Crow's Feet (2026 Guide): What Causes Them and How to Soften Them, From Skincare to Clinic
The short answer: crow's feet are the fan of lines at the outer corners of your eyes. They form from years of smiling and squinting, plus the gradual loss of collagen that lets skin bounce back. You can soften them with a low-strength retinol on the outer eye area, a firming eye cream with peptides, good hydration and daily sunscreen. Deep lines visible at rest respond best to in-clinic treatment, with skincare to maintain the result.
By the Skin Boutique Online team, an authorized Canadian retailer of every brand we carry. Updated November 2026.
What causes crow's feet?
- Expression: the muscle around the eye (orbicularis oculi) contracts every time you smile or squint, folding the skin at the outer corner.
- Collagen and elastin loss: with age, skin is slower to bounce back from those folds.
- Sun exposure: UV breaks down the collagen you're trying to keep, and squinting in bright light adds more creasing.
- Dryness: dehydrated skin makes fine lines look deeper, which is why many people notice crow's feet more in a Canadian winter.
- Thin skin: the eye area has some of the thinnest skin on the face, so it shows change first.
Dynamic vs static crow's feet: which do you have?
| Dynamic crow's feet | Static crow's feet | |
|---|---|---|
| When you see them | Only when you smile or squint | Even when your face is relaxed |
| Typical stage | Twenties and thirties | Thirties onward, earlier with sun |
| What skincare can do | Slow them from becoming permanent; smooth the look | Soften the look over months |
| In-clinic options | Usually not needed yet | Neuromodulators, energy devices; skincare maintains results |
How to soften crow's feet: a step-by-step plan
1. Retinol on the outer eye area
Retinoids are the most studied topical ingredient for expression lines, because they support collagen and smoother texture over time. Start low: Vivier Retinol 0.3% ($110) or SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.25. Apply a small amount to the crow's feet area only, on the orbital bone and never on the eyelid, two or three nights a week. New to retinol? Read our best retinol in Canada guide.
2. A firming eye cream with peptides
An eye cream keeps the immediate area hydrated and supported, and can be used on nights you skip retinol.
- Vivier GrenzCine Eye ($222): made for crepey-looking skin, crow's feet and volume loss. It combines Polyamine-DAB, which Vivier calls its growth factor technology, with peptides and vitamin C. Our top pick for established lines.
- Vivier Radiant Eye Contour Cream ($126): a lightweight first eye cream with a peptide, a vitamin C derivative and pro-vitamin B5, for early lines.
Comparing more options? See our best eye creams for wrinkles and aging.
3. Vitamin C in the morning
Vitamin C helps defend against daily UV and pollution and supports brighter, firmer-looking skin. Vivier CE Peptides ($222) combines 10% vitamin C with vitamin E and peptides. Keep it on the cheek and temple, not on the eyelid.
4. Hydration
Plumped, well-hydrated skin makes fine lines look softer within days. Apply a hyaluronic acid serum such as SkinMedica HA5 to damp skin, then seal with a moisturizer. In winter, a ceramide cream helps; see our ceramides guide.
5. Sunscreen and sunglasses, every day
Sunscreen is the single most effective way to slow crow's feet, because UV breaks down collagen. Apply it right up to the orbital bone. Sunglasses help too: less squinting means less creasing. For sensitive eye areas, mineral formulas such as EltaMD UV Physical Tinted SPF 41 are often more comfortable. See our best mineral sunscreen guide.
Crepey eyelids and under-eye skin
Crepey skin is related but different: the skin itself looks thin and finely wrinkled, like tissue paper, often on the upper lid and under the eye together. It's a collagen-quality change driven by age, dryness and sun. It responds to the same long-term approach as crow's feet: a firming eye cream such as GrenzCine Eye, gentle retinol on the orbital bone, steady hydration and daily SPF. Expect gradual improvement over months, not overnight change.
Your crow's feet routine
| Step | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Serum | Vivier CE Peptides (vitamin C) | SkinMedica HA5 on damp skin |
| Treat | - | Retinol 0.3% on crow's feet, 2–3 nights a week |
| Eye cream | Vivier Radiant Eye Contour Cream | Vivier GrenzCine Eye |
| Protect | Sunscreen to the orbital bone + sunglasses | - |
Application tip: use a rice-grain amount of eye cream per eye and tap it in with your ring finger. Don't drag the skin.
When to consider in-clinic treatment
If your crow's feet are deep and visible at rest, in-clinic options such as neuromodulators relax the muscle that causes them, and energy-based treatments can improve skin quality. Skincare can't freeze a muscle, but it does help maintain results between appointments. After any procedure, follow your provider's aftercare; our After a Treatment collection has gentle options.
Other eye concerns
Dark circles and puffiness have different causes and need different products. See our guide to dark circles and puffy eyes.
Get a personalized eye routine
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Frequently asked questions
What causes crow's feet?
Crow's feet form from repeated smiling and squinting, which folds the thin skin at the outer corner of the eye, combined with the gradual loss of collagen and elastin. Sun exposure speeds up that loss, and dry skin makes the lines look deeper.
Can you get rid of crow's feet without Botox?
You can soften them. A low-strength retinol, peptides, a firming eye cream, good hydration and daily sunscreen can make fine and early lines look smoother over two to three months. Deep lines visible at rest respond best to in-clinic treatments, with skincare to maintain results.
Can I use retinol for crow's feet?
Yes, carefully. Use a low strength such as Vivier Retinol 0.3% or SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.25 on the crow's feet area only, staying on the orbital bone and off the eyelid, two or three nights a week to start.
At what age do crow's feet appear?
Lines that show only when you smile can appear in your twenties. Lines that stay visible at rest usually develop from the thirties onward, earlier with a lot of sun exposure.
Prices are in CAD and current as of November 2026; stock is limited. This article is general cosmetic skincare education, not medical advice. Avoid retinol during pregnancy or breastfeeding.