Derms Say Eye Creams Are a Non-Negotiable for Sensitive Skin—Here Are 5 They Always Recommend
Eye creams give the skin around your eyes an added boost of nutrients to help manage dryness, fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and more. Because this delicate area is susceptible to irritation on any complexion, finding a product that works on sensitive skin can be especially challenging. However, according to Elyse Love, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, it's worth hunting down the right formula, because using an eye cream for sensitive skin can offer some pretty serious benefits.
"People with sensitive skin are actually probably the people who would benefit the most from an eye cream," says Dr. Love. That's because people with sensitive skin typically skew drier, so a super hydrating eye cream can be great "from a smoothing hydration perspective," she says.
- Elyse Love, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Sharleen St. Surin-Lord, MD, board-certified dermatologist and hair specialist at Visage Dermatology
"The skin around the eye is just so thin. It's a mucus membrane, and mucus membranes are extremely sensitive and absorb things much more quickly," says Sharleen St. Surin-Lord, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington DC.
With that in mind, Dr. Love suggests looking for a formula that's hydrating but not too thick. "It is a good idea to stick with more lightweight eye cream so that you don't get those milia," which are tiny white bumps that appear when the pores around your eyes get clogged, she says. "People with sensitive skin are going to want to stick with more cream-based products, versus those with oilier skin who may like more gel products."
Below, shop the best options that fit the bill.
“One of the products that I recommend a lot for sensitive skin is actually the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment,” says Dr. Love. “I find that it is really soothing cream and doesn’t irritate the skin.” This eye cream is made with avocado oil to hydrate, smooth, visibly de-puff, and brighten the look of the under-eye area.
Another great lightweight eye cream is this gel cream from Neutrogena, which is full of hyaluronic acid to smooth and hydrate the eye area. “Hyaluronic acid is actually a humectant, and it draws about a thousand times its body weight in water,” says Dr. St. Surin-Lord. “So if you want moisture, that’s the best way to go, especially for sensitive skin.”
This soothing eye cream works to rehydrate your eye skin while reducing the appearance of puffiness, dark circles, and dehydration lines. Plus, it provides antioxidant protection. It features red fruit extract, which is rich in vitamins and lipids to strengthen the skin barrier, plus a vitamin E precursor that provides antioxidant protection against free radical damage (which happens when your skin is exposed to pollutants and can lead to premature signs of aging.) It also includes dextran sulfate to visibly decongest and depuff the eyes, while Avène’s thermal spring water helps soothe, soften, and calm the skin.
This eye cream from First Aid Beauty is full of hydrating hyaluronic acid plus colloidal oatmeal, a moisturizing and soothing ingredient that derms love. It also includes caffeine to help reduce puffiness and dark circles and cucumber extract to soothe.
Designed for sensitive skin, this eye cream from La Roche-Posay contains hydrating glycerin, moisturizing shea butter, and soothing niacinamide to keep your eye skin moisturized and calm.
Get more tips for caring for the skin around your eyes:
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