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Managing Crow’s Feet & Under-Eye Wrinkles for Men

What causes crow’s feet and how can you help manage them? Read our guide for everything you need to know about eye wrinkles for men.

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How to manage crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles for men

Crow’s feet and wrinkles around the eyes are a completely normal mark of aging and can be seen as signs of a life well lived, but despite being a natural part of aging, they can be a source of self-consciousness for some men.

There are several factors why eye wrinkles may appear prematurely or sometimes appear more pronounced. Read on to learn about crow’s feet and wrinkles under the eyes, what causes them, how you can help reduce their appearance.

What are crow’s feet?

Crow’s feet, also known as lateral canthal lines, are wrinkles that radiate from the outer corner of the eyes when squinting or smiling1.

What causes crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles in men?

Most people get crow’s feet eventually; it’s just part of growing older and skin changing as we age. However, there are some lifestyle factors and other variables that can contribute to early-onset crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles.  

Here are some common causes of crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles for men:
1
Age

Your skin’s elasticity decreases due to a natural decrease in Collagen and Elastin as you age1. The skin around the eyes is also thinner and more delicate than the skin on the rest of your face, so it’s common for fine lines and wrinkles to appear there first2. This, combined with repeated facial expressions that trigger crow’s feet to appear over time, contributes to the development of more permanent fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes1.

2
Genetics

Genetics can contribute to when and how severely we develop wrinkles.

3
Sun exposure

The sun emits UV rays, which can cause damage to your skin that results in symptoms of premature aging like sun-induced dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles in a process known as photoaging3. Be sure to avoid overexposing unprotected skin to direct sunlight, and always protect your skin with sunscreen and other sun protection measures like wearing sunglasses, a hat and protective clothing, and avoiding sun exposure during peak times of the day.

4
Diet

Nutrition is important for overall health, and this includes the skin. Unhealthy eating habits can exacerbate premature skin aging4.

5
Smoking

Aside from being detrimental to your overall health, smoking cigarettes can also contribute to premature facial wrinkles5.

6
Air Pollution

Chronic exposure to air pollution has been confirmed to be a critical chronic stressor that can have a negative impact on skin aging6.

7
Poor Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest is crucial for overall health, and this includes the skin. Getting poor sleep, or not enough sleep, is associated with accelerated intrinsic aging and reduced skin moisture barrier function7. When the skin’s moisture barrier is compromised, this can lead to dehydrated skin which can also temporarily contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles8.

What does it mean if someone has crow’s feet?

Crow’s feet are nothing to be ashamed of – they’re a natural part of aging and can even be seen as a marker of pride that you’ve smiled a lot in your life so far!

5 Ways to help manage the look of crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles for men

While wrinkles can’t be completely prevented, there are some ways you can help to slow or delay their development and manage their appearance1.
Man smiling

1. Protect yourself from UV rays

Try and reduce your exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays by taking proper sun protection measures such as wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, avoiding sun exposure during peak hours of the day, seeking shade when possible, wearing sunglasses and covering up with protective clothing.

2. Avoid squinting when you can

Crow’s feet form from repeated wrinkling of the skin over time due to facial expressions like squinting. If you need glasses or contact lenses, make sure you wear them to avoid habitually squinting in order to see.

Similarly, if you’re sensitive to sunlight, carry your sunglasses with you when you head outside. This will help you stop squinting in the brightness and help protect the delicate skin around your eyes from sun exposure.

3. Stop smoking

Smoking cigarettes contributes to loss of skin elasticity and signs of premature aging like wrinkles. Quitting smoking will not only help to reduce further premature wrinkling, but some evidence suggests skin elasticity may even improve.

4. Get adequate, high-quality sleep

There’s a reason they call it beauty rest! Sleep is the time our body works to repair and restore itself from the stressors of the day. Focus on a good sleep hygiene routine to help support your skin and the rest of your body. You may want to consider your sleeping position as well, as certain positions can cause skin to compress against the pillow and may contribute to wrinkles9.

5. Focus on hydration

As the skin around the eyes is so thin and delicate, when the body gets dehydrated, temporary wrinkles and fine lines can form. Drink plenty of water and choose hydrating skin care products. Drinking enough water throughout the day helps to keep skin hydrated from the inside out, and hydrating skincare products like NIVEA MEN Age Defense Instant Hydrating Face Serum can help visibly firm the skin and reduce the look of wrinkles with regular use.
man smiling

Can you get rid of crow’s feet?

