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Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
Thinking about adding an eye cream to your daily skincare roster? According to Diane Madfes, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist, eye cream can help with anything from crepey skin and fine lines to dark circles and under-eye bags. But if you've got a reactive complexion, it's understandable to be a little wary about introducing a new formula.
As Dr. Madfes notes, the eye area is delicate and sensitive, regardless of skin type. With this in mind, she says, "It's important to use products that have been specifically tested for tolerability and for use in the eye area."
And with the right formula, folks with sensitive skin can reap all the benefits without irritation. Licensed esthetician Dana Murray recommends avoiding products with alcohol or added fragrance and looking for soothing ingredients, like chamomile, aloe, green tea, and cucumber extract.
To find the best eye creams for sensitive skin, we conducted hours of research—evaluating the highest rated options based on their active ingredients and skin benefits. We also looked for those that had specific soothing ingredients. After consulting dermatologists and considering dozens of options, we landed on these picks to give you the best in show.
Best Overall
Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream
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Amazon
Fragrance-free
Hygienic container
Approved by National Eczema Association
Relatively small amount
When it comes to sensitive skin, Avène knows what's up. The brand offers a broad range of effective yet non-irritating products, and the Eye Contour Cream is no exception. It contains chamomile (one of Murray's approved ingredients), plus ultra-hydrating humectant hyaluronic acid and soothing vitamin E.
The real secret to the sauce, however, is Avène's mineral-rich thermal spring water, which minimizes inflammation, balances the skin barrier, and calms irritation. We also like that it's fragrance-free and approved by the National Eczema Association. With daily use, you can expect reduced puffiness, a plumper under-eye area, and all-around healthy-looking skin.
Price at time of publish: $29
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, thermal spring water, chamomile | Benefits: Soothing, depuffing, hydrating | Size: 0.33 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Byrdie / Olivia HancockÂ
What Our Editors Say
"The skin underneath my eyes feels so soft, supple, and bouncy. Several hours after application, the area around my eyes still looked fresh and felt moisturized, which is a major win in my book." — Olivia Hancock, Editor
Best Budget
e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Eye Cream
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Ulta
Budget-friendly
Soothes skin
Boosts radiance
Unhygienic container
You're wise to be a little picky when selecting products for sensitive skin—but you don't have to spend a lot of money. Case in point: e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration, a budget-friendly pick that calms with cucumber extract, plumps with peptides, and delivers a gentle dose of moisture.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Peptides, cucumber extract, green tea | Benefits: Depuffing, soothing, radiance-boosting, hydrating | Size: 0.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
What Our Testers Say
"After using it several times, I realized the cream was the common denominator on all of my good skin days. Thanks to the blend of hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump, niacinamide to brighten, squalane for elasticity, and peptides to promote collagen, I'm smitten." — Michelle Rostamian, Product Tester
Best Drugstore
Pond’s Rejuveness Lifting & Brightening Eye Cream
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Fragrance-free
Generous amount
May sting eyes
"Pond's Rejuveness Lifting & Brightening Eye Cream contains moisturizing ingredients, as well as niacinamide to help improve tone and texture, and retinol to help stimulate collagen," says NYC-based dermatologist Hadley King, MD.
Price at time of publish: $12
Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, silica | Benefits: Firming, smoothing, radiance-boosting | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge
Priori R-Spinasome Ultimate Eye Crème Moisturizer
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Amazon
Boosts collagen
Fragrance-free
Hygienic container
Small amount
"For sensitive skin, I like a clean formula, such as Priori R-Spinasome Ultimate Eye Crème, as it uses green plant technology that is non-irritating and also boosts collagen," Dr. Madfes offers.
Price at time of publish: $130
Active Ingredients: Organic spinach | Benefits: Plumping, smoothing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Hydrating
Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel Cream
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Lightweight
Absorbs quickly
Contains polyvinyl alcohol
Sometimes, sensitive skin is just crying out for a bit of moisture. We're big fans of Cetaphil's Eye Gel-Cream, an exceptionally lightweight and fast-absorbing formula that hydrates with hyaluronic acid and soothes with all-star anti-inflammatories like vitamin E, chamomile, and green tea.
Price at time of publish: $20
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, chamomile, green tea | Benefits: Hydrating, radiance-boosting, smoothing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
What Our Testers Say
"As soon as I patted this eye cream all over my eye area, my skin instantly felt refreshed, smooth, and moisturized—it didn’t visibly look plumper or more awake, but it felt amazing. The product never felt heavy or greasy." — Jenna Igneri, Product Tester
Best Natural
Burt's Bees Sensitive Eye Cream
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Fragrance-free
Approved by National Eczema Association
Results aren't dramatic
If you're partial to earth-sourced formulas, you'll appreciate this 98.9% natural eye cream from Burt's Bees. The creamy moisturizer comes in an easy-to-dispense, airtight container and goes on smooth without irritation.
