The skin around the eyes and on the eyelids is thinner than in other areas, making it more susceptible to environmental damage and prone to irritation by harsh ingredients in skincare products.
Even people with dry or oily skin can have sensitive skin around the eyes. To avoid redness, watering, puffiness, and other signs of irritation, use products that are designed and tested for use in this delicate area.
To help you choose, we researched the best eye creams for sensitive skin and made a list of 15 of the best products according to skin experts and users.
What Is the Best Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin?
Read carefully to determine which eye cream is suitable for you because some of these products address aging signs (e.g., lines and wrinkles), some focus on dark circles, and some provide an ultra-rich hydrating experience. The first eight products on the list are endorsed by the Vibrant Skin Bar skin experts because they are infused with medical-grade ingredients and are approved by dermatologists.
1. Youth Eye Complex by iS Clinical
iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex is a gentle formula designed to combat aging signs at the cellular level using a breakthrough blend of potent, naturally derived ingredients. It is lightweight but deeply hydrating and suitable for all skin types.
Key Ingredients
Key ingredients in Youth Eye Complex include a mix of hydrating botanicals, plant proteins, and anti-aging growth factors.
- Hyaluronic acid attracts moisture from the environment and provides the necessary hydration.
- Copper tripeptide growth factor rebuilds the skin’s protective barrier, strengthening the under-eye area,
- Pseudoalteromonas ferment extract stimulates elastin and collagen production, additionally firming the skin.
- Acetyl octapeptide-3 helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Benefits
Youth Eye Complex is clinically proven to help with the following eye concerns.
- Reduces the appearance of wrinkles (e.g., crow’s feet).
- Deeply hydrates the skin around the eyes.
- Brightens the under-eye area, helping to reduce dark circles.
- Makes the skin firmer and more elastic.
When to Use It?
After cleansing the skin, apply a small amount of cream around the eyes using your fingertips. Gently dab until the skin absorbs it. Use it as part of your morning and evening skincare routine.
2. Instant Effect Gel EYE by skinbetter
Instant Effect Gel EYE is a soothing, skin-loving cream free of allergens and irritating ingredients such as gluten, coconut, lanolin, paraben, dye, and preservatives. Because of its lightweight, gel-like consistency, it is easily absorbed and it doesn’t leave a greasy residue. It comes with a stainless-steel rollerball applicator, which helps massage the cream gently into the skin around the eyes.
Key Ingredients
EYE contains the following key ingredients:
- Soothing botanical extracts and algae blend to reduce puffiness.
- Green coffee to enhance the skin’s ability to fight free radicals.
- Sodium hyaluronate for a powerful hydrating effect.
Benefits
The cream helps reduce puffiness and dark circles and refreshes the under-eye area. It also hydrates and firms the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
When to Use It?
Use the cream after cleansing in the morning and evening. The rollerball applicator ensures easy use.
3. Restorative Eye Treatment by Alastin
Restorative Eye Treatment is a potent formula targeting premature aging signs in the eye area.
It has a rich, silky texture that spreads easily on the skin and absorbs quickly. It won numerous awards, including Women’s Health “Best Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin 2021”.
Key Ingredients
Restorative Eye Treatment principal ingredients include:
- Niacinamide, green tea, and oak leaf tea extracts help improve skin tone and eye shadows.
- Tetrapeptide-30 provides powerful anti-aging effects.
- TriHex Technology® promotes collagen and elastin production.
- Tremella (silver mushroom) deeply hydrates the under-eye area.
Benefits
Restorative Eye Treatment is designed to improve the three main concerns related to the eye area. It reduces puffiness, smooths fine lines and wrinkles, and fades under-eye hollows.
When to Use It?
Use it twice daily, in the morning and evening. Dispense one pump on the palm of your hand, then gently dab the cream around your eyes.
4. Instant Bright Eye Cream by SkinMedica
Instant Bright Eye Cream targets multiple premature aging signs and is formulated for all skin types. It has a lightweight, non-irritating consistency – not too thin, nor too thick. It easily spreads on the skin and feels cool and soothing.
