5 Benefits of Vitamin B for Healthy-looking, Radiant Skin

Learn the effects of Vitamin B, the benefits of Panthenol and other B Vitamins for your skin and their role in NIVEA skincare products.

What's in this article:

Read Time: 5 minutes

What is Vitamin B?
What is Panthenol?
Advantages of Vitamin B for Your Body
Facts Overview
5 Benefits of Vitamin B for the Skin
Skincare Products with Vitamin B
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions

5 Vitamin B Benefits for Healthy-looking, Radiant Skin & Body

Read our guide for everything you need to know about Vitamin B, their benefits, and how you can incorporate it into your skincare routine. Whether you’re looking to nourish, soothe, or support your skin, Vitamin B can be a helpful addition to your daily care.

Where is Vitamin B found?

What is Vitamin B?

Vitamin B isn’t just one Vitamin, it’s a group of water-soluble Vitamins that play an essential role in keeping your body and skin healthy. There are 8 different types of Vitamin B, each with its own unique benefits. The body does not store them, so they need to be replaced daily to maintain energy levels, support cell repair, and keep skin looking and feeling its best.

B1 (Thiamine):

Found in whole grains, nuts, brown rice, poultry, and pork.

B2 (Riboflavin):

Commonly found in eggs, organ meats, dairy, and lean meats.

B3 (Niacin/Niacinamide):

Present in meat, fish, nuts, and whole grains.

B5 (Pantothenic Acid):

Found in beef, poultry, seafood, eggs, and vegetables.

B6 (Pyridoxine):

Found in fish, beef, potatoes, and fortified cereals.

B7 (Biotin):

Present in eggs, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens.

B9 (Folate/Folic Acid):

Found in leafy greens, citrus fruits, and fortified foods.

B12 (Cobalamin):

Present in fish, meat, dairy, and eggs.

These are some common sources of each Vitamin B, but they are not exhaustive. A balanced diet can provide a variety of foods that contribute to your daily Vitamin B intake, helping to support overall skin health from within.

What is Panthenol?

Panthenol, or Provitamin B5, is a precursor to Vitamin B5 often used in skincare. This means that it is converted into Vitamin B5 in the skin. It’s highly moisturising and helps soothe irritated skin, making it a popular ingredient in creams, lotions, and serums. It can help to improve the skin barrier, supports the skin's natural healing process and hydrates the skin.

Advantages of Vitamin B for Your Body

Vitamin B plays a key role in overall body health. These B Vitamins help convert food into energy, keeping you feeling active and alert throughout the day. For instance, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) supports energy production and helps your body function efficiently, while B2 (Riboflavin) aids metabolism.

Beyond energy, B Vitamins are involved in cell renewal and red blood cell production, which are crucial for tissue growth and repair. Vitamin B6, for example, supports hormone balance, while B12 (Cobalamin) is used to make and support healthy red blood cells. Biotin (B7) is well-known for strengthening hair and nails,and Folate (B9) supports DNA synthesis and healthy cell development.

By maintaining these internal processes, Vitamin B helps ensure your body and by extension your skin, hair, and nails - stay strong, healthy, and radiant.

What is Vitamin B’s Role in Skincare?

Vitamin B isn’t just essential for your body – it plays a key role in helping to support healthy, radiant skin. For instance, if your skin feels dry, or looks dull, Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) can boost cell turnover and encourage skin regeneration, leaving your skin looking brighter and more even.

While Vitamin B5 (used in the form of panthenol, a precursor of Vitamin B5), helps to soothe and moisturise, keeping skin soft and comfortable. Together, B Vitamins can help maintain a healthy skin barrier, improve texture, and enhance your skin’s natural resilience.

Is Vitamin B Good for the Skin?

Facts Overview

Types of Vitamin B: The Vitamin B complex includes eight Vitamins, with B3 (Niacinamide), B5 (Panthenol), and B9 (Folic Acid) offering the most notable skincare benefits.

