How to Get Rid of Crows Feet

As you age, your skin undergoes gradual changes—like losing elastin (its stretch) and collagen (its plumpness). Sun damage, free radicals, and hormonal changes can accelerate the process. Some parts of the face are more susceptible than others to the signs of aging, including the delicate eye area. This loss of skin elasticity and collagen combined with tiny muscle contractions can cause crow’s feet to develop over time.

On average we blink 15–20 times a minute (that's 20,000 times per day), causing the facial muscles to crinkle and almost constantly move. All facial movements, whether they are happy or sad, will eventually cause lines and wrinkles. The skin around the eye also has very few oil glands, meaning it can be prone to dryness, which can exacerbate the look of fine lines.

There are two different types of crow’s feet wrinkles: dynamic and static. Dynamic wrinkles are those that appear during muscle contraction. If your crow’s feet are primarily visible when you are smiling, they are probably dynamic. Static wrinkles may worsen with muscle contraction, but they are always visible, even when the face is at rest. Treatment options are available no matter which type of crow’s feet you have. In fact, some people can completely reverse the signs of crow’s feet—at least temporarily.

Crow’s feet may be tough to conceal, but following these product tips can give you results you’ll love!

1. Apply a moisturizing eye cream in the morning and night before applying makeup.

Best eye cream for crow’s feet:

Elemis Peptide4 Eye Recovery Cream: Hydrating eye cream that targets tired and overworked eyes to improve the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines.

Pro-Collagen Definition Eye & Lip Contour Cream: Targets the signs of aging on the thin skin around the eyes and lips for a plumper, younger look.

2. Try using a silicone-based primer to fill in the deep “valleys” of your wrinkles and create a smoother appearance.

3. Go easy on the concealer and foundation. Heavy makeup makes wrinkles more pronounced. 

4. Try a light to medium coverage foundation or a beauty balm.

If you don’t have time to get a new foundation, try applying your current one with a damp sponge. Blend it well for flawless, light coverage.

5. Don’t use loose powder on your crow’s feet. It can settle in your wrinkles.

6. Draw attention away from your eyes by skipping false eyelashes, shimmery eye shadow, and dark liquid liners.

Instead, use a highlighter on your cheeks and a dramatic lipstick.

Crow’s feet are a natural part of getting older, but there are some things you can do to limit the severity of these wrinkles and slow down their development.

Limit Sun Exposure

We all look forward to gorgeous, sunny days. But just a few minutes of sun exposure can leave an impact. Make sure you wear sunscreen daily! Try a moisturizer or foundation with SPF 15+. If you’re planning on being in the sun, even for short periods of time, look for products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more. We recommend our Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30. This ultimate 3-in-one anti-wrinkle moisturizer improves hydration and firmness while protecting the skin from sun exposure. Now you can go hit the beach! But don’t forget your hat and sunglasses!

Make Lifestyle Changes

We can all benefit from making healthier choices—from what we put in our body to what we do with it. A diet full of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and healthy oils can protect skin from damage by free radicals. Daily exercise gets the blood moving, which brings oxygen to the skin. And since smoking produces free radicals in the body making wrinkles appear sooner, trying to break the habit will be the best decision for you.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation is another crucial preemptive measure, as it helps minimize crow's feet that have already started forming. Exfoliating works by taking away the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin and forcing fresh skin to the surface. This also adds volume to the epidermis, helping to smooth lines. We suggest our Superfood Blackcurrant Jelly Exfoliator. This antioxidant-rich facial scrub is packed with exfoliating crushed blackcurrants to leave skin feeling smooth, soft, and revitalized.

Moisturize Daily

Moisturizing adds nourishing hydration back to the skin, giving it a youthful glow. Use moisturizers and eye creams with collagen and antioxidants, such as Vitamin C. Our go-to is the Elemis Pro-Collagen Vitality Eye Cream. It can be used on the eyelids to visibly lift and firm for a livelier look.

All in all, if you’re wondering how to get rid of crow’s feet naturally or without botox, taking small daily measures (like incorporating crow’s feet treatment) can lead to transformative changes in your appearance. Feel like the best, most beautiful version of yourself again!