While it’s not possible to  get rid of crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles, you can help to reduce their appearance with a targeted eye cream.

Men’s eye cream for crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles

NIVEA MEN Age Defense Eye Cream helps reduce the look of crow’s feet and dark circles under the eyes while delivering 24-hour hydration and reduced look of under-eye puffiness. Specially formulated for men with sensitive skin, this cream provides 24hr hydration and firming benefits with regular use, leaving your skin looking  younger. Perfect for daily use, this cream is your answer to help  visibly reduce the signs of aging around your eyes.
NIVEA MEN Age Defense Eye Cream

Supporting younger-looking skin with a men’s skincare routine

To help address fine lines and wrinkles, incorporate your eye cream into your overall skincare routine. NIVEA MEN’s Age Defense product line helps you create a men’s skincare routine that addresses signs of aging with a focus on hydrating the skin.
man smiling

Step 1. Apply a nourishing serum

After cleansing your skin, apply a nourishing serum like NIVEA MEN Age Defense Advanced Serum. NIVEA MEN Age Defense Advanced Serum formulated with Thiamidol® and Hyaluronic Acid visibly reduces the look of dark spots and wrinkles with regular use. The light and fast-absorbing formula, specially crafted for men’s skin, provides 24hr moisture to the skin.
NIVEA MEN Age Defense Advanced Serum

Step 2. Apply eye cream as instructed above

Step 3. Apply a moisturizer with SPF

For daily moisture* that also helps defend against harmful UVA and UVB rays, try NIVEA MEN Age Defense Daily Face Moisturizer SPF 30. This daily facial moisturizer for men visibly reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles with regular use and helps to restore lost moisture for softer and smoother-feeling skin. Its light, non-greasy formula is dermatologically tested for men with sensitive skin, and is suitable for all skin types. Help improve the look of wrinkles while helping protect skin from aging caused by the sun with NIVEA MEN. 

*for sun protection, use as directed. 
NIVEA MEN Age Defense Face Moisturizer

Manage crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles for men with NIVEA

Crow’s feet and under-eye wrinkles can be a cosmetic inconvenience but are ultimately a normal part of aging for men. While you can’t completely prevent or get rid of crow’s feet, you can help reduce their appearance with certain lifestyle choices, including using an eye cream designed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles such as NIVEA MEN Age Defense Eye Cream.

Related Products

References

Sources

1. Crow’s Feet: What It Is, Botox, Treatment & Prevention. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24586-crows-feet. 

2. Larson, J. How Do You Treat Thin Skin Under Your Eyes? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skincare/thin-skin-under-eyes. 

3. Cleveland Clinic. Sun-damaged Skin: Photoaging, Signs, Causes & Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5240-sun-damage-protecting-yourself. 

4. Tranchida, N.; Molinari, F.; Franco, G. A.; Cordaro, M.; Di Paola, R. Potential Role of Dietary Antioxidants during Skin Aging. Food Science & Nutrition 2025, 13 (5). https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.70231. 

5. Koh, J. S.; Kang, H.; Choi, S. W.; Kim, H. O. Cigarette Smoking Associated with Premature Facial Wrinkling: Image Analysis of Facial Skin Replicas. International Journal of Dermatology 2002, 41 (1), 21–27. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-4362.2002.01352.x. 

6. Chen, Y.; Lyga, J. Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging. Inflammation & Allergy-Drug Targets 2014, 13 (3), 177–190. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871528113666140522104422. 

7. P, O.-W.; A, S.; B, K.; Ms, M.; D, Y.; Kd, C.; Ed, B. Does Poor Sleep Quality Affect Skin Ageing? Clinical and experimental dermatology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25266053/. 

8. Debara, D. Dry Skin vs. Dehydrated: How to Tell the Difference — And Why It Matters. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/dry-vs-dehydrated#dehydrated-skin. 

9. Poljsak, B.; Godic, A.; Lampe, T.; Dahmane, R. The Influence of the Sleeping on the Formation of Facial Wrinkles. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy 2012, 14 (3), 133–138. https://doi.org/10.3109/14764172.2012.685563.