Crow’s Feet Treatment Guide: 2 Main Types + How to Get Rid of Them! Surprising Truth About Botox For Eye Wrinkles

Crow’s feet are one of the most common fine lines around the eyes, typically caused by aging and the natural loss of collagen in the delicate eye area.

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What Are Crow’s Feet?

Crow’s feet are the last thing most women want to see in the mirror. In the early stages, they may be mistaken for smile lines and even look charming. But as they deepen, these lines become harder to ignore, often making the eyes look droopy and the face appear older overall.

Crow’s feet refer to the fine lines that radiate outward from the outer corners of the eyes. Because the shape resembles a fish tail, the name “fish tail lines” is commonly used in Chinese. In English, however, they’re known as “crow’s feet,” since the lines resemble a crow’s claw.

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Why Do Crow’s Feet Form?

The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the entire face. Beneath it lies the orbicularis oculi muscle — responsible for opening and closing the eyes. When we smile, this muscle contracts, causing the overlying skin to wrinkle. These early expression lines, also called “dynamic wrinkles,” usually only appear when the face is moving.

However, as we age, skin loses elasticity and the eye muscles become more prominent. This can cause crow’s feet to show even when our face is at rest, turning them into what we call “static wrinkles.”

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Common Causes of Crow’s Feet

Crow’s feet and other eye-area wrinkles are primarily caused by sagging and thinning of the skin. Here are the main culprits:

1. Natural Aging

All wrinkles are fundamentally linked to aging. As we get older, the skin’s metabolism slows down, its ability to retain moisture decreases, and collagen levels drop. The eyes, being the most active part of the face — blinking, squinting, rubbing — experience constant movement. Over time, the fragile skin around the eyes loses firmness, making wrinkles more pronounced.

2. UV Exposure

UV rays are one of the biggest external threats to skin health. Sunlight can penetrate deep into the dermis, breaking down collagen and weakening the skin’s structural network. Because the eye area is often neglected in sun protection routines, UV-induced crow’s feet are incredibly common.

3. Bad Habits

Certain daily habits also accelerate skin aging. Inconsistent sleep, frequent squinting or exaggerated facial expressions, washing with overly hot water, smoking, and drinking alcohol — all of these can cause premature eye wrinkles.

4. Lack of Eye Care

The eye area has fewer oil glands than other parts of the face, making it more prone to dryness and dehydration. Without proper hydration and care, the skin under the eyes can become dull, lined, and prone to poor circulation — a key factor in the formation of fine lines.

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Types of Crow’s Feet & How to Treat Them

Not all crow’s feet are the same — and different types require different strategies. Here’s how to tell what you’re dealing with and how to target it:

1. Dryness-Related Crow’s Feet

The skin around the eyes is only about 0.1mm thick — at least 10 times thinner than facial skin. With very few oil glands in the area, it’s easy for the skin to dry out and develop fine, radiating lines at the corners.

Treatment Strategy: Focus on hydration and moisture retention. Start with a lightweight, hydrating eye serum to boost water content, then layer on a nourishing eye cream or balm to lock in moisture and prevent further dehydration.

When choosing eye care products, look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, or vitamin B5 for hydration, and rosehip oil, moringa oil, or squalane for added nourishment.

2. Aging-Related Crow’s Feet

As skin ages, the eye area is often the first to show signs. If you notice deeper lines when you smile, this could be due to increased tension in the orbicularis oculi muscle, which enlarges over time. Combined with thinning skin, these lines evolve into deeper, static wrinkles.

Treatment Strategy: While aging is inevitable, you can slow its effects through smart skincare and lifestyle habits. UV protection, proper rest, and stress management are key to maintaining youthful skin.

To fight aging-related lines, choose eye products with anti-aging ingredients like centella asiatica, lithospermum root extract, or idebenone. Pair with regular massage and warm compresses to boost circulation and absorption.

Simple Eye Massage Routine: Use your index and middle fingers to gently press around the eye area, then apply a warm towel for a few minutes. This encourages blood flow, relaxes the muscles, and reduces the chance of wrinkles deepening.

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5 Acupressure Points to Smooth Out Crow’s Feet

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that stimulating specific acupressure points can boost circulation, detox the body, and enhance overall vitality — including the skin. Here are five key points around the eyes you can massage to help reduce crow’s feet and promote brighter eyes:

1. Chengqi (承泣): Located directly below the pupil between the eyeball and the lower eye socket. Massaging this point is believed to enhance eye clarity and liver energy.
2. Jingming (睛明): Just above the inner corners of the eyes, in the small hollow. Helps improve blood flow and ease eye fatigue or puffiness.
3. Zan Zhu (攢竹): Found at the base of the inner eyebrows. Relieves eye strain and refreshes tired eyes.
4. Yangbai (陽白): One inch above the middle of the pupil, just above the brow bone. Helps relieve headaches and eye discomfort.
5. Tongziliao (瞳子髎): Located at the outer corner of the eye socket. Promotes healthy vision, dispels wind, and enhances eye appearance.