Vitamin B Benefits: Vitamin B, obtained through a balanced diet, is essential for the optimal functioning of the body, such as cell development, particularly in the skin, hair and nails.

Vitamin B in Skincare: Commonly present in creams, serums, and deodorants, the effects of B vitamins on the skin will vary depending on their nature: hydration, soothing, strengthening the skin barrier, with the aim of targeting dryness, feelings of irritation and uneven skin texture.

Vitamin B: What does it help with?

5 Benefits of Vitamin B for the Skin

1. Hydration and Moisture Retention

Panthenol (Vitamin B5), can help the skin retain moisture making it ideal for dry or sensitive skin. It strengthens the skin’s natural water-holding capacity, leaving skin feeling soft, smooth, and comfortable while helping to prevent flakiness or tightness.

2. Strengthening the Skin Barrier

B3 (Niacinamide) supports the skin’s natural barrier, helping to protect against environmental stressors like pollution and UV exposure. By reducing moisture loss, it keeps the skin hydrated and resilient, improving overall texture and comfort.

3. Promoting Skin Cell Renewal

Vitamin B9 (Folate) encourages skin cell regeneration, supporting a healthier, more radiant complexion. It helps the skin repair itself naturally, promoting a smoother surface and more even skin tone over time.

4. Balancing Skin and Reducing Irritation

Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) and B5 (Panthenol) help calm redness, regulate sebum production, and maintain a balanced complexion. These Vitamins are particularly helpful for blemish-prone or sensitive skin, supporting a calmer, clearer, and more even appearance.

5. Supporting Overall Skin Health

Regular use of Vitamin B in skincare products can help support long-term skin health by maintaining smooth, nourished, and resilient skin. By strengthening the skin’s natural barrier, improving moisture retention, and promoting cell renewal, Vitamin B helps the skin stay balanced, more resistant to daily stressors, and better able to recover from dryness, irritation, or early signs of ageing.

Caution: Even if a product includes a form of Vitamin B in its formula, it doesn't imply that the product exhibits all the benefits listed above - these will depend on various factors such as the formulation and the concentration of Vitamin B. Please see the packaging instructions to know the effects of the specific product that you use.

Vitamin B for the Skin

Skincare Products with Vitamin B

Vitamin B can be found in a wide range of skincare products, from creams and serums to deodorants, making it easy to include in your daily routine. Different forms of Vitamin B offer targeted care, helping with concerns like dryness, sensitivity, blemishes, and even early signs of ageing. Explore how each one works and the benefits they bring.

Vitamin B5 for Nourished, Healthy Skin

In skincare, Vitamin B5 is generally used in the form of panthenol or provitamin B5, a precursor to vitamin B5 that is converted into vitamin B5 in the skin. Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) is well known for its ability to soothe, hydrate, and support the skin’s natural barrier, making it an essential ingredient for dry or irritated skin.

The NIVEA Repair & Care Lotion combines the soothing power of Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) with Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) to strengthen your skin barrier. Its 3x effect - repairing, protecting, and nourishing - helps calm itchy or irritated skin while supporting a healthy, resilient look. Non-greasy and quick absorbing, this intensive lotion provides 72 hours of moisture and delivers dermatologically approved care for soft, comfortable, and well-protected skin.

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NIVEA Expert Filler Intensive Anti-Age Day Cream SPF 15

Vitamin B9 for Anti-Ageing

Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) is known for promoting cell turnover, making it a key ingredient in any anti-ageing skincare routine. The NIVEA Cellular Expert Filler range includes everything from luxurious day and night creams to a re-plumping serum and a targeted eye and lip contour cream - all enriched with Vitamin B9 to help boost Collagen and restore firmness.

For targeted care, try the NIVEA Expert Filler Intensive Anti-Age Day Cream SPF 15. Combining Micro & Macro Hyaluronic Acid with Vitamin B9, it smooths wrinkles, intensely hydrates, and promotes plumper, firmer skin. With added SPF 15 and UVA protection to protect against UVA and UVB protection, it helps prevent premature ageing and UV damage, leaving skin looking younger, feeling firmer, and staying protected throughout the day.

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Vitamin B3 for Blemish-Prone Skin

Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) is particularly effective at helping to reduce blemished skin, by restoring the skin’s natural barrier whilst also soothing the skin. The NIVEA Derma Skin Clear range combines the power of Niacinamide with targeted formulas - like an anti-blemish scrub, a clarifying toner, and a deeply cleansing wash gel - to help unclog pores and help reduce the appearance of blemishes, all without drying out the skin.

To regain control over stressed or blemish-prone skin, try the NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Rebalance & Clear Serum. Enriched with Niacinamide and Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol), it helps strengthen the skin barrier, soothe irritation, and helps hydrate for a healthy-looking complexion.

The NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Rebalance & Clear Serum also targets blemishes, helping to reduce their appearance, offering clearer skin and tighter pores in just 7 days*. Dermatologically approved for skin compatibility, it helps your skin feel calmer, clearer, and more resilient.

^{*Clinically tested for efficacy}

Explore NIVEA Derma Skin Clear

NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Rebalance & Clear Serum

Vitamin B5 for Smooth, Comfortable Underarms

Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) is ideal for soothing and nourishing delicate skin, helping to keep it soft, comfortable, and resilient. It works particularly well in areas prone to irritation, such as freshly shaved underarms, where moisture and protection are essential.

NIVEA Derma Control Defend antiperspirant deodorants combine Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) with pure Hyaluronic Acid to protect against irritation caused by shaving or rubbing and soothe itching sensations, leaving your underarms feeling healthy. Offering up to 72 hours* of reliable protection against sweat and odour, these deodorants are available as sprays or roll-ons in formulas that have been dermatologically tested for skin tolerance. Dermatologically proven, they help keep your underarms soft, refreshed and comfortable.

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Summary

Vitamin B is a group of essential water-soluble Vitamins that support overall health and help keep skin healthy and radiant. Each type plays a unique role, from promoting cell renewal to soothing irritation and strengthening the skin barrier.

Look for skincare with B3 (Niacinamide), Provitamin B5 (Panthenol), or B9 (Folic Acid) to keep your skin healthy-looking and balanced. These ingredients work to hydrate, smooth texture, and reduce issues like dryness, blemishes, and the first signs of ageing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vitamin B good for the skin?

Yes. Vitamin B is essential for the functioning of all cells in the body, including skin cells. Used in skin care, depending on their nature, they can, for example: supports a healthy skin barrier, improves hydration, and can help with concerns such as dryness, irritation, and uneven texture.

Which Vitamin B is best for skin?

It depends on your skin needs. B3 (Niacinamide) helps refine pores and even tone, Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) soothes and hydrates, and B9 (Folic Acid) supports cell renewal.

What does Panthenol do in skincare?

Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) helps to soothe, hydrate, and strengthen the skin barrier, leaving skin soft and comfortable.

Is Vitamin B3 or B5 better for skin?

Both offer benefits. B3 helps reduce blemishes and improve skin tone, while B5 is ideal for calming and deeply hydrating the skin.

Is Vitamin B the same as Hyaluronic Acid?

No. Vitamin B refers to a group of Vitamins with various skin benefits, while Hyaluronic Acid is a hydrating molecule that helps the skin retain moisture.

Is Niacinamide a Vitamin B3 or B5?

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3, known for helping to refine pores, improve skin texture, and strengthen the skin barrier.

What does Vitamin B help with?

Vitamin B is essential for the body to function properly and are generally obtained through diet. Their benefits can vary depending on the type of B vitamin and whether they are taken orally or applied to the skin. In skincare, vitamins can have some of the following effects: can support hydration, calm irritation, improve texture, and strengthen the skin’s natural defences.