Perhaps one of the first telltale signs of aging that you’ll notice is crow’s feet, those pesky fine lines that dart out from the corners of your eyes. Unlike other facial wrinkles, crow’s feet on eyes can appear to look deeper and more pronounced because the skin around the eye area is thinner. As elasticity diminishes with age, the skin is unable to bounce back to its original condition. You can even get crow’s feet in your 20s. Even so, prevention and a quality eye cream are two manageable (and less expensive) ways to slow down — not stop — the aging process.
Best Eye Cream for Crow’s Feet: The List
BEST OVERALL
Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream, $70
FULL LIST
Formulyst Anti-Aging Eye Cream, $85
Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate Cream, $68
CHANEL Sublimage La Crème Yeux Ultimate Régénération Eye Cream, $260
Skinceuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50, $30
La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream, $385
Dr. Brandt 24/7 Retinol Eye Cream, $55
SHISEIDO Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream, $64
RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream, $22.69
Olehenriksen Wrinkle Blur Bakuchiol Eye Gel Crème, $49
NEOSTRATA Comprehensive Retinol Eye Cream, $54
No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Eye Cream, $13
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Eye Cream, $22.49
First Aid Beauty 5-in-1 Eye Cream, $32
Eau Thermale Avène Retinal Eyes, $49
Clinique All About Eyes Rich Eye Cream, $58
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 15, $100
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Vitamin C Power Eye Cream, $65
NEOCUTIS Lumière, $97
L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Eye Renewal Cream, $15
Dynamic Versus Static Wrinkles
A combination of skin movement (expressions, sleeping habits) and collagen and elastin loss are the leading causes of crow’s feet — but free radicals, sun damage, and hormonal fluctuations can exasperate the aging process.
There are two main types of wrinkles: dynamic and static. Dynamic wrinkles appear during muscle contraction when you make facial expressions. Crow’s feet when smiling? They’re likely dynamic. While static wrinkles (caused by natural factors such as aging and gravity) may be more prominent with muscle contraction, they are visible all the time, even when the face is at rest. Crow’s feet around the eyes can be a direct consequence of both static and dynamic wrinkles.
Related: Best Eye Cream for Wrinkles
Prolonging the Formation of Crow’s Feet
While crow’s feet are a natural part of the aging process, there are some measures you can take to limit the severity of these wrinkles and curtail their development.
Limit Sun Exposure
If possible, avoid spending prolonged periods of time in the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is the strongest. Always wear sun protection (a minimum of SPF 30) — even for short bursts of time or if it’s cloudy, rainy, or snowing. Up the ante by wearing a hat and sunglasses.
Avoid Tanning Beds
Tanning beds are actually worse than lying in the sun because they emit three times more UV rays and the UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin.
Quit Smoking
Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemicals that damage collagen and elastin. The nicotine in cigarettes causes the blood vessels to constrict in the skin’s outer layers, which impairs blood flow. Decreased blood flow means your skin isn’t getting as much oxygen or vital nutrients like vitamin A. If that doesn’t catch your attention, how about the fact that the unhealthy, worn skin of a 40-year-old heavy smoker resembles that of a non-smoking 70-year-old.
Clean Up Your Diet
A diet primarily made up of fresh fruit, veggies, whole grains, and healthy oils can help protect skin from free radical damage, contributing to wrinkles such as crow’s feet.
Get Moving
Daily exercise gets the blood pumping, which brings oxygen (and life) to the skin discoloration.
Tips for Concealing Crow’s Feet
While crow’s feet are tough to conceal, there are a few pieces of advice to keep in mind if you’re a makeup wearer.
Hydrate and Prime
Before applying any makeup, always start by using a moisturizing eye cream followed by a silicone-based primer (after the cream has fully absorbed) to help fill in fine lines and crepiness and create a smoother canvas.
Use a Light Hand
Go easy on how much concealer and foundation you apply as heavy makeup can make crow’s feet more pronounced. Opt for a formula with light to medium coverage versus something heavier.
Ditch the Powder
Avoid using loose powder on crow’s feet as it can settle into your fine lines and wrinkles.
Play Up Other Features
When applying makeup, play up other areas such as your lips or cheeks versus your eyes. So, that means skipping shimmery or colorful eyeshadow, dark liquid liners, and false eyelashes.
