 as a helpful aid across almost all of our skin hydrating products, ranging from our serums to our moisturizers to even our exfoliators--vitamin B5 is there to provide just a little extra moisturization to help get the job done, along with all of the other natural, botanically-derived ingredients you’ll find in every product we make. We’re also proud to say that not only do our products use high quality, natural ingredients, but they do so at an affordable price, and are always vegan and cruelty free. A majority of our products are also unscented--we will never use artificial fragrances. Though, you may get some earthy or floral undertones due to the natural ingredients included in every drop!
You may also consider taking a supplement, or adding foods like salmon, broccoli, avocado, or dairy products which contain high amounts of vitamin B5 to your diet. Hopefully, overtime you will be happy with the noticeable results you get from adding that extra dose of Vitamin B5 to your diet or skin care routine!
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-watch-what-does-b5-do
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-853/pantothenic-acid-vitamin-b5
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/219601
https://www.byrdie.com/panthenol-for-skin-the-complete-guide-4770218https://www.britannica.com/science/fibroblast
