how to get rid of crow's feet

Crow's feet are a natural part of aging. While you cannot reverse aging completely, you can minimize its signs and make them seem less prominent. We have listed 10 home remedies that can assist in minimizing the appearance of crow's feet. Keep reading to know more.

What Are Crow's Feet?
Causes Of Crow's Feet
10 Best Way To Fix Crow's Feet
Prevention Tips

What Are Crow's Feet?

As you age, your skin tends to undergo gradual changes that make certain parts of your face more susceptible than the others to the signs of aging – like the delicate area around your eyes. The little lines or wrinkles that spread out from the corners of your eyes are referred to as crow's feet. Every time you make a facial expression, there are tiny muscle contractions happening in the muscles of your face. Crow's feet are the result of such contractions.

There are two main types of wrinkles – dynamic and static wrinkles. While dynamic wrinkles are those that occur due to muscle contractions, i.e., when you smile, static wrinkles worsen with muscle contractions and are visible all the time, even when your face is at rest.

If your crow's feet are visible only when you are smiling, they are dynamic. Otherwise, they are static.

Many factors and lifestyle choices can worsen or trigger the appearance of crow's feet, and they are discussed below.

Causes Of Crow's Feet

Frequently squinting or rubbing your eyes
Increased sun exposure can cause free radical damage that can lead to skin damage and cause crow's feet.
Smoking can damage the collagen in your skin, thus contributing to crow's feet.
Menopause can result in a drop in your estrogen levels, thus triggering crow's feet.
Advancing age
Your sleeping position: Constantly sleeping on one side can also contribute to crow's feet and wrinkles.

Crow's feet can add a few years to your appearance. Here's a list of home remedies that might make them less prominent.

How To Minimize Crow's Feet Naturally

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera increases collagen production (1). When taken in the dietary form, aloe vera may help in the improvement of facial wrinkles. Moreover, aloe vera has a photoprotective effect on the skin (2). This may help in reducing the appearance of crow's feet and wrinkles.

You Will Need

1-2 teaspoons of fresh aloe gel

What You Have To Do

Apply aloe gel around your eyes.
Leave it on for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse it off with water.
You can also have a tablespoon of fresh aloe juice daily.

How Often You Should Do This

You can apply this 2 times daily for best results.

2. Argan Oil

Argan oil exhibits anti-aging effects (3). This may help in improving skin elasticity and assist in reducing the crow's feet.

You Will Need

1 teaspoon of argan oil

What You Have To Do

Apply argan oil directly to the skin around your eyes.
Leave it on until it dries.
You can also consume food-grade argan oil.

How Often You Should Do This

Apply argan oil 2-3 times daily.

3. Egg White Face Mask

Egg white may help in tightening your pores and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and crow's feet. Its antioxidant activity may also fight free radical damage (4).

You Will Need

1-2 egg whites

What You Have To Do

Whisk the egg white and apply a thin layer to your face and neck.
Leave it on for 15-25 minutes and then rinse it off with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times a week.

4. Coconut Oil

The topical application of virgin coconut oil boosted collagen production of the skin in rats (5). Coconut oil can also keep skin moisturized (6). This may also delay the appearance of wrinkles and crow's feet.

You Will Need

1-2 teaspoons of cold-pressed coconut oil

What You Have To Do

Apply cold-pressed coconut oil to the affected area.
Leave it on until it dries completely.

How Often You Should Do This

You can apply coconut oil to your skin multiple times daily.

5. Essential Oils

a. Lemon Essential Oil

Elastase is an enzyme associated with the degeneration of dermal elastin, and it may contribute to aging and wrinkling skin. Lemon oil might help in inhibiting the activity of elastase (7).

You Will Need

1-2 drops of lemon essential oil
1 teaspoon of any carrier oil (like sweet almond oil or jojoba oil)

What You Have To Do

Add a drop or two of lemon essential oil to a teaspoon of any carrier oil.
Mix well and apply it to the affected area.
Leave it on until it dries.
You can also rinse it off after 25-30 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 1-2 times daily.

b. Grapefruit Essential Oil

Grapefruit oil is an elastase inhibitor (7). Hence, it may help in reducing the appearance of wrinkles and crow's feet.

You Will Need

1-2 drops of grapefruit essential oil
1 teaspoon of any carrier oil

What You Have To Do

Add one to two drops of grapefruit essential oil to any carrier oil.
Mix well and apply it to the affected area.
Leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 1-2 times daily.

6. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice or any citrus juice possesses antioxidant and anti-ageing properties (8). It also contains vitamin C that has anti-ageing effects and protects the skin from photodamage (9). These factors may help in decreasing skin thickness and the appearance of wrinkles.

You Will Need

½ lemon
1 glass of water
Honey (optional)

What You Have To Do

Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into a glass of water.
Mix well and add some honey if required.
Drink the fresh lemon juice.
You can also rub a lemon slice all over your face and wash it off after 15-20 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink this juice 1-2 times daily.

7. Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E has photoprotective effects (10). This property may help in repairing free radical damage that leads to ageing and wrinkling skin.

You Will Need

1-2 vitamin E capsules or 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil

What You Have To Do

Apply a thin layer of vitamin E oil to the affected area.
You can also consume vitamin E-rich foods like nuts, sunflower seeds, and green leafy vegetables.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this at least once daily.

8. Avocado Oil

Rat studies show that avocado oil may increase collagen production (11). Hence, avocado oil may help you deal with ageing skin and wrinkles.

You Will Need

1 teaspoon of unrefined avocado oil

What You Have To Do

Using your fingertips, apply a thin layer of the oil all over the crow's feet.
Allow the oil to dry naturally.
You can also include avocado in your diet.

How Often You Should Do This

You can do this once daily.

9. Garlic

Garlic helps repair free radical damage caused by increased exposure to the sun due to their antioxidant properties (12). This may help in improving the appearance of crow's feet and wrinkles.

You Will Need

1-2 garlic cloves

What You Have To Do

You can either chew on the garlic cloves directly or add them to your favourite dish.

How Often You Should Do This

You may do this once daily.

10. Face Exercises

Facial exercises may help in reducing the appearance of crow's feet. They include:

Eye Tapping – Tap along the natural curve of your eyes gently with the pads of your fingers to promote blood flow to the eyes.
Crow's Feet Tension Reliever – Using your index finger and thumb, pinch the skin under your eyebrows and roll it gently between the pads of your fingers to relieve tension.
Eye Wrinkle Stretch – Place each of your index fingers on the outer corners of both your eyebrows and move your fingers upwards to stretch the skin there gently.
Eye Wrinkle Pressure Hold – Place your index finger and middle finger on either side of the eye wrinkles and gently press down.

While these remedies and exercises may help in reducing the appearance of crow's feet, here are some tips that might help prevent them from worsening.

Prevention Tips

Limit your exposure to the sun. Always apply sunscreen before stepping out.
Follow a healthy diet that contains fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to protect your skin from free radical damage.
Exercise regularly.
Quit smoking.
Avoid using tanning beds.
Moisturize your skin regularly.

Crow's feet are a natural part of ageing and completely normal. While there are treatment options available, they are expensive. Hence, focus on preventing and delaying their appearance by following the remedies and tips mentioned in the article.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age do you get crow's feet?

While the chances of developing crow's feet increase with age and skin damage, they may also occur in some individuals as early as in the mid-20s.

What is the best cream for crow's feet?

One of the best topical creams used to fight crow's feet is Tretinoin. Those aged between 30-50 years can opt for botox treatment to smoothen out the crow's feet as well as wrinkles.

12 sources

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Check out our editorial policy for further details.

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