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4 Surprising Foods That Might Help Reduce Crow’s Feet

You’ve probably seen articles online about using eye creams, massages, hot or cold compresses to tighten the delicate skin around your eyes. But did you know certain foods might also help minimize crow’s feet? And we’re not talking about your typical tomatoes, spinach, or mangoes — these are some surprisingly unconventional options.

1. Chicken Cartilage

A popular drinking snack in Hong Kong, chicken cartilage might also be a secret weapon against under-eye fine lines. The skin around your eyes needs plenty of collagen to stay firm and elastic. When collagen breaks down, the supporting network beneath the skin weakens, leading to sagging and wrinkles. Chicken cartilage is rich in collagen, which may help rebuild that structural support. Even leftover chicken bones can be boiled into soup to help boost your skin’s collagen levels.

2. Beer

Wait, isn’t alcohol bad for your skin? Generally, yes — but beer is an exception. With lower alcohol content and nutrients like protein, B vitamins, and hyaluronic acid, beer may actually have some skin-supporting benefits. That said, beer is still high in calories, so moderation is key if you want to avoid puffiness or weight gain.

3. Chewing Gum

Got a gum-chewing habit? Good news — chewing gum for just 10–15 minutes a day can give your facial muscles a gentle workout. This helps boost blood circulation in the face and encourages skin renewal. Since many facial muscles are rarely used, chewing gum may even help reduce expression lines on your forehead, laugh lines, and crow’s feet — tightening skin over time.

4. Warm White Rice

No, you don’t eat this one. Instead, warm up a small ball of freshly cooked white rice, roll it between your fingers, and gently massage the outer corners of your eyes until the rice turns gray. The stickiness of rice helps lift away old, dead skin cells and surface impurities, prepping your under-eye area for better absorption of skincare products.

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Best Treatments to Smooth Fine Lines & Crow’s Feet

Under-eye lines and crow’s feet can make the skin look aged and tired — so tackling them at the root is key. With so many skincare hacks and treatments available, which ones actually work to reduce those pesky fine lines?

1. Hydration Is Essential

The skin around your eyes has fewer oil glands and almost no subcutaneous fat, which makes it especially prone to dryness. When this area isn’t well-moisturized, fine lines can appear quickly. A rich, hydrating eye cream helps fill in the spaces between skin cells, slowing down the visible signs of aging.

However, note that moisturizers work best on dehydration lines. Wrinkles caused by aging and collagen loss may need more intensive solutions.

2. Collagen Supplements

Many women take collagen or antioxidant supplements hoping to slow aging and replenish skin elasticity. Since collagen plays a major role in keeping skin firm, boosting your intake might help prevent new wrinkles.

That said, evidence is still limited on whether oral collagen actually reaches the skin in significant amounts — much of it may be distributed to other parts of the body. So while supplements might help, they’re no magic bullet.

3. Injectable Fillers

If eye wrinkles are already deep-set, topical products may not be enough. That’s where aesthetic treatments come in — particularly injectable fillers like hyaluronic acid and Botox.

Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin, but we lose it with age. When injected, it plumps up the skin, smooths out hollows, and fills in wrinkles. Botox, on the other hand, works by relaxing overactive muscles — perfect for lines caused by repeated facial expressions, such as squinting or smiling.

However, fillers do come with some risks: surface bruising, temporary swelling, and in some cases, a stiff or unnatural appearance. Always consult a licensed professional before proceeding.

4. Cosmetic Surgery

We’re all familiar with under-eye bag surgery — but did you know crow’s feet can also be treated surgically? The procedure usually involves cutting a portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle (the one around your eyes), reducing the tension that causes wrinkles. Some doctors also perform a mini-lift to tighten the surrounding skin.

While results can be dramatic, surgery comes with a risk of stiffness and unnatural facial movement, so weigh the pros and cons carefully.

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Editor’s Pick: Tried-and-Tested – R6 Miracle Eye Rescue Treatment

Some women avoid smiling too widely in fear of deepening their crow’s feet — but what if a treatment could help smooth them out instead? I tried Perfect Medical’s popular R6 Miracle Eye Rescue Treatment, and I was genuinely impressed.

I signed up for their free trial online and got to experience the full treatment firsthand. To be honest, I had my doubts. I always assumed aesthetic treatments would feel invasive or painful. But the R6 Miracle Eye Rescue Treatment completely changed my mind.

The process involved a heated device that gently glided over my under-eye area, using RF technology combined with massage-like warmth. It was incredibly soothing — no discomfort at all.

As for results? I wasn’t expecting much after just one session, but when I looked in the mirror, I was stunned. My crow’s feet had visibly faded — nearly cut in half — and the dry, dull skin around my eyes looked plumper, smoother, and more radiant. For a single session, the difference was surprisingly dramatic.

If you’re on the fence, this one’s worth a try — especially since the first session is completely free. Just click the link below to claim your complimentary R6 eye treatment trial. High value, low risk — what’s not to love?