Here’s What Can (& Can’t) Reduce the Look of Crow’s Feet, According to an Expert

I think it’s safe to say that 90% of the clients I see are concerned with their eye area (but aren’t we all?).

The eyes are definitely one of the first places to show signs of premature ageing, and yes, this includes fine lines and under-eye wrinkles aka crow's feet.

There are different ways you can go about how to treat crow's feet.

If you want to know how to improve wrinkles around the eyes, then you'll find this article very handy.

What Are Crow’s Feet?

Hang on... what is crow's feet, you ask?

Crow's feet is the term that’s often given to those fine lines and wrinkles that pop up when we smile or laugh.

But before we go on, yes, there is nothing wrong with wrinkles under eyes, and yes, most people will get them.

However, genetics do play a role, as does the way we look after our skin.

If they don’t bother you, that’s OK too.

It is totally acceptable to leave the eye area alone and some people may even prefer to skip eye cream altogether.

Everyone is different.

If fine lines do bother you, there are definitely skincare ingredients and treatments you could be incorporating into your routine as a preventative measure - and to keep the skin around the eye area healthy. 

Keen to learn more about eye products? Check out our YouTube video below.

What Is the Best Product for Crow’s Feet?

The thing is, a lot of skincare and skin treatments are preventative.

And unless you don't mind the idea of cosmetic injectables (botox, filler) in the future, I personally think it’s important to be using a specific eye cream to treat your eye area and target your concerns early on.

Why? Because the skin around your eyes is different to the rest of the face.

Yes, it is often OK to take your hydrating serums and moisturisers near your eye area (as long as they don’t irritate your eyes or cause little white milia), but if you have age management concerns, you will need stronger actives to treat these concerns.

So, can you 'get rid of' crow's feet with skincare alone? Probably not.

But there are things in the skincare world that can help moisturise and treat the delicate eye area, and in turn, prevent signs of premature ageing - like crow's feet.

What Won’t Help With Crow’s Feet.

Lots of products claim to get rid of crow's feet, so here are a few of them and other things that won't actually help much:

• Not using an eye cream at all - obviously. A high-quality eye cream will make a big difference. 

• Eye creams without vitamin A and/or peptides. If fine lines and wrinkles are your main concerns, you need these ingredients in your eye cream.

• Eye contour massage tools - these can treat puffiness, but do very little to treat crow's feet. 

• Skipping sunscreen! Sunscreen is the best preventative tool against ageing - and yes, this includes for the eye area, too.

How to Improve Wrinkles Around the Eyes.

If you're wondering how to get rid of under-eye wrinkles or how to get rid of crow's feet, I hate to break it to everyone, but sadly, you can’t get rid of eye wrinkles for good.

There are, however, ways to manage the ageing process. 

Now, onto the best products for crow's feet.

1. Anti-Wrinkle Injections (Botox) & Dermal Fillers.

These are a very effective way to treat crow's feet.

Cosmetic injectables will require ongoing maintenance, as well as a proper consultation and treatment plan to determine the best path for you. 

Always consult a medical professional for personalised advice.

2. Eye Creams & Eye Serums.

Want to know how to get rid of crow's feet without Botox?

If you're looking for the best eye serum, crow's feet treatment or just some crow's feet products to add to your routine, these are what you need to look for:

Vitamin A based eye products (aka a retinol eye cream):

These stimulate the production of collagen and help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

They are holy grail for crow's feet, and the closest way to get rid of crow's feet without having anti-wrinkle injections.

Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum is a good one to try.

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Masks 5 Pack are handy if you prefer an eye mask.

Peptide-based eye products:

Peptides essentially encourage the skin to look and act younger. They’re like tiny messengers that can trigger skin cells to build collagen and elastin, and are great for all skin types.

And throughout pregnancy when you can’t use vitamin A, they help firm and hydrate the skin. 

Try the Cosmedix Opti Crystal-Liquid Eye Serum or the SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex - both are great under-eye wrinkle treatments.

3. Sunscreen & Wearing Sunglasses.

Sunscreen is a must for age management prevention.

Although do you know what’s even better? Protecting the eye area completely by covering up.

Sunglasses are very underrated, but also very handy when it comes to age management. 

The bigger, the better, I say!

Yad's TikTok video on 3 simple ways to prevent eye wrinkles says it all.

4. Skin Treatments.

Microneedling, laser resurfacing, some chemical peels.

These are all skin treatments that injure the skin (in a controlled manner) and in turn, boost collagen production.

This makes them great for ageing - and fine lines/wrinkles around the eye area.

5. Hydrating Products.

Hydrating eye products work to fight dryness and dehydration in the skin.

This is very important because skin that isn’t properly hydrated can look dull, and fine lines can can look more prominent which = premature ageing.

Again, if you’re not keen on an eye cream, it is OK to take your moisturiser around the eye area to keep the eye area healthy and hydrated.

My Final Verdict on Crow's Feet...

Finally, as a dermal therapist (and a mum-of-three), I am a huge believer in eye creams.

I do believe eye creams can work as a preventative measure to keep the skin healthy, and you might not want to go down the cosmetic route anyway, so an eye cream feels like insurance. 

But I can't finish this article without sharing my all-time favourite eye product with you.

Société Eye Peptide Masks are absolute gold.

I lived off these masks postpartum, and they can make you feel alive after a sleepless night.

YES they’re expensive, but I kept them for emergencies.

They were a nice treat when I was surviving off three hours of sleep.

Keen for some more eye product recommendations? Check out these articles below:

• Bargain vs Bougie: 5 Eye Creams With Very Different Price Tags

• Is This L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Plumping ‘Filler’ Eye Serum Worth the Hype?

• Meet 5 of the Best Eye Creams & Serums for Fine Lines and Wrinkles