How To Get Rid Of Under Eye Wrinkles When Smiling – Real Fixes, Not Fairy Dust

How to get rid of under eye wrinkles when smiling might seem like a cosmetic concern until you catch a candid photo where your grin looks like it’s been ironed into your cheekbones with a fine-tip rake. Congratulations: you just smiled yourself into looking ten years older.

If crow’s feet had a personality, they’d be the guests who show up uninvited to every party, especially when you’re genuinely happy and, ironically, looking your best.

So, if you’ve been asking “how to get rid of under eye wrinkles when smiling,” not just as a passing curiosity but as a real, honest-to-goodness quest for smoother skin that still lets you laugh, you’re in the right place.

How to Get Rid of Under Eye Wrinkles When Smiling?

You can’t completely erase them, especially not overnight. But you can significantly reduce their appearance, prevent deeper creases from forming, and even retrain your skin and muscles to behave better.

Wrinkles that show up when you smile are called dynamic wrinkles. Unlike static wrinkles (which are visible even when your face is at rest), dynamic ones are the result of repeated muscle movement, collagen breakdown, and loss of skin elasticity, often worsened by sun exposure, dehydration, genetics, and even how you sleep.

To treat them effectively, you need a layered approach: think of skincare as your foundation, treatments as your structure, and habits as your roof. No single fix will solve it forever. But combining targeted skincare, professional treatments, muscle relaxation techniques, and lifestyle upgrades will give you visible results without freezing your face in Botox-like stillness..

The Science of Why These Wrinkles Pop Up When You Smile

Under-eye wrinkles during smiling are a combination of natural muscle movement and skin thinning. The orbicularis oculi muscle, which circles your eye, contracts when you smile. Over time, repeated contraction without enough skin support (collagen, elastin, hydration) leads to folding and creasing.

Plus, the under-eye skin is the thinnest on your entire body, just 0.5 mm thick. That means it loses moisture faster, is more prone to sun damage, and reflects fatigue, dryness, and age more dramatically than other areas.

When you’re young, your skin snaps back. With age (or dehydration, or lack of sleep), it doesn’t.

Topical Skincare That Works (And What to Skip)

If your eye cream feels like a hopeful prayer and smells like lavender, that’s nice but ineffective without the right clinically proven ingredients. To get real results, you need active ingredients that are both safe for the delicate eye area and targeted for fine lines under eyes.

What Works

• Retinol (gentle or encapsulated): Stimulates collagen production but must be used cautiously around the eyes.
• Peptides: Help rebuild skin protein structures.
• Hyaluronic Acid: Plumps skin by attracting and holding water.
• Caffeine: Reduces puffiness and temporarily tightens skin.
• Ceramides: Repair the skin barrier, helping to hold in hydration.

Tip: Apply your retinol at night, followed by a deeply hydrating eye cream to reduce irritation. During the day, always use SPF even if you’re just stepping into filtered sunlight.

What to Skip

• Heavy oils or overly rich creams that just sit on the skin.
• Fragrance (a major irritant around the eyes).
• Trendy “miracle creams” that make big promises and deliver only glitter.

A 2022 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology study confirmed that consistent use of peptide-based eye creams over 12 weeks reduced the depth of under-eye wrinkles by over 20%.

Best Treatments for Under Eye Wrinkles (Backed by Dermatologists)

Sometimes, skincare needs a boost from the big guns. If you’re wondering about the best treatment for under eye wrinkles, these are the top dermatologist-approved options:

A. Botox

Perfect for dynamic wrinkles like smile lines. Temporarily relaxes the muscles around your eyes so they don’t crinkle as hard. Results last 3–4 months.

B. Microneedling with PRP (Vampire Facial)

Microneedles create micro-injuries that stimulate collagen. When paired with Platelet-Rich Plasma, healing and collagen production skyrocket.

C. Laser Resurfacing (Fraxel, CO2)

Removes the top skin layer, stimulates new collagen. Great for deep wrinkles but requires downtime.

