Ingredient

PANTHENOL

Name / description

Panthenol; Dexpanthenol, D-Panthenol, Pantothenyl Alcohol, Pantothenol

Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTISTATIC

Reduces electrostatic charges (eg of the hair)

HAIR CONDITIONING

Leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and / or imparts volume

SKIN CONDITIONING

Maintains the skin in good condition

Origin

synthetic

Occurrence in cosmetics

Creams, lotions, lip care products, sunscreens, haircare products

Occurrence in other products

Medicinal products and medical devices for wound healing support or vitamin supplement

Background information on use in cosmetics

Dexpanthenol (INCI: PANTHENOL) is the precursor of a B vitamin and is also referred to as provitamin B5. This is a viscous, colourless, slightly sticky substance with a discreet characteristic odour. Panthenol is easily solvable in water and alcohol. The provitamin has a very good skin tolerance, and has humectant, skin smoothing as well as regenerative properties. Moreover, the substance supports the protective barrier function of the skin and improves its elasticity. Panthenol is usually used in caring cosmetic products such as creams, lotions, lip care products, sunscreens and haircare products. In haircare products panthenol supports the regeneration of the moisture balance and the strengthening of the hair. Panthenol is also well suited for products for sensitive skin. Since panthenol supports the new cell formation of the skin after injuries, it is also used in medical creams, for instance, to treat sunburns and minor injuries: skin reddening is relieved and itching is reduced.

Further information

For the clarification of a suspicion of a contact allergy this substance can be routinely tested in the epicutaneous test at the dermatologist.

Belongs to the following substance groups

Haircare substances / Conditioning agents

Ingredients for skincare

Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.

Understanding your cosmetics

How are cosmetics kept safe in Europe?

Strict laws make sure that cosmetics and personal care products sold in the European Union are safe for people to use. Companies, national and European regulatory authorities share the responsibility of keeping cosmetic products safe.

What should I know about endocrine disruptors?

Some ingredients used in cosmetic products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic some of the properties of our hormones. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt our endocrine system. Many substances, including natural ones, mimic hormones but very few, and these are mostly potent medicines, have ever been shown to cause disruption of the endocrine system. The rigorous product safety assessments by qualified, scientific experts that companies are legally obliged to carry out cover all potential risks, including potential endocrine disruption.

Are cosmetics tested on animals? No!

In the European Union, testing cosmetics on animals has been fully banned since 2013. Over the last 30 years, long before a ban was in place, the cosmetics and personal care industry has invested in research and development to pioneer alternatives to animal testing tools to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and products.

What about allergens in cosmetics?

Many substances, natural or man-made, have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Cosmetics and personal care products may contain ingredients that can be allergenic for some people. This does not mean that the product is not safe for others to use.

Database

Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.

In the digital world we live in, there’s a deluge of information on cosmetics. However, it can be difficult to know which sources are reliable. COSMILE Europe is a European cosmetic ingredient database that offers reliable, verified and scientifically supported information on almost 30,000 ingredients used in cosmetics.

This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.

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