How to get rid of crows feet

What are crows feet and what causes them? Find out how to get rid of crows feet with NIVEA

How to get rid of crows feet

Smile lines, laughter lines, crows feet. All signs of a life well lived, so never forget how beautiful they can be. Some people might be keen to reduce their appearance – that’s fine, everyone has a preference.

So, what are crows feet? What causes them, how can you prevent them, and how can you improve their overall appearance? Let’s dive in…

What are crows feet?

Crows feet are wrinkles that occur at the outer corner of the eyes.

The skin around the eyes is 40% thinner than the skin on the rest of your face – that means it’s extremely delicate. Because it’s so thin, it’s one of the areas that doesn’t easily retain moisture, and that’s why it tends to be one of the first areas to wrinkle as we get older.

What causes crows feet wrinkles?

Most people get crows feet eventually, it’s just part of growing older and skin changing as we age. But, there are some things that can contribute to early-onset crows feet.

1) Loss of elasticity

The biggest cause of crows feet wrinkles is a loss of elasticity in the skin combined with early wrinkles caused by smiling and squinting. Over time, your skin’s elasticity decreases and normal facial expressions result in heavier wrinkles around the eyes.

2) Age

Feel like your crows feet are forming a little too early? Don’t worry – it’s normal for crow’s feet to form when people are in their 30s, although some people are affected by visible crow’s feet in their mid-20s.

3) Sun exposure

The sun emits UV rays, which can cause damage to your skin if overexposed. This damage can effect how well your skin bounces back into shape, leading to laughter lines and crows feet. Be sure to avoid overexposing your skin to direct sunlight, and always protect your skin with sunscreen.

4) Diet

A healthy and balanced diet is key for your skin to function at its best. So in contrast, an unhealthy diet hinders how well your skin will perform, meaning that its elasticity and ability to bounce back into shape is affected - encouraging crows feet to form. Smoking can also cause crows feet, by exposing your skin to toxins and pollutants that trigger the signs of premature ageing.

What does it mean if someone has crows feet?

Crows feet are nothing to be ashamed of – they just mean you’ve lived a great life, full of laughter and smiles. But we know some people are bothered by their appearance. Don't worry – there are a lot of ways to prevent and reduce the appearance of crows feet.

4 ways to prevent crows feet

Here are a few easy ways to protect the delicate eye area and prevent crows feet from forming.

1. Protect yourself from UV rays
Try and reduce your exposure to UV Rays by staying inside during peak hours. UV rays are damaging and can cause signs of premature aging.

Always protect your skin with a hat, long clothing and an SPF sun cream. Plus, NIVEA offers different sun creams so you can cater to all your skin’s needs. But remember to always read the label and use only as directed.

2. Stop squinting
If you need glasses or contact lenses, make sure you wear them. This will help you see clearly, so you can stop squinting.

Similarly, if you’re sensitive to sunlight, carry your sunglasses with you when you head outside. This will help you stop squinting in the brightness and give that delicate skin some much-needed protection from the sun.

3. Stay relaxed
The skin around the eye area is super delicate. So be careful and try not to stretch, rub or irritate the area. Once you start thinking about it, you’ll catch yourself being less than gentle in your day-to-day actions – and that rough activity can contribute to crows feet wrinkles.

Try to stop, or at least reduce the amount of time you spend:
- Resting your head in your hands
- Frowning
- Rubbing your eyes
- Sleeping on your side or front

4. Add more moisture
Drink plenty of water and choose hydrating skin care products.

Our NIVEA Eye Creams are all specially designed to cater to the delicate skin in the eye area. There are a few to choose from, so you can find your perfect fit. The good news is, the added moisture you’ll find when using eye creams will help reduce fine lines and prevent crows feet before they form.

Drink plenty of water and choose

hydrating skin care products.

Discover NIVEA Eye Creams

Getting rid of crows feet

If you already have visible crows feet and are not happy with how they look, there are a few things you can do to reduce their appearance.

Getting rid of crows feet

Treatment and Fillers

Expensive treatments have been used for years to reduce the appearance of crows feet, and it makes sense. After all, they stop facial movement. But a more modern approach is to pair these treatments with collagen fillers, to keep the look more natural.

However, there can be some side effects such as puffiness in the eye area, double vision, and droopy eyelids. Make sure to go to a licensed practitioner and check with your doctor before seeking out this kind of solution.

Getting rid of crows feet

Eye creams for crows feet

As mentioned, the skin around your eyes is up to 40% thinner than the rest of the skin around your face. So there’s a simple solution to help you get rid of crows feet – or, at least, improve how they look.

Discover our NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle & Anti-Puffiness Eye Cream, infused with our Q10 formula, specially designed to reduce crows feet and revitalise your eye area.

Getting rid of crows feet

Home-made masks

If you’re keen to find out how to get rid of crows feet without expensive treatment, here’s a lovely home remedy you can try. The vitamins and minerals contained in this natural home remedy for crows feet can significantly reduce their appearance.

What you’ll need:
1) Egg whites - These are packed with proteins, potassium, and magnesium, which will help tighten and hydrate your skin.
2) Lemons - Rich in natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)
3) Full-fat natural yoghurt - Contains lactic acid to help remove dead skin

How to make it:
1) Mix all three components together
2) Apply to your face and neck - be careful around the eye area as you do not want to get this in your eyes
3) Leave on for 20 mins.
4) Rinse with warm water.
5) Apply your favourite moisturiser to lock in hydration.

Start your transformation today

NIVEA recommends trying a specialised eye cream or face mask before seeking salon or surgical treatments for crows feet.

The specially targeted NIVEA Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Power Firming Eye Cream tangibly firms eye contours and has been shown to improve puffiness around eyes, reduce dark circles, and reduce the appearance of crows feet. With NIVEA Q10, your eyes can shine even brighter and your skin will feel revitalised.

This eye cream is specially formulated by NIVEA dermatologists to provide anti-wrinkle protection for the delicate eye area for a fresher, younger look in just 2 weeks.

But if you’ve tried these to no avail and you’re crows feet really bother you, it’s always worth asking a licensed dermatologist about laser treatments, fillers, or other more intensive crows feet treatments.