D. Dermal Fillers

If there’s volume loss, hyaluronic acid fillers (like Belotero) can subtly plump the area to reduce shadowing and crinkling.

These aren’t permanent. You’ll need maintenance. But for many, it’s worth it.

Do Facial Exercises and Massage Help?

Yes, when done right, facial massage and targeted exercises can stimulate circulation, drain lymphatic fluid, and even train the muscles to contract more gently.

Try these:

• Gently tap under your eyes using your ring finger in a circular motion.
• Smooth outward from your tear duct to your temple, lifting instead of dragging.
• Use microcurrent devices like NuFACE for muscle toning.

But avoid exaggerated eye exercises or pulling the skin. These can make lines worse.

Do Peels Help with Wrinkles?

Chemical peels can help with under-eye wrinkles, but only when performed professionally and tailored for the thin skin around the eyes. Superficial peels with lactic acid or mandelic acid may offer mild improvement in texture and tone.

However, not all peels are safe near the eyes. Consult a licensed provider because this isn’t a DIY zone.

Can Makeup Help or Make It Worse?

Makeup is double-edged. The right products blur; the wrong ones cake.

Tips That Work:

• Start with hydrating under-eye primers.
• Use thin, buildable concealers, not thick ones.
• Apply with a damp beauty sponge and light touch.
• Set lightly with a finely milled setting powder, or skip powder altogether if creasing is severe.

The goal is to even out skin tone, not spackle every line. Less is truly more.

Lifestyle Changes That Quietly Age Your Eyes

This one’s less glamorous, but more powerful than you think.

• Sleep on your back: Side-sleeping smashes your skin.
• Stay hydrated: Dehydrated skin = more lines.
• Protect against sun: Sunglasses and SPF daily.
• Stop rubbing your eyes: This stretches the skin and causes tiny tears.

Also, avoid screens late at night. Eye strain leads to squinting, which leads to, you guessed it, more wrinkles.

What to Eat and Drink to Support Under-Eye Skin Health

A healthy eye area starts inside.

Add More Of

• Vitamin C-rich foods (kiwi, bell peppers): For collagen production.
• Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, flaxseed): For skin elasticity.
• Water, herbal teas: For hydration.
• Collagen peptides: Some studies show they help improve skin smoothness.

Avoid

• Processed sugars (they break down collagen).
• Excess caffeine and alcohol (they dehydrate skin).
• High-sodium foods (lead to puffiness and fluid retention).

How to Prevent Under Eye Wrinkles (Even If You Already Have Some)

It’s never too late to build a preventative routine:

• Use SPF every day, even on cloudy days.
• Start with a gentle retinoid eye cream in your 20s.
• Don’t squint, get your eyes checked for glasses or wear sunnies outside.
• Stay consistent with your skincare and avoid bouncing between trends.

Even if some lines are there, you can stop them from deepening and even soften the look of the ones you have.

FAQs on How to Get Rid of Under Eye Wrinkles When Smiling

How to Get Rid of Crow’s Feet?

Use retinol, Botox, and SPF. Crow’s feet are often muscle-driven, so treatments like Botox are the most effective.

How to Avoid Forehead Wrinkles?

Hydration, retinoids, and muscle awareness help. Botox works, but so does reducing over-expressive movements and improving skin elasticity.

How to Get Rid of Wrinkles Under Eyes?

Combination therapy: Retinol, hydration, SPF, professional treatments like microneedling or laser, and lifestyle changes. Skincare alone takes time and consistency.

The Bottom Line on How to Get Rid of Under Eye Wrinkles When Smiling

You shouldn’t stop smiling. The answer to how to get rid of under eye wrinkles when smiling isn’t to grin less, it’s to support your skin and muscles better.

In truth, some movement lines are beautiful. They show life, personality, and joy. But if you’re aiming for smoother skin that moves gracefully without looking tired or lined, you need a strategy, not a wish.

Mix skincare, treatment, awareness, and self-care. If done consistently, you’ll smile in the mirror and like what you see.