How to Get Rid of Crow’s Feet Naturally?
When it comes to aging, the first place where signs usually appear is around our eyes. This is because the skin around it is 40 times thinner than the rest of the face. Crow’s feet, the fine lines and wrinkles that appear around the eye area, are a very common sign of aging that affects almost everyone. If you’re wondering why we get them, what the causes are and how to get rid of them, you’ve come to the right place.
What are Crow’s Feet?
On average, we blink 15-20 times per minute (about 20,000 times a day) and it is this fundamental movement that causes the muscles around the eyes to curl and move, causing collagen and elastin to degrade over time. It’s not just blinking that causes these wrinkles, all facial movements, whether laughing or crying, will eventually lead to wrinkles. This is inevitable as we age, and unless you decide to blink less or stop smiling… there’s no way to stop it. However, there are other factors that contribute to skin aging, such as free radicals, sun damage and hormonal changes, some of which are preventable. We’ll give you some tips and changes to slow down the visible signs of fine lines and wrinkles.
You will notice two types of wrinkles around the eyes – dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles. You will notice that dynamic wrinkles are wrinkles that occur when the muscles move i.e. when you smile. Static wrinkles are wrinkles that become ingrained over time and are constantly visible on the face.
What are the main causes of crow’s feet?
As mentioned earlier, there are many factors that can cause crow’s feet, from the natural aging process to lifestyle choices. Here are some examples of the main causes of crow’s feet:
Frequent blinking – Make sure you visit your eye doctor regularly to ensure that your vision is normal and that you do not need to change your vision or wear glasses. How to avoid squinting to cause wrinkles. You should also wear sunglasses or a hat to protect your eyes from the sun. You will notice a noticeable difference in the appearance of your skin and you will blink less.
Excessive rubbing of the eyes – Be careful when removing makeup or cleaning the eye area, a hard hand can pull on the delicate skin and make it look older.
Smoking – This damages the skin in many ways, it slows down blood circulation and collagen production, causing the skin to age prematurely and develop wrinkles and fine lines.
Your sleeping position – This can also contribute to skin aging. Avoid sleeping on your side as this can cause crow’s feet. You can also replace your pillowcase with silk as this material is gentle and less damaging to your skin and hair.
Excessive sun exposure can accelerate skin aging as free radicals damage the skin’s protective barrier, leading to wrinkles, dark spots, and inflammation.
The natural aging process is also one of the main causes of skin aging. With a good skin care routine, you can reverse the signs of premature aging and slow down skin aging even further.
How to get rid of crow’s feet around your eyes?
Eye cream
It may feel silly to use a separate product on the eye area, but if you have sensitive eyes and are easily irritated, you may find that eye cream formulas are gentler to use. There are some active ingredients to look out for when deciding which eye product is best for you;
Hyaluronic Acid – Very nourishing for the thinner skin around the eyes and can help reduce some signs of fine lines
Vitamin C – Rich in antioxidants, can counteract damage caused by free radicals
Retinol – Best used daily in the evening, is a powerful anti-aging ingredient
Vitamin E – Rich in photoprotective properties, helps repair the skin and prevent further damage
Always remember to apply eye cream with your ring finger as this will naturally reduce pressure and avoid pulling on the skin.
SPF
Applying sunscreen daily can prevent further damage to the skin and allow skincare to reverse signs of aging that are already there. SPF is found in a range of eye care products and its lightweight formula contains gentle mineral filters that protect the skin from UV radiation without irritating the eyes.
Face Exercises
Facial exercises can also help reduce crow’s feet and are very easy to do;
Maintain pressure on eye wrinkles – Place your index and middle fingers on the outer corner of the eye wrinkle area, gently press down and hold the position for 5 seconds. Repeat up to 3 times for best results.
Eye tapping – Using your fingertips, tap along the natural curve of your eyes to encourage blood flow to the eye area, making the skin appear plumper and smoother.
Smooth out wrinkles – Place your index finger at the outer corner of your eye and gently stretch the skin upwards. Repeat this five times for each eye.
More prevention tips
Make sure your skin is not overexposed to the sun’s UV rays. Protect yourself by applying sunscreen before heading out.
Avoiding tanning beds is also good for your skin and can help reduce the signs of premature aging.
Quit smoking. Nicotine disrupts collagen production, making existing fine lines and wrinkles deeper and more noticeable.
A healthy diet with plenty of nutritious vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains can protect your skin from free radical damage.
These are examples of how to get rid of crow’s feet around your eyes. There are many options, but we’ve found these to be the most effective and simple additions to your daily skincare routine.
What treatments can help reduce crow’s feet?
If you want to take further steps to treat your crow’s feet, there are some skin treatments you may want to consider:
Botox and fillers
This is considered the fastest-acting treatment because Botox relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles, providing a smoother, wrinkle-free appearance. Fillers can help anyone who finds that their eye area has lost volume and looks more hollow.
Skin tightening
The skin tightening effects are the same as fillers and Botox, but using a temperature-controlled device that penetrates deeper into the skin, increasing blood flow and smoothing the area. The process is very quick, taking only 10-15 minutes, and is completely painless!
Microneedling
Microneedling is performed using a handheld device that causes controlled damage to the skin. While it sounds scary, it simply sends a signal to the skin to produce collagen to heal the skin, making it appear plumper and wrinkle-free.
All of the above treatments should be performed by a professional and not attempted at home. If you have concerns or want to learn more about which treatment is best for you, consult a dermatologist or a trained professional.
So there you have it, some answers on how to get rid of crow’s feet! If you’re also concerned about forehead wrinkles, you can read a related blog post on our website.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.