Price at time of publish: $10
Active Ingredients: Olive oil, cotton flower extract, shea butter | Benefits: Depuffing, hydrating | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best With SPF
SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50
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SkinCeuticals
Supports skin barrier
Hygienic container
Provides sun protection
Small amount
"I am obsessed with this eye cream because it has SPF, and it's also packed with a ton of ceramides, which help strengthen the sensitive eye area," says celebrity aesthetician Joshua Ross of SkinLab.
Price at time of publish: $32
Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide | Benefits: Sun protection | Size: 0.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Best With Retinol
Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream
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Ulta
Minimizes fine lines
Lightweight
Hygienic container
Small amount
If you want to see a long-term, noticeable difference in fine lines and elasticity, reach for something containing retinol, like Kate Somerville's incredibly silky Firming Eye Cream. It tightens up the eye area without causing irritation and calls on hyaluronic acid to keep the skin plump and hydrated.
Price at time of publish: $98
Active Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Firming, smoothing, plumping | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Day
First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Niacinamide Brightening Eye Cream
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Sephora
Reduces puffiness
Brightens dark circles
Hydrates
Results aren't dramatic
Do you often wake up with puffy eyes? You may want to start using a caffeine-infused eye cream in the morning. "Caffeine constricts blood vessels and can therefore reduce the amount of fluid accumulating," Dr. King tells Byrdie. This one contains caffeine and pumpkin seed extract to soothe and depuff under-eye bags, as well as niacinamide to brighten.
Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, caffeine, peptides, pumpkin seed extract, sodium hyaluronate | Benefits: Hydrating, brightening, depuffing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Night
Marla Rene Beauty & Co. IlluminEyez Night Cream
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Amazon
Generous amount
Evens skin tone
Contains organic ingredients
Unhygienic container
For your evening skincare routine, your best bet is Marla Rene's IlluminEyez. This nighttime eye cream is chock full of radiance-boosting, hydrating, smoothing, and most importantly, non-irritating ingredients like aloe, vitamin E, and cucumber extract.
Price at time of publish: $54
Active Ingredients: Aloe, plant stem cells, vitamin E, cucumber extract | Benefits: Radiance-boosting, hydrating, smoothing | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Smoothing
RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
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Amazon
Budget-friendly
Evens skin tone
May sting eyes
If it's smooth skin you're after, Dr. King recommends using "a nightly retinoid or retinol cream, like RoC Retinol Correxion EyeCream to increase collagen." The vitamin A derivative tackles some of the most common concerns about the eye area, including fine lines, puffiness, dark circles, and uneven skin tone.
Price at time of publish: $22
Active Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin E, glycerin | Benefits: Smoothing, toning | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
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Byrdie / Leigh Weingus
What Our Testers Say
"Overall, I was very happy with RoC’s Retinol Correxion Eye Cream. I didn’t experience any irritation with it and saw some pretty immediate results as far as reduced dark circles and puffiness." — Leigh Weingus, Product Tester
Best Brightening
REN Clean Skincare Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream
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Amazon
Minimizes dark circles
Hygienic container
Boosts radiance
Results aren't dramatic
"Sensitive skin responds well to REN Radiance Brightening Dark Circle Eye Cream because it has a special formula that is designed to limit irritation," says Kristina Kitsos, a cosmetic injector and leading expert in medical facial aesthetics. "It includes bio-actives that work to brighten, hydrate, and plump the look of the entire eye area."
Price at time of publish: $51
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin C, elderberry flower | Benefits: Radiance-boosting, hydrating | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Firming
Shani Darden Skin Care Intensive Eye Renewal Cream
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Sephora
Works well under makeup
Tightens eye area
Noticeable results
Small amount
Looking to firm up your under-eye area or tighten crepey skin? Go with Shani Darden's Eye Renewal Cream. The luxurious, intensive formula calls on niacinamide (vitamin B3), peptides, and silk tree extract to deliver visibly firmer, smoother skin.
Price at time of publish: $68
Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramides, peptides, vitamin E | Benefits: Firming, calming, smoothing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Under Makeup
Fenty Skin Flash Nap Instant Revival Priming Eye Gel-Cream
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Amazon
Works well under makeup
Lightweight
Hygienic container
Contains fragrance
On the hunt for something to apply before swiping on your concealer? Rihanna has you covered. Fenty Flash Nap flaunts a hydrating, smoothing, skin-loving formula that soothes with green tea and depuffs with horse chestnut extract.
