Crow's feet are the wrinkles around the eyes. Also known as "smile lines", they can sometimes be the kind of wrinkles you'd rather smooth away! But how do you go about it? We tell you. 

Crow's feet wrinkles, also known as smile lines or, more scientifically, peri-ocular wrinkles, are wrinkles that form around the eyes, more specifically at the outer corners of the eyes. They take their name from their resemblance to the imprints left by a goose's feet as it walks...

Why do we get crow's feet wrinkles? 

As with wrinkles around the mouth, crow's feet are mainly caused by the skin's natural aging process, combined with other factors such as sun exposure, smoking, stress and repeated facial expressions. The skin around the eyes is particularly delicate and prone to fine lines and wrinkles due to its thinness and lack of sebaceous glands. Crow's feet wrinkles can appear as early as age 30, but their appearance generally intensifies over time. They are characterized by fine radial lines that extend from the outer corners of the eyes towards the temples. These wrinkles can become more pronounced when a person smiles or squints (hence their nickname, smile lines).

Generally speaking, crow's feet wrinkles are considered a natural sign of aging and facial expression, and some people accept them as a distinctive feature. Others see them as undesirable and prefer to be able to get rid of them, or at least fade them. As with (almost) any aesthetic problem, there are solutions to reduce their appearance, including topical treatments, non-invasive cosmetic interventions and surgical procedures, depending on the degree of wrinkle appearance and personal preference.

How can I make crow's feet wrinkles disappear? 

There are several solutions available to those who want to get rid of crow's feet wrinkles. In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle (regular, intense hydration, a healthy, varied diet...), here are a few tips to apply if you're one of those people who no longer want to see those little expression marks in the corner of your eyes! 

With good skin care:

• • Moisturize: adapt your beauty routine and use a moisturizing eye serum to nourish and hydrate the delicate skin around the eyes. Also opt for a good moisturizing cream to hydrate and nourish facial skin overall. A word of advice: apply your eye care products with light tapping motions, so that they penetrate the tissues effectively. 
  • We protect: apply sunscreen with a high protection factor to prevent damage caused by UV rays, which can accelerate skin aging, especially around the eyes.
  • We bring what we need: use products containing antioxidants such as vitamin C to help protect the skin against free radical damage.
  • Massage: using precise movements borrowed from facial yoga, we help the skin to relax and regenerate, so that crow's feet wrinkles fade away! Several tutorials are available online to help you do just that. If you're looking for a more practical guide, there are a number of books on the subject.

Use topical care products:

• • Retinoids: Creams containing retinoids can help stimulate collagen production, improving the appearance of wrinkles.
  • Peptides: Look for products containing peptides, which can help strengthen skin structure and reduce wrinkles.
  • Hyaluronic acid: Creams containing hyaluronic acid can moisturize the skin and give a smoother appearance.

Choose non-invasive cosmetic treatments:

• • Botox injections: Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are a popular treatment for reducing the appearance of expression lines and crow's feet. Botox temporarily inhibits muscle contractions, smoothing out wrinkles.
  • Dermal filling: Injections of hyaluronic acid or other fillers are a preferred treatment for wrinkles. They can be used to fill in wrinkles and restore lost volume, reducing the appearance of small crow's feet wrinkles.

Opt for surgical procedures:

• • Blepharoplasty: Surgical blepharoplasty can be considered to remove excess skin and tighten the muscles around the eyes, which can reduce the appearance of crow's feet wrinkles that appear in the outer corner of the eyes.
  • Lifting du visage : Si les rides patte d'oie sont associées à un relâchement général de la peau du visage, un lifting du visage peut être envisagé pour rajeunir l'apparence globale.

It's essential to consult a dermatologist or surgeon qualified in aesthetic medicine to assess your specific needs and discuss the options best suited to your situation. Treatment results vary from person to person, and it's important to have realistic expectations about possible outcomes.