Crow's Feet After 45: What Causes Them, Are They Reversible, and What Helps
Quick summary
Crow's feet are the fan of fine lines at the outer corners of your eyes. They start as expression lines that show when you smile, and after 45 they often stay visible at rest as collagen falls and years of sun add up.
Daily sunscreen and sunglasses slow them down. Retinoids have the strongest evidence for softening them, and some peptides have small studies behind them. Skincare softens crow's feet but does not remove them; in-clinic options do more.
At Genova Skincare we make an eye serum for skin after 45, and this guide is honest about what it can and cannot do. Results vary from person to person.
What are crow's feet, and why do they deepen after 45?
At Genova Skincare, we are often asked about crow's feet, and they are searched about 3,600 times a month in Australia. Many women notice them "suddenly" in their late 40s, even though they have been forming for years. The good news is that a few simple habits can slow how quickly they deepen from here.
Doctors call them lateral canthal lines. DermNet explains they are caused by the ring-shaped muscle around the eye (the orbicularis oculi) contracting every time you smile, laugh or squint. At first they are dynamic lines that only appear with movement. Over time they become static lines that stay when your face is relaxed.
Menopause speeds up that shift. A 2024 review by See and Chan in Medicine Today notes that a large share of skin collagen is lost in the first five years after menopause, and skin becomes drier and thinner. The eye area already has some of the thinnest skin on the face, so it shows these changes early.
What causes crow's feet in women over 45?
- Expression. Smiling and laughing fold the skin in the same place thousands of times.
- Sun. Victoria's Better Health Channel notes UV radiation is the major factor in wrinkling skin in Australians.
- Squinting. Squinting in bright light adds extra folding. Sunglasses help.
- Smoking. Better Health Channel lists cigarette smoking as a factor in early facial wrinkling.
- Collagen loss. Falling oestrogen after menopause leaves less support under the skin.
- Dryness. Dry skin makes fine lines cast deeper shadows, so they look worse than they are.
Crow's feet vs crepey eye skin vs under-eye lines after 45
Not every line around the eyes is a crow's foot, and the difference changes what helps.
- Crow's feet fan out from the outer corners and deepen when you smile. Expression and sun are the main drivers.
- Crepey eye skin is a fine, crinkled texture across the lids or under the eyes, like tissue paper. Thinning and dryness are the main drivers, so moisture helps more.
- Under-eye lines sit just below the lower lashes. They are often linked with volume loss and puffiness as well as thin skin.
A quick test: look in the mirror in daylight, first relaxed and then smiling. Lines that only appear with a smile are dynamic crow's feet. Lines that stay when you relax are static. Fine crinkles that soften after moisturiser are mostly dryness. Our guide to hooded vs crepey eyelids covers the lids in more detail.
Are crow's feet reversible after 45?
Partly. Fine, dry-looking lines can soften quite a lot with moisture, sun protection and a retinoid. Deeper static lines can soften but rarely disappear with skincare alone.
The most useful step is also the least exciting. The Nambour trial in Queensland, reported by Hughes and colleagues in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found adults who used sunscreen daily showed no detectable increase in skin ageing over four and a half years. For crow's feet, that means SPF right up to the outer corners of your eyes, plus good sunglasses.
How to get rid of crow's feet after 45: options compared
| Option | Evidence | What it can do | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPF 50+ and sunglasses | Strong | Slows new lines forming | Does not soften existing lines on its own |
| Retinol or prescription tretinoin | Good | Softens fine lines over months | Can sting thin eye skin; start slowly |
| Peptide eye serum | Limited, small studies | May soften the look of fine lines | Gentler; modest effect |
| Moisturiser or eye cream | Moderate for dryness | Plumps dry lines short term | Effect fades when skin dries |
| Prescription muscle-relaxing injections | Strong for dynamic lines | Softens lines that show when smiling | Needs a consultation; lasts months, not permanently |
| Laser and energy devices | Good for static lines | Improves texture and deeper lines | Cost, downtime and pigment risk |
In Australia, cosmetic injectables are prescription-only medicines. Ahpra's guidelines, in force since September 2025, require an in-person or video consultation each time they are prescribed.
What the evidence says about eye creams and serums for crow's feet
Retinoids. Kafi and colleagues, in the Archives of Dermatology, found a retinol lotion improved fine wrinkles in older skin, though the study was on the arm, not the eyes. A 2010 trial by Fu and colleagues in the British Journal of Dermatology looked at wrinkles around the eyes. A cosmetic routine with niacinamide, peptides and a mild retinoid performed about as well as prescription tretinoin by 24 weeks, with less irritation. It was a single study, so it should be read with some caution.
Peptides. Some peptides are designed to reduce the muscle signals behind expression lines. A small placebo-controlled trial by Wang and colleagues in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology found the peptide Argireline, applied to crow's feet for four weeks, reduced roughness compared with a plain cream. The research is small and short, and peptides do not work like injections.
Our guide to retinol eye cream vs peptide eye serum compares the two approaches in more detail.
