Whether you’re dealing with a reactive complexion or weather-triggered flare-ups, the best serums for sensitive skin should never be overlooked. No matter which skin concerns you’re navigating, soothing and balancing formulas are essential for long-term skin barrier health—especially if your established routine is already heavy on the actives.
“Over-exfoliating when the skin barrier is already stressed can lead to increased sensitivity, inflammation, and dryness,” board-certified physicians assistant Paula Brezavscek, PA-C, tells Vogue. This is especially true during cold weather months, when humidity in the air is low, and cranking the heat at home is high.
Vogue’s Favorite Serums for Sensitive Skin
In This Story
- What are calming serums?
- What to Look for in a Serum for Sensitive Skin
- Who should use a calming serum?
- How to Apply a Calming Serum
- Can calming serums help reduce skin redness?
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Brezavscek points barrier-supportive formulas, such as fatty acids, peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide are key to soothe skin and restore its lipid balance. While this edit is especially valuable for those focused on barrier repair and/or managing sensitivity, even the most resilient complexions can benefit from keeping a calming serum on hand—just in case irritation strikes.
Ahead, our edit of the best serums for sensitive skin, plus everything you need to know to choose the right one for you.
Best for Skin Discoloration: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel
- Why We Love It: “What sets this product apart, in my opinion, is its ability to effectively soothe and correct skin discoloration and redness associated with various skin conditions, making it a versatile choice for post-procedure care and daily use in sensitive skin regimens,” double-board-certified surgeon Lauren Moy, MD, tells Vogue. With its blend of hyaluronic acid, cucumber, thyme, and other botanical ingredients, board-certified dermatologist, Azadeh Shirazi, MD, cites its soothing properties—noting it as an excellent hydrator too. This pick is also a key part of actor Kristin Bell’s anti-redness skin-care routine.
- Key Ingredients: Thyme, olive, cucumber, eucalyptus leaf, hyaluronic acid
- Texture: Gel-serum
- Fragrance: Yes
- More To Know: Free from sulfates, parabens, oil, and phthalates.
- Size: 1 fl. oz. / 30 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Lightweight, non-greasy formula | A pricier pick |
| Botanically-derived soothing ingredients | Variety of essential oils may be heavy for acne-prone skin |
| Helps brighten hyperpigmentation |
Best Viral: The Ordinary Soothing Barrier Support Serum
- Why We Love It: Seemingly every winter, this affordable-yet-effective serum re-emerges as a viral TikTok pick. When your skin barrier is feeling particularly tight and angry from Arctic wing whipping, this pick is an easy fix. “This popular serum is hydrating and helps support the skin barrier,” board-certified dermatologist Lauren Penzi, MD, tells Vogue. Of its skin-boosting agents, she cites centella asiatica phytotechnologies, ceramides, niacinamide, vitamin B12, ginger root extract, rapeseed sterols, bisabolol and epigallocatechin gallate as the most effective in order to “reduce redness and dryness” with ease.
- Editor’s Experience: “I have rosacea, and any sort of aggravation (extreme weather or upsetting situation) can have me sporting red cheeks. This serum isn’t part of my daily routine, but it’s one I reach for in the winter, when my skin needs reprieve from the dryness and irritation caused by my arctic morning commute. It’s effective, gentle, and completely non-comedogenic.” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Centella asiatica phytotechnologies, ceramides, niacinamide, vitamin B12, ginger root extract, rapeseed sterols, bisabolol, epigallocatechin gallate
- Texture: Liquid-y
- Fragrance: No
- More To Know: Cruelty-free, vegan, alcohol-free, oil-fee, sulfate-free, silicone-free
- Size: 1 fl. oz. / 30 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Free from any harsh ingredients | Very fair skin tones might find this leaves a slight pink tint when not blended properly |
| Non-comedogenic and pH balanced | |
| Affordable price point |
Best for Eczema: Tower 28 SOS Intensive Rescue Serum
- Why We Love It: Loyalists to Tower 28’s hypochlorous acid spray might as well add their equally soothing, pH-balanced serum to their beauty bag. While not every product in the brand’s SOS collection includes hypochlorous acid (an excellent anti-acneic ingredient), the serum does. “I love this calming serum, primarily due to its innovative use of hypochlorous acid, a powerful yet gentle antimicrobial agent naturally produced by our white blood cells,” says Dr. Moy. “This ingredient sets it apart by reducing inflammation and bacteria on the skin without causing irritation, making it suitable even for highly sensitive skin.”
