What Is Vitamin B5 and Why Is It Used in Skincare?

Using vitamin-rich skincare products can help you achieve glowy, youthful looking skin that feels supple. You’ve probably heard of vitamin A (hi, retinol) and vitamin C, but what about vitamin B5? You may have come across B5, sometimes listed as pro-vitamin B5, on the label of your skincare products. This nourishing ingredient is known to restore elasticity and retain moisture. Ahead, we spoke with Dr. DiAnne Davis, a dermatologist and Skinceuticals partner, about the ingredient and the products she recommends to incorporate it into your skincare routine.

What Is Vitamin B5?

B5 is a nutrient naturally found in salmon, avocados, sunflower seeds and more. “It’s also known as pantothetic acid and is a water-soluble vitamin from the B group of vitamins,” says Dr. Davis. You also may recognize the ingredient “panthenol” or “pro vitamin B5” in relation to B5. “Panthenol is the provitamin, or precursor, that the body converts into vitamin B5 when it’s applied topically to the skin.” 

Why Is Vitamin B5 Important in Skincare?

According to Dr. Davis, vitamin B5 is beneficial for surface cell turnover and helps restore skin elasticity. This means that it may help visibly reduce wrinkles, add firmness to the skin and help address skin dullness. But the benefits don’t stop there. “B5 can bind to and hold water in the skin to help with moisturizing properties,” Dr. Davis adds. This means that it can also help the skin retain moisture to combat dryness, and keep redness at bay, promoting a more-even toned, hydrated and youthful-looking complexion. 

Where Can You Find Vitamin B5, and Who Should Use It?

Vitamin B5 is commonly found in hydrating moisturizers and serums. Dr. Davis notes that all skin types can benefit from B5, but it’s especially helpful for those with dry skin because it acts as a magnet for moisture. 

How to Incorporate B5 Into Your Routine

There are a few different ways to incorporate B5 into your skincare routine, whether it be in moisturizer, mask or serum form.

The SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is a serum that can be used once or twice daily. It has a silky finish that helps revitalize and moisturize the skin. To use, apply it after your cleanser and serum but before your moisturizer and sunscreen in the morning. At night, apply it before moisturizer.

For a mask, try the Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Mask, an intensely hydrating gel formula for dehydrated skin. It has a mix of hyaluronic acid and B5 to re-establish water balance in the skin and leave you looking and feeling dewy and smooth.

If you want to incorporate B5 on other areas of your skin that appear dry, flaky or irritated, opt for the La-Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Soothing Therapeutic Multi Purpose Cream. Formulated with ingredients such as B5 and dimethicone, the cream helps soothe dry, rough skin and makes your skin’s overall appearance tighter and firmer. 

Vitamin B5 plays well with most other ingredients and can also be layered with other humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, Dr. Davis says. 

Design: Hannah Packer