Pros and cons of treating crow's feet with skincare after 45
Pros:
- Low cost and low risk compared with clinic treatments
- Softens dry, fine lines and improves texture
- SPF and sunglasses slow new lines forming
- Easy to combine with in-clinic care later
Cons:
- Slow: expect two to three months
- Deeper static lines change only a little
- Retinoids can irritate thin eye skin
- Effects fade if you stop
An eye serum option for crow's feet after 45
If retinol stings around your eyes, a peptide serum is a gentler daily step. Genova Perfecting Eye Serum is one option designed for the eye area after 45. It contains three active ingredients: SNAP-8, a peptide aimed at expression lines, plus Eyeseryl and Eyedeline, aimed at puffiness and dark circles.
To be clear about the evidence: we found no independent clinical trial of SNAP-8 itself, only supplier studies, which we do not quote. Think of it as a comfortable, lightweight serum that may help the eye area look smoother over time, alongside SPF.
15ml, made in Australia. SNAP-8, Eyeseryl and Eyedeline for the look of fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. 30 day money back trial.
What it is not
Genova Perfecting Eye Serum is a cosmetic. It is not a retinoid, it is not a medicine, and it does not work like prescription injections or remove wrinkles. Keep it out of the eyes, and stop using it if you get stinging, redness or swelling.
Who an eye serum suits for crow's feet, and who it does not
It may suit you if you have fine or dry-looking lines at the eye corners, retinol irritates your eye area, and you want a simple twice-daily step.
It may not suit you if your lines are deep and visible at rest and you want a clear change, or you are sensitive to any listed ingredient. A consultation about in-clinic options may suit you better.
How to soften crow's feet after 45: step by step
- Wear SPF 50+ every morning. Take it right to the outer corners of your eyes, avoiding the lash line.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors. Less squinting and less UV on the eye area.
- Cleanse gently. Remove eye makeup without rubbing or tugging.
- Pat on an eye serum or cream. Use your ring finger along the orbital bone, morning and night.
- Add a retinoid slowly, if you tolerate it. Start once or twice a week on the outer corners only, and stop if it stings.
- Moisturise well. Hydrated skin makes fine lines less obvious.
- Stop smoking if you smoke. It speeds up skin ageing.
- Judge at 12 weeks. Take close-up photos in the same light every four weeks.
Realistic expectations
Dry, fine lines may look softer within 4–6 weeks. Deeper lines take 8–12 weeks or more to show any change, and some will not change much with skincare.
No eye cream or serum removes crow's feet. Results vary from person to person.
Crow's feet questions women over 45 ask
At what age do you get crow's feet?
Fine expression lines can appear in your 20s or 30s. They usually become visible at rest from the 40s onwards, and more so after menopause.
Are crow's feet reversible?
Partly. Fine lines can soften with sunscreen, moisture and retinoids, but deeper lines rarely disappear without in-clinic treatment.
Can you get rid of crow's feet naturally?
You can slow them with sunscreen, sunglasses, not smoking and good moisture. Those steps will not remove existing lines.
What is the best eye cream for crow's feet?
Look for a retinoid if you tolerate it, or peptides and moisturising ingredients if you do not. Use it with daily SPF.
Will crow's feet go away on their own?
No. Static crow's feet tend to deepen slowly with age and sun unless you protect the area.
What do crow's feet indicate?
They mostly reflect years of expression, sun exposure and natural collagen loss. They are a normal part of ageing, not a health problem.
Crow's feet are a normal sign of a life full of expression, and after 45 they are one of the first places collagen loss shows. Protect the area every day, be gentle with it, and give any new product at least three months. For the wider picture, see our guide to menopausal eye changes after 45.
Eye-area care for skin after 45
Made in Australia, with a 30 day money back trial.
Made in Australia. Results vary from person to person.
Individual results vary. This article is general information, not medical advice. Genova Perfecting Eye Serum and Firming Cream are cosmetics; they do not remove wrinkles or treat any skin condition. See your GP or optometrist about any eye swelling, pain, redness or vision change. Information was checked on 25 September 2026.
Sources:
- DermNet. Facial lines and wrinkles. dermnetnz.org.
- Cleveland Clinic. Crow's feet: what it is, treatment and prevention. my.clevelandclinic.org.
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Government). Wrinkles. betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
- Hughes MCB, Williams GM, Baker P, Green AC. Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2013;158(11):781-790.
- Kafi R, Kwak HSR, Schumacher WE, et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Archives of Dermatology. 2007;143(5):606-612.
- Fu JJJ, Hillebrand GG, Raleigh P, et al. A randomized, controlled comparative study of the wrinkle reduction benefits of a cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate product regimen vs. a prescription 0.02% tretinoin product regimen. British Journal of Dermatology. 2010;162(3):647-654.
- Wang Y, Wang M, Xiao S, et al. The anti-wrinkle efficacy of Argireline, a synthetic hexapeptide, in Chinese subjects. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2013;14(2):147-153.
- See J-A, Chan L. Skin and hair changes in menopause: it's not just ageing! Medicine Today. 2024;25(11):21-27.
- Ahpra. Guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures (effective 2 September 2025). ahpra.gov.au.
