Crow’s feet—those lines fanning from the outer corners of your eyes—appear when you smile, squint, or laugh. They’re called “character lines” for a reason. But if you’d like to soften them while keeping your character, here’s what actually works.
Why Eye Wrinkles Are Different
The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your face—about 0.5mm compared to 2mm elsewhere. It has fewer oil glands, less collagen, and moves constantly throughout the day. Every smile, squint, and expression creases this delicate area.
This means treatments need to be gentler here, and what works on your forehead may be too strong for your eyes. But it also means this area can respond well to appropriate treatment.
The Muscle-Relaxing Approach
Crow’s feet are primarily expression lines—they form from repeated muscle contraction. The most effective treatment addresses this directly.
Argireline
Argireline serums work beautifully on crow’s feet. This peptide reduces the muscle contractions that create these lines with each expression. Applied twice daily to the outer eye corners, it progressively softens existing lines and helps prevent new ones.
The eye area actually responds well to argireline because the thinner skin allows better penetration.
Application Tips for Eye Area
Use your ring finger (it naturally applies less pressure). Pat gently—don’t drag or rub. Apply to the outer corner and orbital bone, not directly on the eyelid. Let it absorb before applying other products.
Supporting Treatments
Peptide Serums
Beyond argireline, other peptide serums support collagen production around the eyes. Look for formulations specifically designed for eye area—they’ll be appropriately gentle while still effective.
Retinol (Carefully)
Retinol builds collagen, which helps with crow’s feet. But standard retinol can be too strong for the eye area. Use either a dedicated eye retinol product (lower concentration) or apply your regular retinol serum sparingly, keeping it on the outer orbital bone rather than close to the eye.
Hyaluronic Acid
Dehydration makes every line look deeper. Hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates, instantly reducing the appearance of fine lines. It’s gentle enough for daily eye area use.
| Treatment | How It Helps Crow's Feet | Application Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Argireline | Relaxes muscle contractions | Apply morning and night to outer corners |
| Peptide serums | Supports collagen production | Pat gently around orbital bone |
| Retinol (eye-specific) | Increases cell turnover; collagen | Use sparingly; start 2x weekly |
| Hyaluronic acid | Hydrates and plumps | Layer under other treatments |
| SPF | Prevents further damage | Daily; reapply if outdoors |
Microneedling Around the Eyes
Yes, you can microneedle crow’s feet—with precautions:
Use only 0.25mm needles. The skin here is thin enough that deeper needles aren’t necessary and increase risk.
Stay on the outer orbital bone. Treat the crow’s feet area specifically, not close to the eye itself.
Be extra gentle. Light pressure only. Let the needles do the work.
Use appropriate serums. Argireline or simple hyaluronic acid. Nothing potentially irritating.
The Glow Filler kit works well for this—the argireline serum paired with careful microneedling can deliver impressive results on crow’s feet.
What to Avoid Around the Eyes
Strong acids: Glycolic, salicylic, and other acids can irritate the delicate eye area. Keep them away from this zone.
High-concentration retinol: Use eye-specific formulations or apply regular retinol sparingly and not too close.
Fragrance: Fragranced products near eyes risk irritation and sensitivity.
Aggressive rubbing: Tugging at eye skin during product application or makeup removal accelerates wrinkling.
Daily Eye Care Routine for Crow’s Feet
Morning:
Gentle cleanser (avoid getting product in eyes) → Argireline serum patted onto outer corners → Hydrating eye cream or serum → SPF (yes, around eyes too—sunglasses help)
Evening:
Gentle makeup removal (don’t rub!) → Cleanser → Argireline serum → Eye-appropriate retinol (2-3 nights per week) → Hydrating eye cream
Weekly:
Optional gentle microneedling on crow’s feet area with argireline serum
Timeline for Results
Crow’s feet respond well to consistent treatment, but patience is required:
Weeks 1-2: Better hydration, skin looks smoother overall
Weeks 3-4: Fine lines begin softening, especially with argireline
Months 2-3: Noticeable reduction in crow’s feet depth, prevention of new lines
Ongoing: Continued improvement with consistent use; maintenance of results
The thinner eye area skin can actually show results faster than thicker skin elsewhere—good news for crow’s feet treatment.
When Results Matter Most
If you have an event coming up and want to temporarily minimize crow’s feet:
Apply hyaluronic acid generously the night before and morning of. Use an argireline serum (even just a few days of use provides some benefit). Consider a hydrating under-eye mask the night before. Stay well-hydrated—it shows most around the eyes.
These won’t eliminate wrinkles overnight, but they’ll minimize their appearance for the day.
The Bottom Line
Crow’s feet don’t require Botox to treat effectively. Argireline-based treatments work particularly well on the eye area, and the thinner skin here actually allows for good ingredient penetration.
Be consistent, be gentle, and be patient. Those character lines can soften significantly while you keep your ability to smile naturally.
After all, the goal isn’t to freeze your expressions—just to smooth out their effects.