Related: Best Eye Creams for Dark Circles
Crow’s Feet Treatment Cream: Ingredients to Look For
The best eye creams for crow’s feet contain a combination of hydrating and anti-aging ingredients, including:
- Hyaluronic acid: Attracts water to hydrate the skin on a deep level while improving elasticity.
- Peptides: Supports collagen production while plumping the skins’ appearance.
- Coenzyme Q10: Protects the skin from sun damage (not a replacement for an SPF) and decreases the risk of wrinkles.
- Ceramides: Helps to increase moisture and strength of the skin.
- Niacinamide: An antioxidant has a brightening and hydrating effect.
- Retinoids: Can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles but should be used with caution.
- Ferulic acid: Guards against environmental damage.
- Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that combats free radicals such as sun exposure; it also has brightening properties.
- Vitamin E: Another excellent antioxidant with hydrating and soothing properties.
Best Eye Creams for Crow’s Feet
BEST OVERALL
Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream, $70
This revolutionary treatment uses highly effective botanical extracts to reduce signs of stress and fatigue, including eye bags and dark circles. The Persian silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) has an anti-glycation effect that helps delicate skin around the eyes and lids (because they show signs of age, too) feel tighter. St. Paul’s wort (Sigesbeckia Orientalis) boosts the appearance of collagen and elastin, restoring vitality.
FULL LIST
Formulyst Anti-Aging Eye Cream, $85
Formulated with clarifying concentrate and moisture-rich complexes that stimulate, strengthen and hydrate, this lightweight formula is also enriched with hyaluronic acid to help restore your skin’s natural suppleness and elasticity while visibly smoothing away wrinkles. This advanced eye treatment leaves skin feeling smoother and tighter. It dramatically reduces the appearance of dark circles, fine lines, and puffiness, enhancing the natural beauty of your eyes.
Related: Best Eye Creams for Puffiness
Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate Cream, $68
This crow’s feet–fighting formula is packed with vitamins and minerals to help improve elasticity around the delicate eye area while simultaneously depuffing and brightening. Thanks to Fresh’s proprietary Black Tea Complex and a noni fruit juice blend, which creates a shield against antioxidants, it doubles as a preventative treatment as well.
CHANEL Sublimage La Crème Yeux Ultimate Régénération Eye Cream, $260
This ultra-rich eye cream doubles as an eye mask when your under-eyes require an immediate moisture boost. Additionally, the brand’s exclusive Planifolia PolyFractioned Active-infused formula targets crow’s feet and loss of elasticity. You’ll notice an immediate improvement in hydration, firmness, radiance, and tone.
Skinceuticals Physical Eye UV Defense SPF 50, $30
Sun protection is the best defense against premature aging — including crow’s feet. This formula is 100% mineral-based and has UVA/UVB protection. It also features a tint, so it helps to conceal bags and shadows that accompany fine lines and wrinkles.
La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Eye Cream, $385
As the name — and price point — suggests, this is one decadent eye treatment. The potent formula penetrates quickly and deeply to address crow’s feet, dryness, and loss of elasticity and tone immediately and over time.
Dr. Brandt 24/7 Retinol Eye Cream, $55
This incredibly impressive crow’s feet filler also brightens, protects against environmental stressors, and softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, thanks to time-released retinol and proprietary Ruby Crystal Complex. A Hydra-Balance Complex (lemon tree honey, phospholipids, and an amino acid deeply hydrate and prevent moisture loss.
Related: Best Retinol Eye Creams
SHISEIDO Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream, $64
A proprietary KOMBU-Bounce Complex addresses crow’s feet and serves as a natural wrinkle inner-filler. Enthusiastic consumers claim it provides a noticeable improvement in as little as one week, but SHISEIDO’s ReNeura Technology+ helps improve skin receptivity to maintain the effectiveness of your treatment over time.
RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream, $22.69
When it comes to finding an affordable, effective eye cream, dermatologists recommend this formula time and time again. It boasts retinol, an effective treatment for crow’s feet, as well as dark circles and puffiness, giving you plenty of bang for your buck. Plus, it’s lightweight, non-comedogenic, and hypoallergenic.
Olehenriksen Wrinkle Blur Bakuchiol Eye Gel Crème, $49
Not everyone can get away with putting retinol around their eyes because of sensitivity issues. That’s where bakuchiol, the natural retinol alternative, comes in handy. It helps firm, soften the appearance of crow’s feet, and improve pigmentation issues sans any irritation.