Price at time of publish: $34
Active Ingredients: Green tea, hyaluronic acid, horse chestnut extract | Benefits: Smoothing, hydrating, depuffing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best K-Beauty
CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
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Amazon
Lightweight
Hygienic container
Results aren't drastic
Korean beauty brand CosRx makes some really great stuff for the sensitive set. The Snail Peptide Eye Cream contains snail mucin, a natural form of hyaluronic acid, plus peptides and niacinamide to plump, firm, and boost the eye area without stressing the skin.
Price at time of publish: $28
Active Ingredients: Peptides, snail secretion filtrate, niacinamide | Benefits: Firming, hydrating, radiance-boosting, depuffing | Size: 0.85 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
Runner-Up, Best K-Beauty
Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb
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Amazon
Hydrating and soothing
Lightweight
Cooling
Unhygienic container
Another K-beauty option is this best-selling pick from belif. The Moisturizing Eye Bomb is full of calming, hydrating ingredients to soothe the under eyes, while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. We love that it has a cooling sensation once applied and makes the skin look more radiant instantly.
Price at time of publish: $48
Active Ingredients: Tiger grass, comfrey leaf, squalane, ​​ceramides | Benefits: Smoothing, hydrating, firming | Size: 0.84 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Depuffing
Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening + Depuffing Eye Cream for Dark Circles
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Sephora
Tightens eye area
Minimizes dark circles
Hygienic container
Contains fragrance
Want to depuff your under-eyes without freaking out your skin? Sunday Riley Auto Correct is your new best friend. This fancy eye cream is infused with caffeine and horse chestnut to smooth and tighten while hydrating the eye area.
Price at time of publish: $65
Active Ingredients: Caffeine, watermelon extract, horse chestnut extract | Benefits: Depuffing, radiance-boosting, hydrating | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Multi-Use
SeSpring So Rich Moisturizing Cream
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Amazon
Good value
Non-irritating formula
Can be used on entire face
Can leave a sticky residue
"For sensitive skin, I recommend using a gentle moisturizer that works for the face and eye area, like SeSpring So Rich Moisturizing Cream," says Ross, explaining that it doesn't contain as many potentially irritating actives. "You don't need to spend as much money and can get two for one with your general sensitive-skin moisturizer."
Price at time of publish: $25
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, meadowfoam, ​​centella asiatica | Benefits: Smoothing, softening, calming | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
If we could only recommend one product for sensitive skin, we'd have to go with Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream, an ultra-gentle, incredibly hydrating formula that simultaneously plumps, smoothes, and soothes the eye area. For something a little more affordable, go with e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Eye Cream, a plumping, moisturizing concoction that's easy on tender complexions.
Meet the Expert
- Diane Madfes, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and attending physician at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
- Dana Murray is a licensed esthetician, product developer, and writer at Babe + Beauty.
- Hadley King, MD, is an NYC-based board-certified dermatologist.
- Joshua Ross is a celebrity aesthetician at SkinLab.
- Kristina Kitsos is a cosmetic injector and leading expert in medical facial aesthetics.
What to Look for in an Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin
Soothing Ingredients
When it comes to sensitive complexions, the most critical thing with any skincare product is the ingredients list. According to Dr. Madfes, people with sensitive skin can benefit from formulas with fewer ingredients.
Murray says folks with inflamed or particularly reactive complexions should look for products containing soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, aloe vera, chamomile, vitamin E, centella asiatica (cica), niacinamide, squalane, arnica, cucumber extract, green tea, allantoin, and marshmallow root. Our favorite soothing formula is our top pick, the
Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream, which contains vitamin E and their signature thermal spring water to calm the skin.
Hydrating Formula
Since the tissue around the eyes is notably thin, fine lines and crepiness are more apparent when your skin is dry. With this in mind, Dr. King says, "Eye creams should be hydrating and moisturizing." Look for options containing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, peptides, panthenol (vitamin B5), plant oils, and natural butters. We personally love the Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream, which is formulated with hyaluronic acid and vitamin B3.
Airtight Container
There are many benefits to using skincare products that come in airtight containers. Since they aren't exposed to air, they're less likely to oxidize and can last longer with fewer preservatives. Not only that, but when you don't have to dip your fingers in to scoop out the product, you can avoid contaminating it with bacteria and other irritants.
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a skincare aficionado and commerce writer specializing in cosmetics. For this story, she interviewed two dermatologists and two licensed estheticians for product recommendations and insight into ingredients for sensitive skin. Before making her selections, she referenced peer-reviewed studies, researched different formulations, and considered dozens of eye creams. From the above list, she has personally tried Avène, Sunday Riley, CosRx, Kate Somerville, RoC, and Burt's Bees. Theresa covers skincare and makeup at Byrdie.
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