Crow's Feet Softener

Targets: Outer eye, crow's feet areaDuration: 60 secondsReps: 10 reps — hold 2 seconds each

Crow's feet form from the thousands of times a day the orbicularis oculi contracts — every smile, every squint. This exercise uses a very small, supported squint, with fingers resting at the outer corners so the skin isn't allowed to crinkle.

How to Do It

Place fingers at the outer corners of the eyes. Squint gently, then relax. Keep it very soft.

Why It Works

Resting your fingers at the outer corners keeps the skin supported and makes you aware of how much you squint. Be realistic about the result, though: lines here come from years of smiling and squinting plus sun damage and collagen loss, and an exercise can't reverse them.

Benefits

• Targets the specific muscle responsible for crow's feet
• Very gentle — safe for daily use on delicate outer-eye skin
• Takes under a minute alongside your eye cream routine

Which muscles this works

The muscle that creates crow's feet is the orbicularis oculi, a ring that closes the eyelids. Its outer fibres crinkle the skin every time you smile or squint. Over time, repeated folding combined with sun damage and the gradual loss of collagen turns those creases into lines that stay put. This exercise uses a very small squint with fingers supporting the skin, so you stay aware of how much you squint and don't let the skin crumple.

Step by step

1. Wash your hands, and apply a light eye cream if you like.
2. Rest your fingertips just outside the outer corner of each eye, on the bone, so they hold the skin flat.
3. Squint very gently, a small movement only, and hold for 2 seconds. The fingers should stop the skin from crinkling.
4. Relax completely, letting the eyes and the area around them go soft.
5. Repeat for 10 reps.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing hard. The squint should be small.
• Dragging the skin outward with your fingers.
• Not releasing fully between reps.
• Relying on the exercise and skipping sunscreen and sunglasses, which protect this area far more.

When to skip it

Skip it if you have an eye infection, irritation or a recent procedure around the eyes, and ask your practitioner first if you've had botulinum toxin or filler. Never press on the eyeball.

What to expect

Lines here come from years of smiling and squinting combined with sun damage and collagen loss, and an exercise can't reverse them. The realistic benefit is awareness: noticing and softening the habit of squinting. For lines you already have, daily SPF and a topical retinoid have much stronger evidence than any facial exercise.

The best-known study of facial exercise followed 16 women aged 40–65 through a 20-week programme of 30-minute sessions. Cheek fullness improved and dermatologists rated them about three years younger on average (Alam et al., JAMA Dermatology, 2018). It was a small study, the authors noted the results may not apply to other groups, and the programme was far longer than a one-minute video, so expect gradual and modest change.

FAQ