It's happened to all of us: That one fateful morning when you wake up, catch yourself in the mirror and notice a pair of crow's feet -- those telltale wrinkles that branch out from the corners of your eyes. Welp, it finally happened, you say to yourself, deciding whether to accept your crinkly lines or start obsessively Googling how to get rid of crow's feet.

Crow's feet are among the first wrinkles to appear on our faces, and they decorate the complexions of almost everyone over 30. The skin around the eyes is thin and delicate, unlike some of the fattier, more buoyant skin on the face, which is why these lines show up sooner.

So what causes these pesky crow's feet of ours? Oh, a number of inevitable things. The habitual squinting you do over the years eventually catches up with you, as well as all that time spent in the sun. In fact, photo-aging and free radical damage from too much sun exposure are primary causes of crow's feet. (Curse those summers by the pool.) Sleep deprivation can also contribute to crow's feet.

So what can we do about it now? To find out, we chatted with two skin-care authorities: Double Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon Dr. Richard Swift, MD, and Rachel Edlich, Co-Founder of Radical Skincare and Author of "Get Radical: Secrets To Creating A Life You Love." Look no further for your essential guide to preventing and treating crow's feet.

Image via urbanoutfitters.com

"There is a reason why they call it beauty sleep," says Swift. When you're sleep deprived, your body releases more cortisol, a stress hormone, which can break down collagen, causing the skin to lose elasticity. A lack of sleep also slows the body's production of human growth hormone, which is an important part of everyday tissue repair, adds Edlich.

Translation: Less sleep, more damage to the skin, more wrinkles. In addition, chronic sleep loss can enhance the crow's feet that have already started forming. "So make sure that you get seven to eight hours a night to keep the lines and wrinkles at bay," Swift says. A sleep tracker device, like a Fitbit, or an app, such a Sleep Cycle or SleepBot, can help you make sure you're getting enough shut-eye.

The skin is the body's largest organ, says Edlich, and when it's not properly hydrated, it's the first thing to show outwards signs of aging. Crow's feet and dark circles are exacerbated by dehydration and parched skin, a process that's best prevented from the inside out.

To keep skin hydrated and plump, Edlich recommends doubling your daily water intake. That sounds like a lot. But believe it or not, most of us drink a shockingly low quantity of water throughout the day, and making a change as simple as keeping a cute water bottle at your desk at work can be a major motivator. How tempting is this one by Kate Spade?

Not only do they look cool, wearing your favorite shades whenever you're out in the sun is your armor against crow's feet.

"It is important to wear sunglasses to protect the delicate eye area and to prevent excessive squinting, which over time causes crow's feet lines to form," explains Swift. In other words, simply throwing on a pair of sunnies works double duty to prevent sun damage, as well as the repeated contractions in the skin around the eyes that cause crow's feet to form over the years.

Try a polarized pair for extra protection, like these sharp Clubmasters.

You've heard it time and time again, but only because its true. Sun damage is a leading cause of fine lines and crow's feet, including your dreaded crow's feet. According to Swift, slathering on the sunscreen every morning -- even in winter -- is a crucial step in the fight against crow's feet. (Though it's more preventative than effective for treating existing lines.)

Not a fan of most face sunscreens? Neither are most of our editors. But Dermalogica Pure Light SPF 50, $62, and CeraVe Sunscreen for Face 30, $14.99 are both breakout-proof and editor-approved.