- Key Ingredients: Sodium magnesium fluorosilicate, sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, hypochlorous acid
- Texture: Lightweight, refreshing gel
- Fragrance: No
- More To Know: Cruelty-free, recycled packaging, free from fragrance, alcohol, soy, or gluten
- Size: 1.5 fl. oz. / 60 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| pH balanced, alcohol-free, and acne-safe | Not a particularly hydrating formula |
| Acne- and irritation-soothing formula |
Best Prebiotic: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Why We Love It: Board-certified dermatologist Mamina Turegano, MD, previously told Vogue that the formula features “a blend of two forms of hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and madecassoside to hydrate, plump, and calm—all at an accessible price point.” It also includes the French pharmacy brand’s signature Prebiotic Thermal Water, a soothing mix of minerals and antioxidants designed to comfort the skin. That said, this option does contain fragrance (a rarity for La Roche-Posay) though it is allergy-tested.
- Editor’s Experience: “One of my favorite hyaluronic acid serums of all time, La Roche-Posay’s Hyalu B5 is worth its weight in gold (water?). The texture is exceptionally satisfying—its sticky, almost snail mucin-like feel sinks instantly into skin. This yields glowy finish, long-lasting hydration, and wears well under makeup. It’s my travel must-have to ensure my skin remains calm and nourished through changing temps.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, madecassoside, glycerin, vitamin B5, dimethicone, La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water
- Texture: Gel-serum
- Fragrance: Yes
- More To Know:
- Size: 1 fl. oz. / 30 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Reduces the appearance of signs of aging through hydration | Some find the fragrance to be strong |
| Leaves skin feeling hydrated and calm | |
| Allergy-tested |
Best for Mature Skin: Osea Hyaluronic Acid Sea Serum
- Why We Love It: For those with dry, irritated skin, or mature skin (or all of the above!) Osea’s serum is a triple threat for hydrating, soothing, and boosting elasticity. In fact, it s a pick that board-certified dermatologist Erum Ilyas, MD, uses in her own routine, “I love this underrated product line,” Dr. Ilyas previously told Vogue. “There is no other product line that can give my skin a glow and boost in hydration that compares.” Aside from including two types of hyaluronic acid, Japanese miru seaweed, volcanic marine ferment, and snow mushrooms, all of which boast anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Plus, Osea’s serum isn’t only a favorite of Dr. Ilyas’s—Brie Larson is a big fan too.
- Key Ingredients: Japanese miru seaweed, hyaluronic acid, volcanic marine ferment, snow mushroom
- Texture: Serum-gel
- Fragrance: No
- More To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free; free from sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.
- Size: 1 oz
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and fast absorbing | A pricier pick |
| Boasts calming and anti-aging benefits | Not completely non-comedogenic—contains one potential pore clogger |
| Soothing |
Best Oat Extract: Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum
- Why We Love It: Don’t underestimate this drugstore pick. With nearly 5,000 glowing reviews on Amazon, this Aveeno calming serum is a crowdpleaser. According to Dr. Moy, oat is a “natural anti-inflammatory that helps to calm and soothe sensitive skin.” Fortunately, you don’t need to whip out the oats in your cabinet but instead pick up Aveeno’s Calm + Restore, which utilizes sativa oat kernel flour, extract, and oil, plus feverfew, glycerin, and centella asiatica extract. “The gentle formula calms irritated dry skin while strengthening skin’s moisture barrier,” Shirazi says.
- Key Ingredients: Sativa oat kernel flour, extract, and oil (triple oat complex) feverfew, glycerin, centella asiatica extract
- Texture: Light and creamy
- Fragrance: No
- More To Know: Vegan, dermatologist-tested, paraben-free, alcohol-free, and hypoallergenic.
- Size: 1 fl. oz. / 30 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Non-comedogenic | Not silicone-free |
| Highly soothing formula thanks to oat extract |
Best K-Beauty: Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum: Green Tea + Panthenol
- Why We Love It: To say that Beauty of Joseon’s serum packs a major antioxidant punch is an understatement. This formula features 50% green tea extract for major soothing and brightening benefits, alongside a generous helping of mugwort, and a splash of panthenol. On its efficacy, Dr. Penzi cosigns this pick, noting the combination of mugwort and green tea helps calm irritation— “[leaving] skin less red, less irritated, and even less prone to breakouts.”
