8 ways to erase crow's feet

What causes wrinkles around eyes? Any movement of the eye area—smiling, squinting, laughing, frowning—works the muscles under the skin, eventually creating crow’s feet. “Lines near the eyes are caused by the action of a circular muscle (orbicularis oculi),” explains Dustin Portela, MD, a dermatologist in Boise, ID. “When we express with our eyes, it contracts and pulls inward. Repeating this action over the course of years will cause grooves or lines to develop in the skin.” UV light exposure can also break down skin’s collagen, the protein that gives it smoothness.

Four Keys to Preventing Eye Lines

GH Beauty Lab scientists and dermatologists suggest these easy methods for warding off (or minimising) eye-area creases.

Protect against sun damage

"To avoid lines around the eyes, always wear SPF,” advises dermatologist Sherwin Parikh, MD, a co-founder of AP Chem skincare and founder of Tribeca Skin Center in New York City. Seek out a face- or eye-specific sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to shield the sensitive skin against wrinkle-inducing UV rays (mineral formulas tend to be gentler for the eye area). In addition, “Wearing sunglasses provides extra UV protection and reduces glare to prevent squinting, which causes muscle strain that can lead to creasing,” he says. 

Use products with ingredients that fortify the delicate skin

“Be diligent about moisturising around the eyes,” Dr Parikh says. Look for eye creams that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid and peptides that boost hydration and collagen, he suggests. Apply eye treatments twice daily, in the morning and in the evening, for at least four weeks to see results, the GH Beauty Lab recommends. 

Consider red-light therapy devices

Skincare isn’t the only DIY option for preventing and minimising eye lines. Another with potential: LED face or eye masks that use visible red light to up collagen production, improving skin texture. “There is some small evidence that at-home red-light therapy can be helpful to stimulate collagen production, and there are a number of red-light masks available,” Dr Portela says. “But you must be very consistent when using these and have realistic expectations for modest results.”

Practice healthy habits

When it comes to crow’s feet, simple everyday behaviors are important too, Dr Portela says. Along with applying SPF, “the best ways to stop crow’s feet from forming or worsening are to avoid smoking, get plenty of sleep each night and consume a healthy and well-balanced diet,” he notes.

When do crow’s feet start to appear?

There’s no hard-and-fast rule for when you can first expect to see eye-area wrinkles, but for most people they will start to become apparent around the mid-30s. “Depending on genetic and environmental factors, one could notice crow’s feet as early as the 20s, though,” says Dr Parikh. “We often see people as young as that, because crow’s feet can be very much hereditary.” 

Behaviour and lifestyle factors also play a major role

Smoking, excessive tanning, UV exposure and even not moisturising regularly can cause these lines to appear at a younger age. “UV light exposure accelerates the breakdown of collagen in skin,” Dr Portela says. “The thin skin around the eyes is especially susceptible, and as we lose collagen, lines will develop much more easily.”

Pro Eye-Wrinkle Solutions to Know

For more dramatic, sometimes immediate and lasting results, visit a dermatologist for treatments to diminish crow’s feet. 

Tightening treatments such as radio frequency can help lessen the appearance of eye-area creases by firming skin’s collagen and helping stimulate new collagen growth.

Face lasers are especially effective at reducing the look of crow’s feet, as they cause micro wounds in skin that prompt collagen production, which can smoothen texture. Many types of lasers can deliver results; a dermatologist can discuss the best options for your desired effect and inform you about any expected downtime. 

Injectable neuromodulators (e.g., Botox, Xeomin, Dysport and Jeuveau) are some of the most impactful treatments to fend off and reverse eye lines. They work to relax expression muscles so creases don’t form on the skin. “The muscles around the eye contract and that leads to line formation, which is why tiny injections of neuromodulators help reduce the look of crow’s feet,” Dr Parikh explains. “They also prevent lines from getting deeper by inhibiting constant muscular contraction and tension.” 

Microneedling is another option to help minimise eye-area wrinkles. “Microneedling causes small injuries to the skin that can help induce new collagen growth as well as tighten,” Dr Portela says. “Radiofrequency partnered with microneedling is a newer treatment that can give excellent results.” Note that “microneedling and lasers must be used with absolute precision around the eyes to avoid any damage,” Dr Parikh says. “Only a board-certified physician should perform these procedures.