NEOSTRATA Comprehensive Retinol Eye Cream, $54
While the best way to avoid prominent lines around the eyes is to prevent them in the first place, you can’t take back those teen years spent basking in the sun minus any protection. Retinol and NeoGlucosamine, two ingredients that exfoliate, target fine lines that have morphed into deeper creases, crepiness, and discoloration, resulting in a more refreshed, youthful appearance.
No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Eye Cream, $13
This brand claims to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, dark circles, and puffiness in just two weeks — more so with time — thanks to the power of Matrixyl 3000 Plus, No.7’s most concentrated peptide technology.
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Eye Cream, $22.49
As with any skincare product, you have to use it regularly to see results. However, this popular drugstore retinol crow’s feet cream has been proven to show visible results in just one week — even more so over time. Retinol SA and a Glucose Complex (that serves as a booster) work synergistically to dramatically fade stubborn lines and crow’s feet while improving skin tone and texture. Hyaluronic acid provides deep hydration to the delicate eye area.
First Aid Beauty 5-in-1 Eye Cream, $32
This is an excellent formula if your crow’s feet are coupled with sensitive, irritated skin because it’s fragrance-free and contains targeted soothing ingredients such as niacinamide (vitamin B12) and bisabolol. Homeostatine, a complex of two botanical ingredients, helps firm and smooth the appearance of skin. The “5” in the name represents the fact that this multi-tasking eye cream addresses the five signs of aging.
Related: Best Firming Eye Creams
Eau Thermale Avène Retinal Eyes, $49
This French pharmacy favorite is formulated with retinaldehyde (a stabilized form of retinol) to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and crow’s feet that begin to come to the surface in your 30s. Hyaluronic acid fragments plump the skin and encourage microcirculation, and dextran sulfate corrects signs of fatigue caused by aging skin. It’s an excellent choice for those susceptible to dry skin.
Clinique All About Eyes Rich Eye Cream, $58
This popular, cult-favorite profoundly hydrating eye cream effectively targets crow’s feet, puffiness, dark circles, and dryness immediately and over time. Additionally, it strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier against common irritants.
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Eye Cream SPF 15, $100
This multi-defense eye cream uses idebenone (the single most powerful antioxidant) to fortify the delicate skin under the eye area while treating and preventing the signs of aging, such as crow’s feet, with continued use. It’s formulated with encapsulated SPF 15 sunscreens to guard against daily sun damage minus any irritation.
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Vitamin C Power Eye Cream, $65
A potent 10% THD ascorbate vitamin C works overtime to diminish the appearance of crow’s feet. In comparison, 3% vitamin E and 2% ferulic acid provide antioxidant benefits and work to help support the performance of C. The benefits don’t stop there. Three-percent Phyco’derm also addresses crow’s feet, as well as dark circles and puffiness.
NEOCUTIS Lumière, $97
This power-packed eye cream is formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and a patented blend of peptides called PSP (Processed Skin Cell Proteins) that work synergistically to deeply hydrate, soften wrinkles and crow’s feet while addressing puffiness and under-eye darkness. You’ll need a prescription for this one, which is an excellent excuse to make an appointment with a dermatologist.
L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Eye Renewal Cream, $15
Backed up by over 20 years of research, this regenerating formula can be used on the lids and below to address crepiness around the entire eye area. Additionally, it reduces the appearance of crow’s feet, puffiness, and under-eye bags. The innovative applicator dispenses the perfect amount of product, taking the guesswork out of how much to use.
Crow’s Feet Treatment: The Bottom Line
Perhaps one of the first telltale signs of aging that you’ll notice is crow’s feet, those pesky fine lines that dart out from the corners of your eyes. A combination of skin movement (expressions, sleeping habits) and collagen and elastin loss are the leading causes of crow’s feet — but free radicals, sun damage, and hormonal fluctuations can exasperate the aging process.
While crow’s feet are a natural part of the aging process, there are some measures you can take to limit the severity of these wrinkles and curtail their development. For example, limit sun exposure, exercise, eat a healthy diet and avoid tanning beds at all costs. Of course, prevention and a quality eye cream are two manageable (and less expensive) ways to slow down — not stop — the aging process.
References:
“Smoking: Does It Cause Wrinkles?,” Mayo Clinic.
“Smoking and Its Effects on the Skin,” DermNet.