- Editor’s Experience: “In my personal trial of the Korean skin-care routine, I’ve been particularly impressed with how the products manage to keep my complexion poreless without complication; and Beauty of Joseon’s Calming Serum is a favorite.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Green tea 50%, mugwort 30%, Panthenol (Vitamin B5) 5%
- Texture: Watery
- Fragrance: No
- More To Know: Alcohol-free, pregnancy-safe
- Size: 1 fl. oz. / 30 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| A low-irritation potential formula | Some find the texture of this pick to be particularly watery |
| Hydrating, calming, while gently brightening dark spots |
Best for Very Dry Skin: Allies of Skin Beta-Glucan Resveratrol Advanced Hydrating Serum
- Why We Love It: Another favorite of Dr. Turegano’s is this one from Allies of Skin, noted for its ability to promote calmer, plumper, and more resilient skin. It “delivers deep hydration and barrier support with beta-glucan and ceramides, while resveratrol, carnosine, and green tea antioxidants defend against oxidative stress, irritation, and visible aging,” she previously told Vogue. It’s also worth noting that the serum’s rich, thick texture allows it to double as a moisturizer.
- Key Ingredients: Beta glucan, ceramides, resveratrol, hyaluronic acid acid, green tea leaf extract
- Texture: Rich, lotion-like
- Fragrance: No
- More To Know: Cruelty-free; Free from alcohol, essential oils, silicone, and sulfates.
- Size: 1 fl. oz. / 30 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Intensely hydrating and calming | Some find this pick pills under makeup and sunscreen |
| Multi-purpose product |
Best for Environmental Stressors: Krave Beauty Great Barrier Relief
- Why We Love It: “What sets this serum apart is its ability to not only soothe irritated skin, but also address the root cause of sensitivity by fortifying the skin’s defenses against environmental stressors, making it particularly effective for those with compromised skin barriers or chronic sensitivity issues,” Dr. Moy explains—citing its combination of tamanu oil, niacinamide, and ceramides that “works synergistically to reduce inflammation, support the skin’s natural healing processes, and reinforce its protective barrier.”
- Editor’s Experience: “Back in my university days (located in a notoriously snowy place), my rosacea was angry. This was my go-to fix back then: It always soothed my blotchy red cheeks overnight. There’s no doubt about its effectiveness for calming redness—one con, though, was that my hyper-acne-prone skin did occasionally sprout a pimple after use (back then, I wasn’t aware I could obsessively check the comedogenicity of every formula).” —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
- Key Ingredients: Tamanu oil, niacinamide, ceramides, squalane
- Texture: Thicker and emollient (like a lotion)
- Fragrance: No
- More To Know: Vegan and cruelty-free; Free from alcohol and essential oils
- Size: 1.52 fl. oz. / 45 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Effective at soothing redness | Those with a niacinamide or nut allergies (tamanu oil) best avoid |
| Imparts dewy hydration | Not entirely non-comedogenic—contains two potential pore cloggers |
Best for Redness: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Serum
- Why We Love It: Looking to reverse redness? Dr. Jart+’s Soothing Repair Serum will be your new best friend. Shirazi calls it a “super serum” for its pairing of centella asiatica (dubbed by the brand as its Cica complex) and allantoin to “reduce redness, heal skin barrier breakdown, and soothe irritation.” Gently press a pump or two into skin, then follow with its Tiger Grass Treatment SPF 30 (one of our favorite Korean skin-care products) for additional color-correcting.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, allantoin, madecassic acid, centella asiatica leaf extract
- Texture: Water-y
- Fragrance: Yes
- More To Know: Free from parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, and sulfates
- Size: 1 fl. oz. / 30 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Non-comedogenic formula | Some find this to be slightly sticky |
| Calming blend of allantoin, cica, and madecassic acid | Contains niacinamide, so those with allergies should skip |
Best Clean Beauty: Tata Harper Superkind Bio-Barrier Serum
- Why We Love It: Calling all clean beauty enthusiasts whose complexions need a bit of TLC—Tata Harper’s Superkind serum to the rescue! Via 26—that’s right, 26— potent botanicals from licorice root and postbiotics to plant ceramides, red sage root, and hyaluronic acid, “this formula helps to rebalance the microbiome, fortify the skin barrier, and calm stressed skin while rejuvenating a supple and youthful appearance,” per Dr. Shirazi.
