Luckily, that incredible skincare hero ingredient, glycolic acid, can be an especially effective treatment for consumers who want to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet – and slow the formation of deeper under-eye wrinkles in the future.

Unfortunately for consumers with happier dispositions, one of the biggest culprits behind crow’s feet is smiling. Additionally, any kind of repetitive motion, like laughing or squinting, also breaks down the collagen and elastic fibers in the skin over time and leads to the formation of under eye wrinkles.

“Crow’s feet occur when the circular muscle around the eyes contracts—the orbicularis oculi muscle—and it then causes these perpendicular pull lines where the muscles insert into the skin,” dermatologist Dr. Anna Guanche said.

While measures like dermatological fillers can help fight under eye wrinkles, there are easier, less invasive options for combatting crow’s feet. Glycolic acid is the perfect, readily available and affordable option to help consumers battle crow’s feet over the long haul.

For all forms of wrinkles, regular chemical exfoliation can help skin look tighter, brighter, and less creased. And the best chemical exfoliator around? Glycolic acid.

“Exfoliating works by taking away the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin, called the epidermis. On top of forcing fresh skin to the surface, this also adds volume to the epidermis, helping to smooth out lines,” Dr. Neal Schultz told Brydie. 

By destroying the bonds between old, damaged skin cells, glycolic acid effectively sloughs off the top layer of the dermis to reveal the healthier skin underneath. This gentle exfoliation not only reduces dryness – a factor that emphasizes wrinkles like crow’s feet – but also promotes overall skin plumpness and firmness.

Glycolic acid also helps combat crow’s feet, thanks to this Alpha Hydroxy Acid’s ability to spur collagen growth, an essential protein for bouncy, tight skin. 

“In minutes, acids lift away dead cells and trigger a lovely chain reaction: As that topmost layer is shed, signals are sent to the living cells below to multiply and move up, to increase collagen production, to make more hyaluronic acid—to act younger,” David Bank, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia, told Allure.

For consumers with crow’s feet, collagen and hyaluronic acid are crucial to maintaining more moisturized skin and promoting the look of “filled” wrinkles. Luckily, glycolic acid can help increase the production of both of these hydrating, wrinkle-resisting skincare helpers.

Crow’s feet are one of the most noticeable and common signs of aging. With the help of highly efficacious glycolic acid exfoliating products, the appearance of crow’s feet can be minimized – and even prevented in years to come. That’s an outcome that will bring a smile to a lot of consumer faces.

Take advantage of our new anti-aging guide, featuring the most innovative, highest-quality ingredients in the personal care industry.