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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.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
The Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream stands out among the rest because it contains super-hydrating ingredients and uses mineral-infused thermal water in its recipe. We also like the e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Eye Cream as a budget option since it really works to soothe the sensitive skin under your eyes.
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.
Scroll down for the best eye creams for sensitive skin.
Best Overall: Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream
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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.
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, thermal spring water, chamomile | Benefits: Soothing, depuffing, hydrating | Size: 0.33 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
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Byrdie / Olivia Hancock
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.
Active Ingredients: Peptides, cucumber extract, green tea | Benefits: Depuffing, soothing, radiance-boosting, hydrating | Size: 0.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Drugstore: Pond’s Rejuveness Lifting & Brightening Eye Cream
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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.
Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, silica | Benefits: Firming, smoothing, radiance-boosting | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Splurge: Priori R-Spinasome Ultimate Eye Crème Moisturizer
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Boosts collagen
Fragrance-free
Hygienic container
Expensive
"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.
Active Ingredients: Organic spinach | Benefits: Plumping, smoothing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Hydrating: Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel Cream
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Courtesy of Target
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.
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, chamomile, green tea | Benefits: Hydrating, radiance-boosting, smoothing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Natural: Burt's Bees Sensitive Eye Cream
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Courtesy of 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.
Active Ingredients: Olive oil, cotton flower extract, shea butter | Benefits: Depuffing, hydrating | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best With SPF: SkinCeuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50
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Courtesy of 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.
Active Ingredients: Zinc oxide | Benefits: Sun protection | Size: 0.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best With Retinol: Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream
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Sephora
Minimizes fine lines
Lightweight
Hygienic container
Expensive
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.
Active Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid | Benefits: Firming, smoothing, plumping | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Day: First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy A.M. Gel Cream
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Courtesy of Ulta
Reduces puffiness
Formulated for daytime use
Works well under makeup
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. "One I like is First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy."
Active Ingredients: Petrolatum, caffeine, peptides, seaweed extract, squalane | Benefits: Hydrating, smoothing, depuffing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Night: Marla Rene Beauty & Co. IlluminEyez Night Cream
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Courtesy of Marla Rene Beauty & Co.
Generous amount
Evens skin tone
Contains organic ingredients
Expensive
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.
Active Ingredients: Aloe, plant stem cells, vitamin E, cucumber extract | Benefits: Radiance-boosting, hydrating, smoothing | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Smoothing: RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream
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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.
Active Ingredients: Retinol, vitamin E, glycerin | Benefits: Smoothing, toning | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: 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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Courtesy of Nordstrom
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."
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin C, elderberry flower | Benefits: Radiance-boosting, hydrating | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Firming: Shani Darden Skin Care Intensive Eye Renewal Cream
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Courtesy of Sephora
Works well under makeup
Tightens eye area
Noticeable results
Expensive
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.
Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, ceramides, peptides, vitamin E | Benefits: Firming, calming, smoothing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Under Makeup: Fenty Skin Flash Nap Instant Revival Priming Eye Gel-Cream
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Courtesy of Sephora
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.
Active Ingredients: Green tea, hyaluronic acid, horse chestnut extract | Benefits: Smoothing, hydrating, depuffing | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best K-Beauty: CosRx Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream
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Courtesy of 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.
Active Ingredients: Peptides, snail secretion filtrate, niacinamide | Benefits: Firming, hydrating, radiance-boosting, depuffing | Size: 0.85 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Depuffing: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Eye Cream
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Courtesy of Sephora
Tightens eye area
Minimizes dark circles
Hygienic container
Contains fragrance
Expensive
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.
Active Ingredients: Caffeine, watermelon extract, horse chestnut extract | Benefits: Depuffing, radiance-boosting, hydrating | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Multi-Use: SeSpring So Rich Moisturizing Cream
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Courtesy of SeSpring
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."
Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, meadowfoam, centella asiatica | Benefits: Smoothing, softening, calming | Size: 2 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: 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.
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.
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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