- Key Ingredients: Plant ceramides, volcanic postbiotic complex, sugar leaf, licorice root, red sage root, calendula flower bud, hyaluronic acid, castor seed oil, shea butter
- Texture: Light and creamy
- Fragrance: Yes (naturally-derived)
- More To Know: Free from sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone, talc, synthetic dyes, and artificial fragrances.
- Size: 1 fl. oz. / 30 mL
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Clean formula | A pricier pick |
| Formulated with both soothing botanicals to calm redness and naturally-derived active ingredients | Although naturally derived, this contains potential pore clogging ingredients |
Everything You Need to Know
What are calming serums?
“Calming serums are designed as liquids to be applied directly to the skin to combat irritation, redness and sensitivity,” Dr. Moy explains. “Their primary goal is to reduce inflammation, strengthen the skin barrier, and provide hydration.”
What to Look for in a Serum for Sensitive Skin
Dr. Moy starts by saying skin can become irritated for numerous reasons, often stemming from a breakdown in the barrier, which allows moisture to evaporate out and external allergens and substances to get in, leading to unhappy, inflamed skin. “Ideal ingredients in a calming serum will specifically target rebuilding the skin barrier, reducing inflammation, and locking in moisture.” Below, a breakdown of the best ingredients to consider.
- Aloe Vera: Aloe, rich in vitamins, amino acids, polysaccharides, and phytosterols, has a storied history as one of the best botanical soothing agents. “It is great for soothing, cooling, and calming the skin, which is why traditionally it has been a go to product for sunburn,” Dr. Penzi says. “Also, aloe vera’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce skin inflammation and can be beneficial for acne, eczema, and psoriasis.”
- Ceramides: Per Shirazi, ceramides help maintain the skin’s moisture balance, protect against environmental damage, and prevent water loss. “By reinforcing the skin’s barrier, ceramides help keep the skin hydrated, smooth, and resilient.”
- Chamomile: “[This] has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and soothing properties to calm irritated skin, reduce redness and inflammation, and promote healing.”
- Green Tea: “[Green tea] is shown to have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, green tea is an excellent skin-care ingredient for protecting skin from the sun and environmental pollutants and also to help reduce redness, swelling, and irritation,” Dr. Penzi explains.
- Oat: Oats are often found in soothing serums because they “contain compounds called avenanthramides, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties, making them effective in soothing irritated and inflamed skin.”
- Peptides: “Peptides are the building blocks of proteins which work to improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promote firmness and elasticity by signaling the skin to produce more collagen,” Shirazi says.
- Squalane: Dr. Penzi cites squalane as an ingredient to incorporate because it “forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, preventing water loss and maintaining hydration levels. it also possesses antioxidant properties, helping to neutralize free radicals that can damage skin cells and contribute to premature aging.”
Who should use a calming serum?
“Almost anyone can benefit from a calming serum, but those who benefit most include patients with eczema, sensitive skin, many allergies, rosacea, and even acne-prone skin,” Penzi says. She continues: “Calming serums are also helpful after sunburns, cosmetic treatments (lasers, peels, etcetera) or after a reaction to too strong of a skin-care product (i.e. a high dose AHA that caused irritation).”
How to Apply a Calming Serum
Turns out, you should apply calming serums as you would any other face serum. “Always apply your serum first, directly to slightly damp skin so that it can be fully absorbed and maximize its effect,” Dr. Moy says. “Moisturizers and other thicker skin-care products create a barrier, so always add these on after your serum has been applied. If using multiple serums, apply the most liquid one first, by gently patting into your skin.”
Can calming serums help reduce skin redness?
Yes, calming serums are one of the most effective ways to reduce skin redness. According to Dr. Moy, redness of the skin is seen whenever your superficial blood vessels become dilated and leaky. “This is a result of your body creating inflammation to take care of the ‘irritant’ invading the skin, which may be a bacteria or even a chemical,” she says. “Calming serums can work by directly decreasing this inflammatory response.”
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to serums for sensitive skin, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, finish, how long the hydration lasts, and the skin-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
Meet the Experts
- Paula Brezavscek, PA-C, is a board-certified dermatology physician associate and founder of Azala Skin Clinic.
- Edum Ilyas, MD, is a a board-certified dermatologist with the Schweiger Dermatology Group in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania,
- Lauren Moy, MD, is a Los Angeles–based double-board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon specializing in Mohs surgery.
- Lauren Penzi, MD, is a New York–based, board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Azadeh Shirazi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in La Jolla, California.
- Mamina Turegano, M.D. is a triple board-certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatopathologist based in Metairie, Louisiana.