Key Ingredients
Instant Bright’s active ingredients include:
- Phenylethyl resorcinol reduces pigmentation.
- A hyaluronic acid blend to deeply hydrates and instantly plumps the skin.
- Marine extracts to eliminate dark circles.
- Caffeine, St. Paul’s wort, and Persian silk tree extract improve lymphatic flow to reduce puffiness and increase the skin’s firmness and glow.
Benefits
The cream’s key benefits include:
- Reduced dark circles
- Brighter under-eye area
- Decreased puffiness
- Smoother, rejuvenated area around the eyes
- More even skin tone
When to Use It?
Use it in the morning and evening after cleansing the skin. Apply it in a thin layer around the eyes and on the eyelids.
Note: Read our article, and find out how microneedling under eyes can help you get rid of dark circles.
5. EyeMax AlphaRet® Overnight Cream by skinbetter
EyeMax AlphaRet® Overnight Cream is a rich, luxurious formulation shown to improve aging signs in the eye area after four weeks of consistent use. It is suitable for all skin types.
Key ingredients
EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream contains the following active ingredients:
- Ethyl lactyl retinoate, a novel retinoid that reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
- Niacinamide and glycolic acid decrease hyperpigmentation.
- Glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and squalane to provide deep hydration.
Benefits
This potent, anti-aging treatment provides the following skin benefits:
- Deeply hydrates the skin around the eyes, strengthening its barrier function.
- Provides antioxidant protection against environmental damage.
- Reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
- Decreases dark hollows and puffiness under the eyes.
When to Use It
Like other creams that contain retinoids, EyeMax increases the skin’s sensitivity to UV rays, so use it at night. Apply it in a thin layer. Dab the cream from the center under the eye outward, and above the eyes up to the eyebrows, but avoid the eyelids.
6. Interfuse Treatment Cream for Eyes by skinbetter
Interfuse Treatment Cream for Eyes is a comprehensive formula that nourishes the skin while improving premature aging signs.
Key Ingredients
The key active ingredients in the product include:
- Vitamin C brightens and protects the under-eye area.
- A neuro-calming peptide reduces the appearance of crow’s feet.
- Caffeine and a yeast derivative decrease puffiness.
- Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and arginine deeply hydrate and strengthen the skin.
- Jojoba esters have soothing properties.
Benefits
Interfuse addresses the most common eye skin concerns – crow’s feet, under-eye puffiness, and dark circles. With regular use, the skin appears brighter, smoother, and refreshed.
When to Use It?
Use it as part of your morning and evening routine. Apply in a thin layer to clean, dry skin and gently massage until the skin absorbs it.
7. TNS Eye Repair by SkinMedica
TNS Eye Repair uses SkinMedica’s advanced TNS Complex formula to reduce the appearance of aging signs. It is appropriate for normal to dry skin and works well for sensitive skin.
Key ingredients
The formula is infused with the following star ingredients.
- Growth hormones and proteins strengthen the delicate under-eye skin.
- Antioxidants (vitamin C, vitamin E) protect the skin from free radicals.
- Retinyl palmitate (a form of retinol) and peptides help eliminate wrinkles.
- N-Hydroxysuccinimide, chrysin, and boron nitride reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Benefits
The main benefit of TNS Eye Repair is a reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The cream deeply hydrates the area around the eyes, building more resilient, firmer, and smoother skin.
When to Use It?
Use TNS Eye Repair in the morning and evening before applying a moisturizer. Place a small amount under your eyes using a spatula and spread the cream in a thin layer around the eyes using your fingertips. Avoid the upper eyelids.
8. ZO® Skin Health Eye Brightening Cream
Eye Brightening Cream by ZO Skin Health has a rich, creamy consistency that deeply nourishes the under-eye area. It is designed to address aging signs around the eyes without irritating the skin.
Key Ingredients
The cream is formulated with the following ingredients.
- Retinol and hydrolyzed sericin stimulate collagen production and increase skin elasticity.
- Kojic dipalmitate brightens the dark under-eye hollows.
- Saccharomyces lysate extract (postbiotic) helps reduce puffiness.
- Carnitine, coenzyme A, and caffeine help improve microcirculation and reduce puffiness.
- Shea butter, squalane, and sodium PCA deeply hydrate the skin.
- Arnica montana flower extract provides antioxidant protection.
Benefits
Eye Brightening Cream addresses the common signs of aging. It minimizes puffiness and dark circles under the eyes, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and increases skin elasticity in this area.
When to Use It?
Use the cream in the morning and evening after cleansing. Apply in a thin layer around the eyes and pat gently until fully absorbed.
9. Eye Repair Cream by CeraVe
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream is a budget-friendly drugstore cream that uses only a few ingredients in a potent combination that provides hydration throughout the day.
Key Ingredients
The cream is infused with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide, and a marine and botanical complex, which lock in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier.
Benefits
Eye Repair Cream hydrates and smooths the delicate area around the eyes, alleviating puffiness and under-eye hollows. It is fast-absorbing and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the skin. The fragrance-free formula is suitable for sensitive skin.
When to Use It?
Use it once or twice daily. Gently dab it around the eyes after cleansing and follow with a moisturizer.
10. Hydrating Eye Cream with Hyaluronic Acid by First Aid Beauty
Hydrating Eye Cream is a nourishing, hydrating eye cream suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Key ingredients
The cream’s soothing and hydrating ingredients include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, and cucumber extract. The antioxidant properties of caffeine and colloidal oatmeal in the formula ward off free radicals. Licorice root extract brightens the skin, helping to improve pigmentation and reduce dark circles.
Benefits
Hydrating Eye Cream provides 24-hour hydration while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles for a refreshed, youthful look. It brightens the tear trough area, reduces puffiness, and leaves the skin feeling soft and revitalized. Despite its rich consistency, the cream absorbs quickly, delivering lasting moisture without heaviness.
When to Use It?
Apply the cream in the morning and evening after cleansing. Gently massage until fully absorbed.
11. Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado by Kiehl's
Skin experts often recommend Creamy Eye Treatment to people with very dry skin and increased sensitivity around the eyes.
Key Ingredients
Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado has amazing hydrating and soothing capabilities thanks to emollient ingredients such as avocado oil, shea butter, and tridecyl stearate. Caffeine helps improve circulation and reduce puffiness. Other skin-loving and barrier-replenishing ingredients include sodium PCA, copper PCA, and sunflower seed oil.
Benefits
The fast-absorbing cream leaves the skin feeling soft and supple while delivering all-day hydration. It helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, brightens and de-puffs the under-eye area, and revitalizes tired-looking eyes. Enriched with nourishing ingredients, it soothes and protects the delicate skin around the eyes for a refreshed, radiant look.
When to Use It?
Use the cream in the morning and evening after cleansing. Take a small amount with your finger and smear it between the fingers to improve spreadability. Gently dab it around the eyes.
Note: Discover the best skin care routine for dry skin.
12. Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream by Skinfix
Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Boost 360° Eye Cream is a lightweight but rich formula, suitable for all skin types. It helps minimize aging signs around the eyes.
Key ingredients
The cream’s star ingredients work together to deeply hydrate and revitalize the delicate eye area. A hydrating triple-lipid complex restores the skin’s ceramide and fatty acid levels for lasting moisture, while a seaweed hyaluronate blend enhances hydration. Fermented prebiotic yeast helps reduce the appearance of dark circles, leaving the skin smoother and more radiant.
Benefits
The cream deeply hydrates and soothes the skin, tightens and de-puffs the under-eye area, reduces dark circles, and decreases fine lines and wrinkles.
When to Use It?
Apply the cream after cleansing and before moisturizing in the morning and evening. Gently apply 1-2 pumps around the eyes. It is safe for use on the delicate eyelids.
