Panthenol is an essential ingredient for me, must-have in my skincare routine, especially for restoring my skin barrier.
Did you know that when your skin barrier is strong and your skin is well-hydrated, it may also help to decrease acne breakouts?
This is what helped me with my acne!
In this article I’m gonna explain how panthenol can help fix your damaged skin barrier, and help you choose the best Korean panthenol moisturizer for your skin type!
PRO TIP: If you’re struggling with skin dryness, make sure to check out my list of the best Korean moisturizers for dry skin!
Benefits Of Panthenol – What It Does For Your Skin?
According to studies panthenol has tons of benefits for the skin and strong skin barrier:
- It reduces transepidermal water loss1
- It has lasting effects on barrier function and skin hydration level2
- Repairs skin barrier
- Reduces redness in sensitive skin
- Can reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation3
- Soothes irritated skin
- Reduces skin roughness
- Promotes wound healing
- Panthenol also stimulates collagen production4
Comparison Of Panthenol Creams: Purito vs. Some By Mi vs. Axis-Y
I chose 3 Korean panthenol moisturizers which are still not that super popular!
Each has different texture and a bit different ingredient list.
Let’s find out which one will suit you skin type best.
1. Purito Panthenol Re-Barrier Cream
Ingredients:
- 10% panthenol
- Centella is the main ingredient
- Other ingredients include squalane, niacinamide, copper peptide
From those 3 options this one has the shortest and most minimalist ingredients list which makes it perfect for sensitive skin.
It has never clogged my pores, and has always been safe for my acne-prone skin.
Texture:
It is lightweight as a cloud! It absorbs easily and doesn’t feel heavy on my skin, doesn’t leave any sticky or greasy residue.
It gives my skin natural healthy glow, but without making it too shiny.
My experience with Purito Panthenol Cream:
It always worked extremely well at restoring my skin barrier, never caused stinging even on broken skin. It’s extremely soothing and reduces my redness (both from acne and rosacea).
It is best for:
👉 All skin types, including oily skin, and dry/sensitive skin/ broken skin barrier.
👉 For my dry skin it was enough during winter, but I know some folks with extremely dry skin find it a bit too light in cold temperatures.
👉 It’s the only cream from these 3 that I’d recommend for acne skin (prone to breakouts).
2. Some By Mi Panthenol
Ingredients:
- 5% panthenol
- Purified water is the main ingredient
- Other ingredients include squalane, Beta-Sitosterol, some fermented ingredients, sunflower oil, many peptides, shea butter
It does contain a few “heavier ingredients” that may clog pores if your skin is prone to breakouts, so start slowly with it and observe how your skin reacts to it.
Thankfully I never experienced any clogged pores or breakouts from it!
Texture:
It is very creamy, way richer than the Purito cream.
It was my second panthenol cream that I tried (after Purito), and its texture felt quite thick for me. Now that I can also compare it to Axis-Y panthenol cream, I would say it is actually moderate!
When I apply it I can definitely feel it on top of my skin, but the skin is not “suffocating”. Full absorption takes some time.
It has a dewy finish that stays for longer time which can make it not that of a good choice for oily skin type.
My experience with Some By Mi Panthenol Cream:
It feels super hydrating and makes my skin silky soft.
I also used it for hands – it provides long-lasting moisturizing effect and it actually helped to heal my chapped hands.
It is best for:
👉 Very dry/dehydrated skin and sensitive skin with disrupted barrier.
❌ Because of fermented ingredients it is NOT fungal acne-safe.
❌ It may feel a bit too heavy for oily skin type.
3. AXIS-Y Panthenol Cream
Ingredients:
- 10% panthenol
- Water is the main ingredient
- Other ingredients include: squalane, Centella, Beta-Sitosterol, Ceramide NP
It also contains some ingredients that potentially could clog pores – keep this in mind if your skin is acne type or prone to breakouts/clogged pores.
Texture:
It is way richer than Purito cream and a bit more thicker than Some By Mi moisturizer.
