How To Soften the Appearance of Crow’s Feet Wrinkles

Crow’s feet eye wrinkles—those small fine lines that appear at the outer corners of your eyes—are often one of the first visible signs of skin aging. While crow’s feet are nothing to be ashamed of (nearly everybody gets them!), it’s normal to wonder whether there’s anything you can do to make them less noticeable.

While you can’t snap your fingers and make crow’s feet disappear, the right skincare routine and habits can help minimize their appearance. Keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about this common skin concern, including what causes crow’s feet wrinkles, tips for preventing them, and how to soften their appearance with targeted eye creams and serums.

What Are Crow’s Feet?

Crow’s feet, also known as lateral canthal lines, are tiny wrinkles that appear at the outer corners of your eyes. Their name comes from their similar resemblance to the shape of a crow’s footprint. Crow’s feet are a common sign of skin aging that can begin to appear as early as your late 20s. When you’re young, you may only notice crow’s feet wrinkles when you’re smiling, squinting, or laughing. Over time, however, these creases can become a permanent fixture on your face.

What Causes Crow's Feet?

The causes of crow’s feet vary, from the natural aging process to certain habits (such as sunbathing). Ahead, we’ll break down some of the most common factors that can contribute to crow’s feet wrinkles.

Age

It’s a well-known fact that aging can lead to crow’s feet, but let’s get into a bit of the science behind why. According to the Cleveland Clinic, two proteins that help skin retain its plump, youthful appearance—collagen and elastin—naturally decrease as you age. This process begins in early adulthood, and crow’s feet may begin to appear shortly after—often in your late 20s or early 30s.

Sun damage

Exposure to UV rays can lead to a host of skin concerns, including discoloration, dullness, and—you guessed it—crow’s feet. One of the best ways to help prevent premature skin aging is to practice safe sun exposure. That means wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day (even if it’s cloudy), avoiding direct sunlight at midday, and seeking shade whenever possible.

Repeated facial expressions

Like all fine lines, crow’s feet can be caused by making repeated facial expressions. Any motion that causes the muscles around your eyes to contract (like squinting, smiling, or even crying) can lead to creasing and contribute to the development of crow’s feet wrinkles.

Genetics

According to the Cleveland Clinic, your genetics can play a role in when you develop crow’s feet (and how prominent they are). Some evidence suggests that men are more likely to develop crow’s feet earlier in life than women, due to both internal and lifestyle factors.

4 Ways To Help Prevent Crow’s Feet

While crow's feet are an inevitable part of aging for many, there are a few things you can do to slow their development. Here are a few easy practices to adopt in your daily life to keep those pesky creases at bay—at least for a little while longer.

Wear SPF

As previously mentioned, sun exposure can damage the skin and contribute to crow’s feet around the eyes (not to mention a host of other skin concerns). For adequate protection, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day. You’ll also want to reapply it at least every two hours—more frequently if you’re sweating or swimming.

If you tend to find standard sunscreens feel too heavy on your skin, reach for a lightweight lotion, such as the L'Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion. The non-greasy formula provides broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection against UVA and UVB rays and helps prime the skin for makeup. Plus, the hydrating formula leaves the skin brighter-looking and smoother with continued use.

Accessorize wisely

Wearing sunglasses and a wide-brim hat when you’re outdoors can help to keep your eyes (and the skin around them) shielded from the sun, which can help prevent crow’s feet. When choosing sunglasses, be sure to opt for a pair that offers UV protection—otherwise, all you’ll be blocking out is the light.

Prioritize rest

It may seem far-fetched, but research published in Mechanism of Ageing and Development shows that psychological stress can contribute to the development of age-related skin concerns, including crow’s feet. Obviously, avoiding stress entirely is a tall order. But taking time to relax and prioritizing self-care may help to keep your stress levels in check. Similarly, it’s a good idea to aim for a solid seven to nine hours of sleep per night, as sleep deprivation can exacerbate the visible signs of aging.