13. Hypoallergenic CBD Sensitive Skin Therapy Soothing & Hydrating Eye Cream by Perricone MD
Hypoallergenic CBD Sensitive Skin Therapy is a gentle cream with potent moisturizing and nourishing ingredients suitable for the sensitive skin around the eyes.
Key ingredients
The cream is infused with 99% pure CBD (cannabidiol), a natural substance found in the hemp plant, which calms and revitalizes stressed and problematic skin. It also contains bisabolol (a compound found in chamomile extract) to brighten and soothe the skin, and marigold extract, to provide intense hydration and a calming effect.
Benefits
Soothing and Hydrating Eye Cream revitalizes tired-looking skin around the eyes, soothes irritations, and brightens dark under-eye circles.
When to Use It?
Use the cream twice daily, in the morning and evening. Gently massage it around the eyes until fully absorbed.
14. Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream by Clinique
Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream is a rich, anti-aging solution that addresses multiple signs of aging. It is free of parabens, fragrances, and phthalates, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
Key ingredients
The cream’s key ingredients are carefully selected to hydrate, firm, and rejuvenate the delicate skin around the eyes. Peptides support collagen production to improve elasticity, while squalane provides deep, lasting moisture. Algae extracts and St. Paul’s Wort nourish and revitalize tired skin, and plant extracts such as cucumber, rosemary, and chamomile help soothe and refresh. Caffeine reduces puffiness and dark circles, while hyaluronic acid locks in hydration.
Benefits
The cream reduces the appearance of wrinkles, brightens and plumps the skin, and rejuvenates the eye area.
When to Use It?
Use the cream in the morning and evening. Apply it in a thin layer with the ring finger. Cover the entire eye area and pat gently until the cream is absorbed.
15. Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream by La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream is tested on allergy-prone skin and designed to reduce irritation in the under-eye area, making it suitable for all skin types.
Key Ingredients
The product is rich with hydrating ingredients, including glycerin, shea butter, and squalane. Niacinamide improves the natural protective moisture barrier around the eyes, and acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester helps decrease irritation by signaling to the skin cells to relax.
Benefits
The cream intensely hydrates and soothes the skin around the eyes, helping to restore its natural protective barrier. It is designed without common irritants, such as parabens, fragrance, and alcohol.
When to Use It?
Use it once or twice daily, in the morning and/or evening. Apply a small amount with your ring finger around the eyes and on the eyelids. Gently pat until the cream is absorbed.
Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin: FAQ
The wrong choice of eye cream can cause irritations, itching, redness, and more visible aging around the eyes. The following information will help you find the right product for sensitive skin.
How to Choose Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin?
Follow these general guidelines.
- Look for eye creams with a clean formula and few ingredients.
- Choose eye creams with humectants that help attract moisture, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, urea, etc.
- Choose eye creams with emollients that help retain moisture, such as shea butter, squalane, ceramides, lanolin.
- Look for soothing plant ingredients such as aloe vera, green tea, cucumber, seaweed.
- Spot test the product first if it includes potent anti-aging ingredients, such as retinol and vitamin C.
- Opt for soft, lightweight products.
- Make sure the cream is free of irritating ingredients.
What Ingredients to Avoid in Eye Creams for Sensitive Skin?
Avoid synthetic, harsh, drying ingredients that can irritate the delicate eye area. They include:
- Synthetic fragrances
- Parabens
- Alcohol
- Phthalates
- Strong preservatives
How to Use Eye Cream for Sensitive Skin?
Eye creams are typically applied in a thin layer under the eyes and on the outer eye corners. Pat the cream lightly, rather than smear, moving outward from the inner eye corners. Use it in the morning and evening for the best results, unless the product label instructs differently.
Conclusion
People often experience sensitivity around the eyes due to various factors, including harsh weather, lack of sleep, and irritating skincare products. Quality eye creams for sensitive skin can help resolve these issues and revitalize the area around the eyes.
We hope our list of recommendations helps you find a suitable product that will make the skin around your eyes feel soft and hydrated.
