Can you use retinol with panthenol?
The chemistry
Retinol improves fine wrinkles and skin texture over months but commonly causes dryness and flaking at first (Kafi 2007). Panthenol, also called dexpanthenol or pro-vitamin B5, is a humectant that the skin converts to pantothenic acid. A review of decades of use describes moisturizing, barrier-supporting and irritation-reducing effects (Proksch 2017), and it is widely used to help skin recover after procedures (Gorski 2020). It does not exfoliate, so it adds comfort rather than irritation.
Soothing
Panthenol supports the barrier during retinol.
Order
Retinol first on dry skin, panthenol after.
Daily
Panthenol is fine morning and night.
Common mistakes
Panthenol shows up in serums, moisturizers and balms, often alongside ceramides. When you start retinol, apply it to dry skin and follow with a panthenol cream, or use a richer panthenol balm on dry patches around the nose and mouth. If you get very irritated, a short break from retinol with panthenol alone usually settles things in a few days. Panthenol is also handy in the morning under sunscreen. Allergy is rare, but possible, as with any ingredient. For people who have struggled with retinol before, panthenol is part of a simple tolerance plan: retinol on two or three nights a week, a panthenol and ceramide moisturizer every night, and a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser. Once a few weeks pass without flaking, add a retinol night. If redness appears, hold at the current frequency instead of pushing forward. Panthenol is also helpful in winter, when retinol dryness tends to get worse, and after shaving or waxing, when you should pause retinol for a few days and keep panthenol going on its own.
Your routine
Morning
- Gentle cleanser
- Panthenol serum or moisturizer
- Sunscreen SPF 30+
Evening
- Cleanser
- Retinol
- Panthenol cream
Sample week
Panthenol daily; build retinol up from a few nights a week if you are new to it.
Go slower if
Avoid retinoids in pregnancy unless your doctor approves. Stop if you get a rash.
Evidence strength
Strong for retinol (Kafi 2007). Moderate for panthenol's barrier and soothing effects (Proksch 2017; Gorski 2020). No trial of this exact pairing.
Products with retinol or panthenol
The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane
Picked for retinol
Same squalane base as the 0.5%, with retinol stepped up to 1%.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Gel B5
Picked for panthenol
A lighter gel with panthenol and glycerin.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)FAQ
Can I mix panthenol with retinol in my hand?
Yes, though layering after retinol is simpler.
Will panthenol stop retinol peeling?
It can reduce dryness but may not stop it completely.
Is panthenol okay in the morning?
Yes.
Is panthenol the same as vitamin B5?
It is converted to vitamin B5 in the skin.
Is it good for sensitive skin?
Usually, yes.
Should I stop retinol if my skin peels?
Take a night or two off, keep using panthenol and moisturizer, then restart at a lower frequency.
Can panthenol go under retinol instead?
Yes, buffering with a moisturizer first can reduce irritation, though it may slightly reduce how much retinol reaches the skin.
Related combinations
- Vitamin CYes, with timing
- NiacinamideYes
- TretinoinNo, not together
- Salicylic AcidYes, with timing
- Hyaluronic AcidYes
- Glycolic AcidYes, with timing
- Benzoyl PeroxideYes, with timing
- SunscreenYes
Sources
- Kafi R, et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Arch Dermatol. 2007;143(5):606-612.
- Proksch E, et al. Topical use of dexpanthenol: a 70th anniversary article. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017;28(8):766-773.
- Gorski J, et al. Dexpanthenol in wound healing after medical and cosmetic interventions (postprocedure wound healing). Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020;13(7).
- Bozzo P, Chua-Gocheco A, Einarson A. Safety of skin care products during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):665-667.
Related guides
Two products that cover both
- The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane + The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5Yes
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 + The Ordinary Retinol 1% in SqualaneYes