Eye creams are designed to be pretty gentle across the board. It is the most sensitive skin on your face after all. But as a sensitive-skinned girl, I'm constantly crossing my fingers that my go-to depuffing product won't suddenly cause a burning and itching sensation. (It's happened more times than I care to admit.) That's why I exclusively use the best eye creams for sensitive skin.
Sticking to gentle, hydrating ingredients leaves me looking well-rested, often to the point that you would think I got a total of eight hours. I'm equally as careful to avoid the wrong ones for sensitive skin, like harsh retinol or acids, which can turn my under-eye area into an irritated, flaky mess.
It's taken me a lot of trial and error (over a decade, to be exact) to find which eye creams won't irritate my sensitive skin and eyes. To help shortcut your search, I'm sharing my favorite products and tips from two of my most trusted experts: board-certified dermatologists Teresa Song, M.D., and Hadley King, M.D.. Here, find the 13 best eye creams on the market for sensitive skin—no matter your concern.
Best Eye Creams for Sensitive Skin
- Best Overall Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin: SkinBetter InterFuse Treatment Cream EYE
- Best Affordable Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin: La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream Repair Moisturizer
- Best Splurge Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin: U Beauty the Return Eye Concentrate
- Best Eye Cream for Sensitive, Irritation-Prone Skin: Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment With Avocado
- Best Eye Cream for Sensitive, Dry Skin: Skinceuticals Eye Balm Hydrating Cream
- Best Eye Cream for Sensitive, Dehydrated Skin: Skinfix barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Hydrating Eye Cream
Jam-packed with two different peptides to support collagen and smooth crepiness, plant-based vitamin C to brighten dark circles, caffeine to reduce puffiness, niacinamide to smooth, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, this eye cream truly does it all. Perhaps most impressive are the neuro-calming peptides that improve wrinkles without any pesky irritation from a retinoid. With a dermatologist-tested formula free from fragrance, dye, parabens, and animal testing, this silky-smooth cream is the perfect powerhouse for sensitive skin types.
Texture: Cream
Benefits: Smoothing, de-puffing, moisturizing, brightening
Key Ingredients: Peptides, kakadu plum extract, caffeine, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
What We Love: Immediate results; absorbs into skin easily without leaving behind any residue; wears well under makeup
What We Don’t: On the pricier side
Review for MC: "There's not much this eye cream can't do. I love the twist-up packaging almost as much as I love the formula itself. It's gentle yet hardworking and easily my top pick on the list." — Danielle Cohen, Contributing Beauty Writer
A little goes a long way with this eye cream.
You don't need to shell out your hard-earned cash for a great eye cream. This small but mighty cream is a favorite among experts like Dr. Song thanks to its fast-acting, soothing, and comforting properties. A blend of thermal spring water and niacinamide makes it perfect for finicky, sensitive skin, working to calm irritation, replenish hydration, and help restore the natural skin barrier in just one pump.
Texture: Gel-cream
Benefits: Soothing, hydrating, protecting
Key Ingredients: Thermal spring water, niacinamide, shea butter
What We Love: Sensitive skin-tested formula; air-tight packaging prevents contamination
What We Don’t: Can feel a bit pilly
Review for MC: "Something you should know about me is that I love an airtight pump—it just makes me feel more sanitary. I especially love one that dispenses ultra-gentle, soothing cream, which is exactly what this drugstore pick does. It calms irritation and hydrates my under eyes within minutes." — Danielle Cohen, Contributing Beauty Writer
This is a staple in my skincare rotation.
If you're going to splurge on an eye cream, why not buy one with diamond powder? Jewels aside, this eye cream tackles dull under eyes head-on, fighting puffiness, stubborn dark circles, dryness, and sagging with a powerful but gentle formula. It glides easily onto the skin and works virtually overnight to improve under-eye bags without irritating even the most sensitive skin.
Texture: Gel cream
Benefits: Plumping, de-puffing, smoothing, brightening
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, beta glucan, diamond powder, marine plankton extract, stabilized superoxide dismutase
What We Love: Results are both immediate and long-term; luxe texture; refreshes the under-eye contour
What We Don’t: Has a high price point
Review for MC: "I love a hardworking formula—but it can be find to hard one that's also gentle on the skin. This one from U Beauty is just that—it brightens, plumps, de-puffs, and smooths without ever irritating my sensitive, dry eyes." — Danielle Cohen, Contributing Beauty Writer
I love the way the U Beauty eye cream melts into my skin.
Whether on your toast or under your eyes, avocado is one hard-working fruit. In this case, it moisturizes, nourishes, and visibly softens the skin. The formula is luxuriously thick and provides some much-needed relief for irritated, dry under eyes. It also addresses uneven texture, hyperpigmentation, and sagging with consistent use.
Texture: Thick cream
Benefits: Moisturizing, hydrating, brightening, de-puffing
Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, beta-carotene, shea butter
What We Love: Delivers immediate moisture to the area; evens skin texture
What We Don’t: Takes a while to absorb; texture might be too rich for some users
Review for MC: "Every few years, I find myself coming back to this eye cream from Kiehl's. It's reliable, ultra-moisturizing, and always in my skincare cabinet—except when my fiancé steals it." — Dani Cohen, Contributing Beauty Writer
When in doubt, I reach for this gentle eye cream from Kiehl's.
