Eye Creams for Sensitive Eyes That Will Reduce Puffiness and Fine Lines—Without Irritation
A win-win.
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 skin girlie, 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 strong exfoliating acids, which can turn my undereye 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 shorten your search, I'm sharing my favorite products and tips from two of my most trusted skincare experts: board-certified dermatologists Teresa Song, MD, and Hadley King, MD, as well as board-certified ophthalmologist Diane Hilal-Campo. 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 I Love: Immediate results; absorbs into skin easily without leaving behind any residue; wears well under makeup
What I 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
Danielle Cohen using SkinBetter 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 I Love: Sensitive skin-tested formula; air-tight packaging prevents contamination
What I 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 undereyes within minutes." — Danielle Cohen, Contributing Beauty Writer
Danielle Cohen uses a La Roche Posay eye cream.
If you're going to splurge on an eye cream, why not buy one with diamond powder? Jewels aside, this eye cream tackles dull undereyes 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 undereye 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 I Love: Results are both immediate and long-term; luxe texture; refreshes the undereye contour
What I 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
Danielle Cohen with the U Beauty eye cream.
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 undereyes. 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 I Love: Delivers immediate moisture to the area; evens skin texture
What I 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
Danielle Cohen with the Kiehl's Creamy Avocado Eye Cream.
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 I Love: Protects against damaging free radicals; deeply nourishes without feeling too heavy
What I 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
Danielle Cohen with the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Advanced Eyes Balm.
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 I Love: Noticeably brightens dark circles; effectively targets dry patches and irritation; hydrates without irritating
What I Don’t: Takes a while to absorb
Review for MC: "The best eye cream and I've tried a lot. This saved my eyes last year. I am prone to seasonal dermatitis which plagues my eyelids with big scales that look reptilian and ages me hundreds of years. I had tried so many products, but most eye creams would sting if I put them on my eyelids and still did nothing for me. Once I switched to this, my scales went away and my eyes stay super hydrated. I have been using this product consistently and this is the first fall/winter that my dermatitis hasn't come back." — Sephora
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 I Love: Marie Claire Skin Award Winner; cooling metal applicator soothes skin; clinical testing proves efficacy
What I Don’t: Might make ultra-sensitive eyes water; expensive
Review for MC: "Not sure this is helping dramatically with the dark circles under my eyes but the eye cream feels lovely and hydrating but doesn’t cause any irritation. Have tried many eye creams as I’m hyper sensitive to milia, and this has not caused any. Also use this in conjunction with a retinol based eye product and this helps to alleviate some of the dryness the other product causes." — Dermstore
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 undereye skin.
Texture: Lightweight cream
Benefits: Lifting, moisturizing, smoothing, hydrating, soothing
Key Ingredients: Quinoa seed extract, adaptogenic astragulus, coq10, peptides
What I Love: Effectively diminishes fine lines and crepiness; Need very little per use so the bottle lasts a while
What I Don’t: Expensive
Review for MC: "I was very hesitant to purchase this due to the price, but after getting several samples and actually seeing results I bit the bullet. I am also a fan of Dermalogica products in general. I see a reduction in crows feet, a tightening of upper lid creasing and an overall improvement in the eye area. A little goes a long way so I see this lasting a while." — Sephora
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 undereye 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 I Love: Accessible price point; effectively targets dark circles and puffiness; recyclable packaging
What I Don’t: May pill under some concealers
Review for MC: "If you want to get rid of bags, puffiness, and dark circles quickly you got to have this!! It works so well and so quickly!!" — Sephora
Darkened, tired eyes are no match for SkinMedica's Instant Bright Eye Cream. It does exactly what it claims to do—instantly brightens the undereye 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 I Love: Immediate brightening effect; reduces dark circles and puffiness over time; non-greasy formula
What I Don’t: Lighter texture might not provide enough moisture for extra-dry under eyes
Review for MC: "This is my day time eye cream, I've been using for years. It's the only product I've found that has zero eye irritation by the end of the day. You can apply it to the entire eye and eye lid. Wears well under makeup with no pilling. I will buy this for as long they make it! Seriously the best day time eye cream!!" — Dermstore
"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, Ice awake
What I Love: Metal applicator instantly cools and de-puffs skin; leaves under eyes looking refreshed and awake
What I Don’t: Might not be hydrating or moisturizing enough for drier skin types
Review for MC: "I didn’t have bad under eyes to start with but they look a little brighter! this product felt very smooth under my eyes after i applied it and since then they have not been dry. i also love the packaging!!" — Sephora
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 I Love: The drugstore price; hydrates and moisturizes immediately
What I Don’t: May not effectively brighten dark circles
Review for MC: "I have really dry undereyes. Its to the point that sometimes i get a red itchy dry patch under my eye. I recently bought this to try it out as i wanted to change my eye cream. I took it with me when travelling and on the plane I got a dry patch. I was panicking because I had a wedding to go to and I did not want the patch to ruin it. Usually it takes about a week if not longer to go away. This cream made it go away within a few days and my makeup went on smoothly on the day of the wedding. It does reduce puffiness and it hydrates/moisturizes amazingly. I havent seen a huge change in my under eye circles with this product but i have only been using it for about a month. If you have dry eyes this is THE holy grail. My under eyes have never been smoother and more hydrated." — Ulta
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 I Love: Layers nicely under makeup; color corrects dark circles
What I Don’t: No shade range means it won't work for all skin tones
Review for MC: "I have started to use this product in place of concealer for my daily look and love it. It brightens the under eye area and blends seamlessly with my tinted moisturizer. Only downside is minor creasing in the fine lines underneath my eyes, but easily re-blends if I notice this throughout the day." — Dermstore
What Should I 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 undereye 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 undereye 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, less reactive skin.
What Makes an Eye Cream Safe for Sensitive Eyes?
Finding an eye cream that's safe for sensitive eyes is less about what is in the formula and more about what's not in the formula. "Avoid any ingredients that could be irritating, including fragrances, harsh preservatives, known allergens, and retinols," says board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Twenty/Twenty Beauty Diane Hilal-Campo. You'll also want to avoid ingredients like vitamin A, jojoba, and bakuchiol, as well as many botanicals and plant extracts, as they can be unintentionally irritating.
How Should You Apply Eye Cream If You Have Sensitive Eyes?
If your eyes are naturally sensitive, you want to make sure you're not getting any unwanted bacteria or harsh ingredients into your eyes, so it's a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly prior to application. "Then, place a small amount of product on your index finger and gently pat—not rub—the cream onto the skin," says Dr. Hilal-Campo. "Harsh rubbing, tugging, and pulling the skin can cause irritation."
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 Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
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.
Dr. Diane Hilal-Campo is a pioneering leader in eye care, bringing over 28 years of board-certified expertise to her patients. A graduate of Columbia University, she has dedicated her career to clinical excellence across a full spectrum of ophthalmology services.
As a founding member of Women in Ophthalmology (WIO), Dr. Hilal-Campo has been a steadfast champion for progress in the field.
Dr. Hilal-Campo is relentlessly focused on delivering the best possible results, whether performing advanced laser-assisted cataract surgery with premium lens technology or providing nuanced, cutting-edge treatments for dry eye disease, including IPL therapy. She provides a full continuum of medical care, from expert glaucoma management to routine exams for the entire family.
