In this article:
What are crow’s feet?
Can you get rid of crow’s feet?
How to minimise crow’s feet
Gentle skin care for crow’s feet
Exfoliation to help minimise crow’s feet
Sunscreen for crow’s feet
Best eye creams for crow’s feet
In the world of anti-ageing skin care, one of the most prominent – and challenging – concerns is tackling crow’s feet. These aren’t under eye wrinkles – we’re talking about those etched wrinkles that start at the outer corner of the eye area and fan out that got their name because their pattern resembles a crow’s foot.
How do people get crow’s feet in the first place, and once you have them, is there anything you can do to improve their appearance? Read on for the research-based information you need to know!
What are crow’s feet?
Crow’s feet, scientifically known as lateral canthal lines and sometimes called “eye crinkles,” are wrinkles that form at the outer edges of the eyes with age. They’re the result of repeated facial expressions, like smiling and squinting, over several years. Sun damage, skin ageing, pollution and family history also contribute to the appearance of crow’s feet.
Dermatologists refer to types of wrinkles that appear due to facial muscle contractions as “dynamic lines” (1). Over time, these dynamic lines become static, meaning they appear on skin even when there are no muscle contractions, resulting in crow’s feet. Facial expressions such as a genuine smile exaggerate these lines and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman elaborates, “that facial expressions can cause these lines to be ‘etched in’ even at rest.” He adds, “Etched in lines are harder to treat and are best prevented.”
Can you get rid of crow’s feet?
The answer to this question is not necessarily straightforward. How much you can do to get rid of crow’s feet depends on how prominent they appear – essentially, what stage of crow’s feet you might have.
If you 're just beginning to see lines at the edges of your eyes, or if your crow’s feet have already appeared but look better after you’ve applied skin care, there are steps you can take to keep them from advancing to permanent crow’s feet.
If you have deeply etched lines, seeking out the help of a skin care professional is the best course of action, as they can provide in-office procedures and treatments that can make a big difference (2, 3). Such treatments complement the results from skin care, especially daily sun protection.
How to minimise crow’s feet
Now that we know what level of crow’s feet can be treated with over the counter (OTC) skin care products, let’s get right down to what you can do to minimise them. A lot of people ask, “Can you get rid of crow’s feet without Botox®?”
As we stated earlier, the answer in some cases is yes, which is incredibly encouraging. The key is to select well-formulated skin care products containing restoring ingredients proven to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles – and that includes crow’s feet.
Research has found that use of an advanced skin care routine can help reduce the visible depth of crow’s feet as it works to improve skin’s brightness, hydration and overall tone (4). While an advanced skin care routine includes some extra steps, it’s worth it when it comes to the appearance of skin. Building a skin care routine is easier than you might think when you read our tips on which specific ingredients to look for below.
Gentle skin care for crow’s feet
When searching for skin care products to combat crow’s feet, it’s critical to follow a gentle anti-ageing skin care routine free of drying alcohols and sensitising ingredients. Irritation is pro-ageing and can harm skin’s foundation over time, leaving it more susceptible to damage that will worsen the appearance of crow’s feet. Dr. Hartman also notes, “Dry skin also wrinkles more easily, so moisturisation is also crucial.”
Skip harmful ingredients and instead seek out products loaded with soothing, restoring and replenishing ingredients which will help shore up skin’s structure and leave it better prepared to resist crow’s feet.
Exfoliation to help minimise crow’s feet
Remember that advanced skin care routine we mentioned a little earlier? Here’s one step you’ll want to include if you’re trying to improve the look of crow’s feet: exfoliation.
Among the many reasons we start to see wrinkles and fine lines as we age is because our skin simply doesn’t behave the same way it did when we were younger. When skin is young, it has a healthy shedding process that routinely gets rid of dead surface cells to reveal glowing, smooth skin underneath. As time progresses, that shedding slows down – or even stops altogether – resulting in dullness, fine lines and exaggerating the look of wrinkles.
Applying an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA) exfoliant around the eye area works to restore skin’s natural, healthy shedding process. When applying a leave-on exfoliant near the eye area, be sure to use a properly formulated product (correct pH, gentle ingredients and appropriate packaging) avoiding the eyelid and below the eye, near the lash line. “Eye skin is some of the thinnest and most sensitive skin on the body so choose products wisely,” says Dr. Hartman.
The result? Improved skin texture, plumped skin, a more even tone, and yes, the diminished appearance of those crow’s feet!
Sunscreen for crow’s feet
Aside from not smiling, and we certainly don’t want you to do that, the number one thing you must do every day to help prevent crow's feet is to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen around your eyes (and the rest of your face, too) every day.
Eye-area sun protection is integral because most signs of ageing on the face, including crow's feet, are largely caused by cumulative sun damage. This exposure results in a loss of firmness and an increase in wrinkles on the face and body.
When it comes to choosing a sunscreen for the eye area, look for SPF products that contain the mineral sunscreen actives of titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, which are generally mild enough for use in that delicate area.
Best eye creams for crow’s feet
Finding the best eye cream for crow’s feet is dependent on which ingredients an eye cream or gel formula contains. Also keep in mind that your ideal crow’s feet cream might not be an eye cream at all, but instead a state-of-the-art facial moisturiser that can do double duty!
Two ingredients to keep an eye out for – pun intended – are niacinamide and retinol. There is a lot of new and exciting research about how niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3), along with retinol (vitamin A) and its “sister ingredients,” retinoids, work on skin (5, 6, 7). They partner with other components of skin to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dullness, and prime the skin against moisture loss while increasing suppleness and the feeling of firmness.
If your current facial care routine doesn't contain a product with these ingredients, you can seek out a 10% niacinamide booster to use around the eye area, or retinol or retinoid cream, serum or targeted treatment.
Targeted peptides can also go a long way to helping reduce the appearance of crow’s feet. Our Pro-Collagen Peptide Firming Eye Serum features peptides that reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, support elasticity and firmness and help skin appear plumper and firmer (8).
A quick note: When you’re looking for eye creams for crow’s feet, always read the product packaging to make sure the product is eye safe and can be applied in that area. The skin around the eyes is delicate and needs to be treated a bit differently than skin on the cheeks, forehead and chin.
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References for this information:
- Dermatologic Surgery, April 2015, pages 447-456
- Medicine, July 2023, pages S44–S50
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, July 2020, pages 1,593-1,599
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, August 2020, pages 1,993-1,999
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, February 2022, pages 103-117
- Dermatological Reviews, December 2023, pages 268-277
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, July 2023, pages 2,040-2,049
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, April 2022, pages 3,458–3,463