Rich and creamy, this eye balm is as hard-working as it is luxurious. It contains silymarin and soy isoflavones, which, while you may not have heard of them, are amazing at addressing deflated, delicate skin. Vitamin E also made it in the mix to protect against skin-damaging free radicals. The formula is highly concentrated but deeply nourishing, meaning you'll see actual results without irritation or discomfort.
Texture: Balm
Benefits: Moisturizing, de-puffing, calming, firming
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, sylmarin, soy isoflavones
What We Love: Protects against damaging free radicals; deeply nourishes without feeling too heavy
What We Don’t: A little heavy for under makeup during the daytime
Review for MC: "I'm a sucker for a thick balm like this one that melts into the skin. I can practically feel my dry, tired under eyes suck up the moisture. The result is more awake, de-puffed eyes, no matter how little I slept the night before." — Danielle Cohen, Contributing Beauty Writer
Sleepy eyes are no match for this beloved balm.
Other Eye Creams for Sensitive Skin We Love
Powered by nourishing lipids, this eye cream deeply hydrates, brightens, and reduces the appearance of crow's feet. The lipids are paired with seaweed hyaluronate to plump and refresh and fermented prebiotic yeast to target dark circles. Plus, the formula is so gentle it can even be used on extra delicate areas like the lids.
Texture: Cream
Benefits: Nourishing, hydrating, smoothing, brightening, plumping
Key Ingredients: Triple lipid complex, seaweed hyaluronate blend, saccharomyces ferment
What We Love: Noticeably brightens dark circles; effectively targets dry patches and irritation; hydrates without irritating
What We Don’t: Takes a while to absorb
As someone with genetically dark circles, I know how hard it can be to find an eye cream that actually helps lighten them. Enter the K-Ox Eyes Dark Circles & Puffiness Eye Cream. As Dr. Song explains, the formula contains vitamin K oxide to target and reduce dark circles as well as haloxyl to improve firmness. The cherry on top is the cooling ceramic applicator, which helps further de-puff tired eyes.
Texture: Cream
Benefits: Brightening, de-puffing, firming, smoothing, hydrating
Key Ingredients: Vitamin K oxide, haloxyl, eyeliss, hyaluronic acid
What We Love: Marie Claire 2023 Skin Award Winner; cooling metal applicator soothes skin; clinical testing proves efficacy
What We Don’t: Might make ultra-sensitive eyes water; expensive
A unique blend of quinoa seed extract, adaptogenic astragalus, electric daisy flower (seriously), and coq10 works to reduce eyelid folds, refine and smooth texture, and visibly tighten for a lifted youthful look. Together, alongside a slew of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, they deliver a powerhouse eye cream that reduces signs of aging and protects sensitive under-eye skin.
Texture: Lightweight cream
Benefits: Lifting, moisturizing, smoothing, hydrating, soothing
Key Ingredients: Quinoa seed extract, adaptogenic astragulus, coq10, peptides
What We Love: Effectively diminishes fine lines and crepiness; Need very little per use so the bottle lasts a while
What We Don’t: Expensive
Anyone who's woken up with puffy eyes knows the struggle of finding a quick fix before heading out for the day. Luckily, The INKEY List has a solution—and one at a great price point. The brand's lightweight eye cream utilizes caffeine to de-puff, while peptides plump and firm skin in all the right places. The formula instantly cools the under-eye area and absorbs into the skin within moments, making it perfect for under makeup.
Texture: Lightweight cream
Benefits: De-puffing, hydrating, cooling
Key Ingredients: Caffeine, matrixyl 3000 peptide, albizia julibrissin bark extract
What We Love: Accessible price point; effectively targets dark circles and puffiness; recyclable packaging
What We Don’t: May pill under some concealers
Darkened, tired eyes are no match for SkinMedica's Instant Bright Eye Cream. It does exactly what it claims to do—instantly brightens the under-eye area. But it also works over time, delivering long-lasting brightening and firming effects, as well as a super-boost of hydration sure to make even the dullest of eyes look radiant and plump.
Texture: Lightweight cream
Benefits: Brightening, hydrating, de-puffing, firming, moisturizing, smoothing
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid blend, caffeine, Persian silk tree extract, St. Paul's wort, vitis flower stem cell extract
What We Love: Immediate brightening effect; reduces dark circles and puffiness over time; non-greasy formula
What We Don’t: Lighter texture might not provide enough moisture for extra-dry under eyes
"I love Charlotte Tilbury's Cryo-Recovery Eye Serum, which contains caffeine, anti-aging peptides, antioxidants, algae extract, and hydrating and moisturizing ingredients as well," Dr. King says. "It also has a cooling metal applicator for extra soothing and de-puffing." The serum texture is ultra-lightweight, making it the perfect choice pre-makeup, and the effects are instantaneous.
