Panthenol is derived from vitamin B5, also know as Pantothenic Acid. In cosmetics and personal care products, Panthenol and Pantothenic Acid can be found in moisturizers, skin care products, hair conditioners, shampoos, wave sets, and hair sprays, as well as in makeup products such as eye shadow, lipstick and mascara.
The safety of Panthenol and Pantothenic Acid has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Panthenol and Pantothenic Acid were safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products. In 2004, the CIR Expert Panel considered available new data on Panthenol and reaffirmed the above conclusion.CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel reviewed studies that found that products containing Panthenol did not induce significant skin irritation or sensitization. Significant skin irritation was also not observed with 100% Panthenol. Based on ultraviolet light absorption data, the CIR Expert Panel did not considere Panthenol or Pantothenic Acid to be photoirritants or photosensitizers.
Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity data were not available for the safety assessment of Panthenol and Pantothenic Acid. The low concentrations of use of these ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products and the requirement of vitamin B5 for normal metabolism, suggested that the dietary exposure levels of this ingredient would greatly exceed the amount that could be absorbed from cosmetic use. A salt of Pantothenic Acid, calcium pantothenate, did not cause developmental effects.
FDA: Link to Code of Federal Regulations for D-Pantothenyl Alcohol and calcium pantothenate
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
Panthenol and Pantothenic Acid may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/html/consolidated_d...