However, it doesn’t feel heavy at all and when you apply it on your skin kinda starts to melt, and becomes lighter, if that makes sense.
It absorbs quickly, but at first you can feel this creamy layer and it kinda sits on top of the skin, but when it fully sinks in you don’t really feel it anymore.
It has neutral finish and doesn’t make the face shiny.
My experience with AXIS-Y Panthenol Cream:
It softens and calms my skin, plus it helps to reduce redness, so it makes the skin look more even.
It is best for:
👉 Dry/normal/combo/oily skin.
❌ It is not fungal acne-safe.
Final Verdict: What Is The Best Korean Cream With Panthenol?
My personal favorite is Purito cream! It’s texture is most lightweight from this trio and it has the most simple ingredients list, so it works really well for my sensitive and acne prone skin.
It always gives me the right amount of hydration, even in cold weather. At the same time, it’s light enough for summer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Panthenol
Here’s a little FAQ about panthenol, if you’re still unsure whether to include it in your skincare regimen.
Can I Use Panthenol On My Face Everyday?
Yes, panthenol is safe to be used on your face everyday5.
As with any other skincare ingredient, patch test first to exclude potential allergy.
Is Panthenol Better Than Hyaluronic Acid?
In general, panthenol acts as both a humectant (so it attracts and binds water) and an emollient (it seals that moisture into the skin)6. On the other hand, hyaluronic acid is only a humectant. This means panthenol is better and more powerful than hyaluronic acid in terms of hydration and moisturizing the skin.
Speaking from my experience, yes – panthenol is better than hyaluronic acid. For my skin it has more intense hydrating effects and soothes skin irritation way better.
But keep in mind the effects also depend on your skin type, and what you skin likes. Mine just doesn’t show huge effects from using HA.
Is Panthenol Good For Acne?
Panthenol is good for acne in a specific way: it strengthens your epidermis (outermost layer of the skin) and heals compromised skin barrier, which often is a reason for breakouts. This way it can reduce acne breakouts7.
It also has anti-inflammatory effects and helps to heal blemishes and avoid post-acne marks.
Does Panthenol Clog Pores?
No, panthenol doesn’t clog pores.
How Long Does Panthenol Take To Work?
You can start seeing improvement in hydration and your skin barrier health even within a week or two. But usually it take 4 weeks + for panthenol to work.
Is Panthenol Good For Hyperpigmentation?
Yes, panthenol is good for hyperpigmentation, at least for reducing one type of it: the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation8.
Is Panthenol Anti-Aging?
Panthenol is anti-aging in a sense it smoothens the skin and boosts skin’s hydration9 – and dehydrated skin can be one of the reasons for premature signs of aging and visible fine lines.
Aging skin tends to get dry or even dehydrated and needs a lot of hydration. And this is where panthenol helps10!
What Percentage Of Panthenol Is Good?
Studies show that products with even 1%-5% panthenol are already effective11. You can also find on the market cream with 10% panthenol, and serums with even up to 30% panthenol.
Does Panthenol Repair Skin?
Yes, panthenol promotes skin repair. It helps the skin barrier to heal by hydrating the epidermis and locking in the moisture.
It improves ksin hydration and elasticity, plus has anti-inflammatory effects, reduces skin roughness, dryness, itching and redness12.
Does Panthenol Have Side Effects?
It is extremely rare to have bad reaction to panthenol and experience its side effects. If it happens, it looks like a contact dermatitis. Allergy to panthenol is also a rare thing.
In general there are no significant evidence from scientific research that panthenol used topically causes side effects like systemic problems13.
*I received Axis-Y cream for free as a part of YesStyle Influencer program, the other two creams I purchased myself. All opinions are as always based on my own experience!
The purpose of this article is informative and entertaining. It’s not a substitute for medical consultation or medical care. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here. Safety should be your priority.
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Resources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
- https://www.researchgate.net/
- https://www.webmd.com/
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/
- https://www.byrdie.com/
- https://www.theestablished.com/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/