Texture: Lightweight serum
Benefits: De-puffing, lifting, firming, cooling, brightening, smoothing
Key Ingredients: Caffeine, Swiss ice wine essence, Iceawake
What We Love: Metal applicator instantly cools and de-puffs skin; leaves under eyes looking refreshed and awake
What We Don’t: Might not be hydrating or moisturizing enough for drier skin types
When it comes to sensitive skin, CeraVe knows what it's doing—so much so that this eye cream has the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, meaning it's certified safe for eczema and sensitive skin conditions. This particular formula features three essential ceramides, soothing niacinamide, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and a de-puffing marine and botanical complex. It's the kind of skincare that makes the phrase "beauty sleep" ring true.
Texture: Cream
Benefits: Moisturizing, soothing, brightening, de-puffing, hydrating
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
What We Love: The drugstore price; hydrates and moisturizes immediately
What We Don’t: May not effectively brighten dark circles
I love a color-correcting eye cream—it's a savior for those pesky genetic dark circles under my eyes. This one from Replenix has been my go-to for the last year, thanks to its impressive, immediate results. It doesn't just mask my dark circles; it visibly blurs and illuminates them. Over time, it's firmed the area and helped me cut down on concealer without compromising on coverage.
Texture: Cream
Benefits: Brightening, de-puffing, cooling, illuminating, firming, hydrating
Key Ingredients: Edelweiss flower, hyaluronic acid, peptide blend
What We Love: Layers nicely under makeup; color corrects dark circles
What We Don’t: No shade range means it won't work for all skin tones
What to Look for in Eye Creams for Sensitive Skin
- Hydrating Ingredients
"The skin around the eyes naturally has a thinner epidermis and dermis, making it more susceptible to irritation, dryness, and inflammation," Dr. Song explains. "For those who already have sensitive skin, this area becomes even more vulnerable to irritations from environmental exposures, skincare products, cosmetics, and even friction." For that reason, it's important to use hydrating, gentle formulations specifically designed for the area.
Dr. King suggests looking for ingredients like humectants, emollients, occlusives, anti-aging peptides, growth factors, caffeine, and niacinamide. These are all gentle on sensitive skin and will minimize the risk of irritation. On the flip side, she suggests avoiding ingredients like retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids, and vitamin C, all of which have the potential to irritate how strong they can be.
- Skin Concerns
Consider your individual goals and look for eye creams designed to target your under-eye concerns. For example, those with puffiness should look for an eye cream that contains caffeine to help constrict blood vessels and de-puff, while someone with fine lines should look for formulas with anti-aging peptides.
For those that particularly sensitive, I recommend patch testing new eye creams on the thin skin behind the ears. The delicate area is similar to that under the eye, so you can expect a similar result.
Do I Need an Eye Cream If I Have Sensitive Skin?
You don't necessarily need an eye cream. For some people, it simply might not be worth the risk—after all, every product you add to your routine increases the chance of irritation, especially when it comes to sensitive skin.
That being said, eye cream is a great way to target the more delicate under-eye area and tackle particular pain points, like dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines. Focus on products with hydrating, soothing ingredients and leave the retinoids and acids to those with thicker skin.
How We Tested
Our testing process merged long-time editor favorites with new discoveries. We tapped dermatologists and our team to share their favorite, most recommended eye creams for sensitive skin. We scoured through thousands of reviews to determine the most popular eye creams for sensitive eyes and called in 15 samples for testing.
We evaluated each eye cream on efficacy, packaging, ease of use, benefits, and texture. Given the ingredients and potency of each formulation, we also considered the likelihood of irritation. Our resulting pool comprised our top 13 picks for the best eye creams for sensitive skin.
Why Trust Us
Danielle Cohen is a beauty writer with over five years of experience in the space. She frequently covers sensitive skin, writing explainers for AirMail, Glamour, and Well + Good. Her sensitive skin makes her the ideal person to test eye creams that won't irritate. Marie Claire is an expert in the sensitive skin space as well, covering topics like the best moisturizers for sensitive skin, ingredients to avoid if you have sensitive skin, and mascaras for sensitive skin.
Meet the Experts
Hadley King, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. King graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in biochemistry. She received her MD from Columbia University. She trained in medicine at Greenwich Hospital, affiliated with the Yale University School of Medicine, and completed her dermatology residency at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. After residency, Dr. King worked as an attending physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, during which time she specialized in cutaneous oncology and photodynamic therapy. She also has a background in immunology and her research has been published in a variety of medical journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Dr. Teresa Song is a board-certified dermatologist with a clinical interest in both general and cosmetic dermatology. Aside from managing complex medical dermatology, she also has expertise in a wide array of aesthetic procedures including neuromodulators, fillers, platelet-rich plasma, laser devices, radiofrequency microneedling, chemical peels, body contouring, and more. Her clinical passion includes biostimulatory procedures that enhance and boost the patient’s own natural reserves, as well as inflammatory skin disorders such as eczema and alopecia. Dr. Song also enjoys managing pediatric skin conditions and serves as a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Hospital Dermatology residency.
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