Panthenol

Panthenol, or pro vitamin B5, earns its place in skincare as a humectant, an ingredient that attracts and holds onto moisture. Once it's absorbed, skin converts it into pantothenic acid, a compound the body already makes on its own.

Even at a concentration as low as 1%, studies show panthenol quickly increases skin hydration and slows transepidermal water loss, the rate at which moisture evaporates through the skin's surface, leaving skin feeling smoother and more supple. At slightly higher concentrations, between 1% and 5%, it also supports healing, reinforces the skin barrier, and may calm the redness that comes with sensitive skin, all without feeling drying or heavy.