Add retinol to your routine

Retinol is a popular skincare ingredient commonly used to help smooth fine lines, firm the skin, and promote a plump, youthful appearance. If you’re starting to notice crow’s feet wrinkles around your eyes, consider adding a retinol serum, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Night Serum, 0.3% Pure Retinol, to your skincare routine. While it won’t outright prevent crow’s feet, the fast-absorbing formula can help refine the skin and smooth the appearance of fine lines with consistent use.

How To Get Rid of Crow's Feet

If you want to get rid of existing crow’s feet, you’ll need to schedule a visit with your dermatologist. There are some in-office treatments that can help drastically reduce the appearance of those fine lines. Keep in mind, however, that shelling out thousands of dollars on fillers or injections won’t guarantee permanent results—eventually, your crow’s feet will re-appear. Maintaining a consistent skincare routine is the best way to keep your skin looking fresh, youthful, and healthy.

Our Best Eye Creams and Serums for Crow’s Feet

Adding a targeted eye cream or serum to your routine is a great way to help minimize the appearance of crow’s feet and slow their development. Keep scrolling for a look at some of our favorite anti-aging formulas to try.

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid + Caffeine Eye Serum

Hydrate, plump, and refresh your eye area with this fast-absorbing eye serum, which contains a blend of hyaluronic acid and caffeine. The potent formula helps brighten dark under-eye circles, de-puffs, and smooths the appearance of crow’s feet wrinkles. Wear it alone or layer it under a richer eye cream for added hydration.

L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Midnight Eye Opener

Awaken your eye area with this anti-aging eye cream infused with a patented antioxidant and vitamin E. The formula is designed to visibly improve eight signs of eye aging, including crow’s feet, lid sagging, and wrinkles. Think of it as beauty sleep in a jar. Applied nightly, it reveals visibly lifted, younger-looking eyes.

L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream

Achieve smoother, firmer skin around your eyes in as little as 4 weeks. Specially crafted for the delicate eye area, this daily moisturizer features the powerful duo of Stimuplex™ and Pro-Retinol®. Enjoy 360-degree action that targets the appearance of wrinkles, firms skin, and visibly reduces puffiness, effectively diminishing the “morning puffy look.”

How To Conceal Crow’s Feet With Makeup

Using an eye cream isn’t the only step you can take to address the appearance of crow’s feet. While crow’s feet wrinkles are harder to conceal than some other skin concerns, the right routine can help minimize their appearance. Here are three key steps to follow.

Step 1. Apply a smoothing face primer

After your sunscreen and eye cream absorb, you can begin your makeup routine. Start by priming your skin and eye area with the L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Pore Minimizer. The non-comedogenic formula helps blur the appearance of imperfections and smooths the skin while extending makeup wear for up to 24 hours. To apply it, shake the bottle well, then spread a small amount of the formula over your skin, much in the way you would your facial moisturizer. Allow the formula to dry for a moment before moving on to the next step.

Step 2. Layer on a hydrating concealer

Dryness can make fine lines, such as crow’s feet, more apparent. As such, it’s a good idea to use a hydrating concealer around your eye area. We like the L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, which contains hyaluronic acid and delivers up to 24 hours of hydration. Most importantly, it won’t settle into fine lines or creases—so you don’t have to worry about the product clumping up and making your crow’s feet eye wrinkles more noticeable.

Step 3. Set with powder

It’s always a good idea to set your concealer with powder to help ensure it stays in place. To avoid leaving your eye area looking dry or cakey, look for a formula that feels light and airy on the skin. The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blur-Fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder, as it sets makeup in place while helping to brighten the skin and blur the appearance of imperfections. Pick up a small amount on a fluffy brush, tap off any excess product, and then lightly pat the powder onto your concealer to set it in place.

Next Up: How To Make Mature Skin Look Dewy and Smooth

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris