Nevermore! Your Guide to Getting Rid of Crow's Feet

Elephant in the room: yes, there is an Edgar Allen Poe joke in the title, and yes, I know that bird was a raven and not a crow. It’s close enough, though, so I’m going with it.

Anyway, let’s talk about crow’s feet.

We all deal with them at some point. Chances are that you, like me, are already fighting that battle because crow’s feet tend to be among the first signs of aging that rear their ugly heads.

If you want to get a leg up on those intrusive wrinkles, here’s everything you need to know about where they come from and how to get rid of them.

What Causes Crow’s Feet?

First of all, let’s clarify and make sure we’re all on the same page. Crow’s feet are those fine lines that appear in the outside corners of your eyes. They all start in the corner of your eye and branch out, making them look like, well, a crow’s foot.

Over the years, there are certain facial expressions we make over and over. Many of them involve squinting or straining our eyes in some way.

Every time you make those expressions, those muscles next to your eye will contract. If you look in the mirror while making different faces, you can see this in action.

The problem is that over time, those muscles contract so often that they eventually stay in a partially contracted form. Because the muscles stay like this, it puts creases in the skin above the muscle.

While all this is happening, your skin is getting older. It starts to lose some of the natural collagen that has kept it firm, smooth, and wrinkle-free in the past.

With less collagen, your skin has less strength to stay smooth and fight back against those creases. That’s why crow’s feet keep getting deeper and more pronounced if you don’t do something about them.

How Can You Get Rid of Crow’s Feet?

Now that you know your enemy, you can understand how to defeat your enemy.

Before I get into this, though, real talk: you might be able to get rid of your crow’s feet entirely, and you might not. Every person’s skin is unique, and some people’s skin simply reacts better than others.

Still, if you follow these tips, you’ll at least be able to see an improvement in your crow’s feet.

When it comes to the muscles that contribute to crow’s feet, the only way to forcibly smooth them is with Botox or similar injections. I’ve seen those injections work wonders for so many people, and I have nothing against them, but I personally prefer to see how much I can reduce my wrinkles on my own before I go the “needles in the face” route.

That means I’m focusing on giving my skin back its youth and firmness so it can withstand getting lines and creases, regardless of what the muscles underneath it are doing. Here are the steps I’ve followed.

Get Specialized Help

If you want to get rid of your crow’s feet, you’re in luck: that’s exactly what eye cream was made for.

Specialized eye creams are designed exclusively for the delicate skin around your eyes. They add hydration to the skin while also making your skin firmer and smoother. That’s a perfect recipe for fighting crow’s feet.

I personally wanted to nip my crow’s feet in the bud, so I invested in the new BABOR Dual Eye Solution, and I’m already seeing lighter lines. Finally, I can go see my family for the holidays without everyone asking me if I’m tired. Ugh.

As an added bonus, this eye cream works for all the skin around your eyes…meaning it also fights back against dark circles and bags under your eyes.

Break Out the Shades

I know I’ve harped on sun protection in the past, and yes, I’m about to do it again, but there’s a reason for it. It works!

Sunscreen needs to be a regular part of your morning routine. Try a tinted sunscreen so you’re evening out your skin tone at the same time. It might even be enough to replace your foundation or allow you to cut back on your foundation.

On top of the sunscreen, be a cool cat and pull out your favorite shades. Look for sunglasses with larger lenses that also cover the skin around your eyes. Luckily for us, those shapes happen to be in style.

Be Gentle

There’s a common mistake that so many people make when they’re trying to banish crow’s feet. They have an aggressive or acidic anti-aging product that works great on the rest of their face, so they assume it will make great strides around their eyes, too.

Unfortunately, the “go big or go home” approach can do more harm than good. The skin around your eyes is particularly delicate compared to the rest of your facial skin. A product that works well everywhere else might be too harsh and cause inflammation around your eyes.

And guess what inflammation does to wrinkles? It makes them more prominent.

As much as I applaud your dedication and your desire to do everything you can for your skin, it’s better to only use specific eye care products around your eyes.

Fly Away, Crow, Fly Away!

Crow’s feet are nothing new. They’re a symptom of aging that has plagued people since the dawn of time, and they catch up to all of us at some point. For me, they happened sooner rather than later.

The handy tips above have been lifesavers when it comes to getting my youthful eyes back, though. My eyes are my favorite features and I’m thrilled to feel like I can play them up with makeup like I used to, without the fear of everyone seeing my wrinkles. Here’s hoping you have the same success!