What Causes Crow’s Feet & Under Eye Wrinkles?

What Causes Crow’s Feet & Under Eye Wrinkles?

Crow’s feet – fine lines that can appear at the corners of your eyes – are often one of the first noticeable signs of aging skin. They’re a nearly ubiquitous skincare concern, affecting people of many skin types. You may have oily skin, dry skin, or perfect skin – but crow’s feet are probably in your future.

Why is the skin around our eyes prone to crow’s feet? Here are the basics.

Loss of Collagen and Elastin

As we get older, our bodies become less efficient at producing both collagen and elastin, two proteins crucial to maintaining the elasticity of skin. Less collagen and elastin in the skin results in tissue that cannot snap back to its original appearance – prime conditions for crow’s feet.

Thin, Crepey Skin Around the Eyes

Thin Skin Around the Eyes

we’re all thin-skinned, at least around the eyes. While it’s true that skin loses volume and becomes more delicate over time, the tissue around our eyes is particularly thin no matter how old we are. This makes it more vulnerable to developing creases and fine lines because there’s less collagen and elastin to compensate for the physical stresses it endures.

Environmental Damage

Unfortunately, it’s not just internal factors that promote the appearance of creases and fine lines near the eyes. The sun is a major cause of premature aging. Powerful UVA rays penetrate below the skin’s surface and have a damaging effect on elastin, in particular. The skin around our eyes is exposed to sunlight every day, and many people neglect to apply sunscreen in this sensitive area.

Crepey Skin Under the Eyes When Smiling

We’d never recommend that you stop smiling. However, smiling and squinting do cause the skin around our eyes to fold. This physical stress can add up over time, resulting in crow’s feet.

How to Prevent and Manage Crow’s Feet

Most of us will develop some crow’s feet as we age, but skin-healthy habits can help delay their appearance and minimize how noticeable they become. Here are some tips for combating crow’s feet.

Also read our guide to skincare tips for mature skin.

Wear Sunscreen & Sunglasses to Protect Against Sun Damage

Sun damage can make skin age prematurely, causing crow’s feet to appear at a younger age. Easy solutions include wearing sunscreen every day to protect your skin from sun exposure, as well as wearing sunglasses with UV protection. By shielding your skin from sun damage, you’re protecting the proteins that keep it looking young and healthy.

Exfoliate Your Skin

This process removes the dead skin cells that rest on top of your skin, bringing fresh tissue to the surface. This not only makes way for newer, healthier skin, but can make it look more plump and smooth. Look for a gentle exfoliator that you can use at least once a week, like our Crepe Erase Refining Facial Scrub. With a combination of olive oil and TruFirm Complex, these ingredients gently promote cell turnover while moisturizing the skin.

Gently Apply & Remove Makeup

Be careful with applying and removing makeup because it stretches out the skin, which could be damaging in the long run. Continuously stretching the area around your eyes could result in loose, wrinkled skin. Instead, apply and remove your eye makeup with care.

Moisturize Every Day

Dehydrated skin tends to sag and mimic the look of crow’s feet. Moisturizing eye creams can “fill in” the fine lines and prevent new ones from forming. When skin gains volume, it can lessen the appearance of wrinkles.

Try Introducing Products to Target Skin Around the Eye

There are many anti-aging skincare products on the market, like Crepe Erase’s Flaw-Fix Eye Cream. This featherlight cream is formulated to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles like crow’s feet, while also visibly reducing puffiness and reviving tired-looking eyes. Its key ingredient, TruFirm Complex, supports natural collagen and elastin production to help visibly firm and refresh that delicate skin around your eyes.