Our eyes tend to show the signs of ageing before anywhere else, so it makes sense that most of us are a bit fixated on our crow’s feet… Why do we get them? How can we prevent them? And how can we use makeup to hide them?
Why do we get crow’s feet?
This bit’s simple. Lines are caused by skin creasing as we repeatedly make expressions. When we’re young and our skin is chock-full of collagen and elastin it bounces perfectly back into place, then as production slows down, so does the bounce, eventually forming creases that don’t go away.
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Our eyes are a famously expressive area, whether you’re smiling, frowning, peering into the sun or eyes-wide aghast, those peepers will crease accordingly.
Add to that the fact the skin is thinner here than just about everywhere else, is constantly exposed to the elements, lacks sebaceous glands that produce hydrating oil, and you have a recipe for crows feet.
How do I prevent crow’s feet?
Firstly, wear sunglasses when the sun is out and SPF every day – UV damage and squinting into the sun accelerate things hugely.
Ensure your skincare is getting right up to the eye area – whether you believe in using a separate eye cream, or feel your normal serum is fine is up to you – ingredients to look for are Hyaluronic Acid to add extra hydration and peptides which tell your ageing skin cells to rev up the collagen production.
Daily massage is a great idea, relax those overactive muscles by tapping your ring finger around the orbital bone, which also has the benefit of boosting circulation and lymphatic drainage to de-puff.
We recommend: FilorgaEyes-Absolute, R1 150, or NeoStrata Skin Active Intensive Eye Therapy, R1 014
Can I reverse crow’s feet?
That depends on how involved you’re willing to get. If a line has already embedded it’s pretty tricky for anything non-invasive to turn that around.
If you’re ok with injectibles, Botox is very effective at temporarily relaxing that line-causing muscle, while fillers like Juvederm can be used to re-plump deep static lines (although many doctors would recommend using these in conjunction with Botox).
Who treats you is crucial, so do your research if you’re going down this route.
If you say no to needles, there are other options. Retinol is just about the only thing that can actually reverse skin damage, improving lines and texture on an ongoing basis, but be cautious around the eye area as Retinol is very potent and can be irritating.
We recommend: L’Oreal Revitalift Filler Renew Replumping Eye Cream, R 300, or Ren Instant Brightening Beauty Shot Lift, R640
What make-up is best for crow’s feet?
Concealer sinking into crow’s feet is commonplace, irritating problem, so using a primer that acts in a pollyfilla-ish way, sitting in the line so your makeup doesn’t, is the best solution. Again you could take your face primer right up to the eyes.
We recommend: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer, R475, or use a specific eye primer like Benefit Air Patrol BB Cream Eyelid Primer, R385
If your lines sit right in the corners of your eyes, shadow might creep in there too. The best way to avoid this is use a powder formulation (creams and liquids just don’t have the ‘grip’) use a neutral base shade all over on top of your primer, then your chosen colour over that.
We recommend: Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Eyeshadow Palette, R850, is brilliantly budge-proof.
Disclaimer: The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice.
