Having wrinkles around your eyes is nothing to be ashamed of, but if those little crinkles are making you feel self conscious, it’s also okay to want to give them some skin-loving attention. The skin around your eyes is much more delicate than the rest of your face and is the area that shows signs of aging the soonest. The sun is the biggest contributor to premature aging, so practicing safe sun care is always key, but we’ve also rounded up 11 tips and products to help with healthy skin care. If you’re wondering how to get rid of crow’s feet, we’ve got you covered!
What Are Crow’s Feet?
Crow’s feet are the small lines and wrinkles at the outer corner of your eye. They’re completely normal but are also a common aging concern. Skin around your eyes is 40% thinner than the rest of your face, making it really delicate, so it’s no wonder this area typically shows the first signs of aging.
What Causes Crow’s Feet?
As we age, the skin around our eyes naturally loses elasticity (stretch), collagen (plumpness) and natural oils, making it prone to wrinkles. Skin movement, sun damage, free radicals and hormone changes can worsen the effects. Repetitive motions such as squinting, laughing, blinking and frowning that cause creases in your skin can break down the collagen and elastic fibres in the skin and cause wrinkles.
How to Prevent Crow’s Feet
1. Use Sunscreen Daily
Sun exposure is the number one cause of premature aging. The sun can cause major damage to your skin, and since the area around your eyes is so delicate, it’s especially important to protect it from UV rays. Wear SPF on the daily (at least 30 SPF) to prevent UV damage and premature wrinkle formation.
2. Wear Your Sunglasses and Eyeglasses
Along with sunscreen, you should also be wearing sunglasses when you’re out in the sun to keep yourself from squinting. Squinting is a repetitive movement that can result in wrinkles and crow’s feet, so it’s best to refrain from it as much as you can. If you need eyeglasses to see, make sure to wear them as well to prevent squinting and for overall eye health.
3. Moisturize
Moisturization is essential for your skin and that includes your eye area. Routine moisturizing is key to minimizing wrinkles and lines, and while your regular moisturizer will do the trick, if you want to take a more targeted approach, opt for an eye cream that contains peptides. They boost collagen production and assist with essential cellular activities.
4. Eat Foods Rich in Antioxidants
Eating antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries, strawberries, walnuts and healthy oils is helpful as they help protect your skin from free radical damage. Although eating these foods won’t do much to help the crow’s feet you already have, it’s a good preventative measure to keep your skin as smooth as possible.
5. Limit Your Salt Intake
Excess salt causes your body to retain water, and in the eye area this can result in puffy eyes. Puffy eyes can result in lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet and make them more apparent.
6. Give Yourself an Eye Massage
Crow’s feet are expression lines, and the area wrinkles quickly because it has the most active muscles. To relax those muscles, gently massage your eye area for five minutes every night. This will loosen the muscles and help prevent lines and wrinkles.
How to Get Rid of Crow’s Feet
1. Regular Exfoliation
Exfoliation can help minimize crow’s feet after they’ve started forming. Exfoliation eliminates dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin, forcing fresh skin to the surface. This adds volume to your skin, which helps smooth out lines and wrinkles. An exfoliator with glycolic acid promotes new collagen growth, which will also add volume to your skin.
2. Use an Eye Cream
Since the area around your eyes is so delicate, it’s important to strengthen and thicken the skin as much as possible. An eye cream will help do this as well as target specific concerns such as under eye bags, loss of collagen and fine lines and wrinkles. Look for eye creams with active ingredients such as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, retinol and vitamin C.
3. Try Peptides
Peptides are a small chain of proteins that promote younger looking skin. They work as a natural botox, creating collagen in your skin and relaxing wrinkles, at the same time stimulating new cell growth. Peptides are a great preventative measure and also make the crow’s feet you have less noticeable.
4. Invest in Facials
Facials can be pricey, but they’re essential to keeping your skin as young and healthy as possible. They help stimulate blood circulation, prevent aging and rejuvenate your skin. Getting a facial every few months will be an investment that pays off in the long run.
5. Opt for a Professional Treatment
Treatments such as Botox, Dysport and Xeomin limit the movement of your facial muscles, which reduces your likelihood of crow’s feet. If you already have wrinkles, injectables will soften them, but it’s also recommended to get these treatments as a preventative measure. Micro-needling is another technique that boosts your skin’s production of collagen and elastin and LED light therapy also builds collagen.
If you’re looking to prevent or smooth out your crow’s feet, try these tips and products to keep your skin looking healthy and young for as long as possible!
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