Over 40's help me! I am an old hag.

[hellymelly]

I have suddenly aged!no honestly I have and its making me feel very gloomy indeed.I have always had nice skin and looked younger than my age.I'm 46 now and in the past month or so I look a lot more lined,my skin is dried out and blotchy and if I press my face it puckers in a horrible old-lady way (not that old ladies are horrible,but you get my drift)I am thinking this might be peri-menopausal dropping oestrogen,as I have other signs that my hormones are shifting .So is there a face cream that helps ? I have very sensitive skin and although I am happy to flash the cash I will have to buy online (no decent shops near me)and that makes it tricky to get any advice.What do you use and love? Does anything zap fine lines?

[CiderIUpAndSetIFree]

Feeling your pain. No great product advice to offer, I'm mid 40's too and am looking particularly shit at the moment!

I think it might be exacerbated by the time of year though - lack of sunshine and fresh air take their toll, as do seasonal viruses etc.

How's your hair? Good haircut and flattering colour can be more uplifting than all the face creams in the world.

Good supplements are also worth looking into I guess.

[hellymelly]

Well the hair is a bit frazzled and dried out and could do with a colour.Never really think of my hair as it is curly so I just wash it,no styling or blow drying.Always put the effort into my face.I don't expect to still look 17 but it has happened so suddenly.I looked in the mirror this morning and actually had a shock.

[completelyshotpelvicfloor]

I am with you sisters! Pale Irish skin, porcelain doll in my 20s, blotchy prune in my 40s. Never used to do more than slap on a bit of supermarket moisturiser but I am a convert now!

Look at QVC beauty hours on the telly. Alison somebody is a really good presenter. They have lots of stuff for 40's skin. I find all the psuedo science stuff a turn off though.

I like Liz Earle stuff - something called Cleanse and Polish (they do it in John Lewis too). Just slap it on and wash it off in the shower. Got rid of my grotty bits.

Elemis is brilliant but a bit pricey for me.

If all else fails, get Clarins Flash Balm and spread it all over your mush. Ten minutes later you'll look a million bucks! (and no I don't get commission)

Oh yes, drink a lot of water and have some fruit. I find that if I don't drink a lot during the day, I look worse by night time.

Good luck!

[WilfSell]

You are not an old hag! (presuming you are who I think you are )

You know that low carb thing I've been doing? Well I've eaten so much FAT it is unbelievable, and drunk so much water. And if you are the person I think you are, you have mentioned my skin lately.

Well, I reckon the right oils in food are the key, and all the water. From inside out. Imedeen is supposed to be good as a supplement.

I am happy with protect and perfect from Boots currently, and I use a serum as well as the moisturiser.

[brimfull]

God I now what you mean -it's depressing isnt it?
I am 47 , nearly 48 , when I was early 40's everyone said I looked so young for my age.

Micro-dermabrasion may help. I have a friend who has fab skin at 49 and she has regular salon ones, not the ones where you look lie someone has set fire to your face but it is stronger than the over the counter ones.
You could look into that..then let me know how you get on.

Make the most of your hair , new cut and style maybe?
Also clarins instant smooth foundation is great for disguising fine lines.

[mazzystartled]

Drink water, ditch the caffeine
Get enough sleep
Eat nuts and seeds and avocados
Agree re haircut - also get your eyebrows done properly - really lifts the face and opens up the eyes
Beauty Flash balm is ok but can actually be quite drying and astringent.
Bobbi Brown moisturisers and foundations may be worth a try but I would definitely try to get to a dept store and try some stuff out.

[mazzystartled]

oh yeah - actually if you have some cash go for mini facial peel - basically it is just a facial with fruit acids - absolutely genius.

[mazzystartled]

oh yeah - actually if you have some cash go for mini facial peel - basically it is just a facial with fruit acids - absolutely genius.

[WilfSell]

I have also become - courtesy of MN - a massive fan of primer under my make-up. Bloody genius at filling the holes and lines, even if I'm not wearing foundation...

[hellymelly]

Hmm a facial peel...I have resisted the botox route as it makes you look like a freak with lines in other unintended places.I too was a porcelain doll in my 20's sob.i think water may be an issue,I really don't drink enough.I am like my dad,who said "I have been dehydrated since 1952."Wilfsell! you are freaking me out! who am I? I am the me you think I am?or Am I another person more knackered and indeed raddled-with-lines witchy faced old troll?
I think the central heating isn't helping,i moved here from a very damp place and that was lovely for the skin!

[mazzystartled]

no no no it's not one of those freaky semi surgical things where your skin actually peels off or anything.

it like an uber facial - a glycolic peel I think it's called - i have had a couple and it is fab

tell me about primers wilfsell - how would i know one when i saw one - any recommends?

[Chandon]

It´s the worst time of year, we are all at our palest, and with dry skin from cold weather and too much heating.

I have bought wheatgerm oil at Holland and Barrat´s, a nd rub a few drops into my face BEFORE putting on cream-serum. Helps a fair bit.

I find Benefit Dandelion powder helps with pale skin (it´s very subtle though, too subtle for some.)

I find sauna or exercise also help for circulation, and teint.

And go for a facial

[diddl]

Can I join in?

I´m fairly dark skinned but now looking sallow with dark circle.

Thinning hair with the odd grey.

Definitely menopausal for me.

Olaz-is that what it´s called now?-works OK for me, but thinking of looking for a tinted one.

Do they do one?

If not,any recommendations?

[annasoprano]

Tint hair professionally,

exfoliate,

moisturise,

Touche Eclat.

Job Done.

[diddl]

Now I know why Idon´t wear make up!

Just put some foundation on to get rid of sallowness & it feels "heavy"!

And it´s only a light liquid!

Feels as if I should go the whole hog now-lippy, blusher etc!

[gramercy]

Can I join too?

Similar problem: I've always looked young. I've taken it for granted. But suddenly, upon hitting mid-forties, I look terrible. Saggy skin and lines. They seemed to appear from nowhere. I'm also quite thin and I don't think this has helped my face!

I have Persil-white skin. I've never worn any make-up on my skin - I always look orange. But now I need to make some drastic improvements and don't know how to look sophisticated.

[BendyBob]

Can I lurk too? Anyone ever catch site of themselves unexpectedly, say out shopping, and wonder who the hell it is?

[gramercy]

Oh, yes. That happened last week. I was HORRIFIED. It was my hair. I imagined it to be long and... youthful. In truth I look like a mad bag lady.

[BendyBob]

Diddle the mineral powder makeup that you can get now is very good and doesn't feel cloggy or heavy.

[OsbegaEthewulf]

Me too...I nearly screamed last week when I caught sight of myself in John Lewis. At 46 I have also suddenly aged and my skin looks shite, hair like the mucky bit round a sheeps arse and my jowls rival a bulldogs. VERY depressing

[BendyBob]

I seem to get this hawkish, snooty disapproving look. I don't even know I'm doing it! I look...like my mother.

[CiderIUpAndSetIFree]

rofl at the hag convention

Okay, I've had a few random thoughts, here they are in case they are of help to anybody.

Frizzy grey hair - appearance can be improved with use of straightening/smoothing lotions (a la John Frieda Frizz Ease). Lots of brands also do a straightening/smoothing shampoo and conditioner.

My hair is quite curly, the 'straightening' products don't make it straight as I don't use straighteners, they just help to calm it down and make it less frizzy old lady.

Hair dye - using semi-permanent colour can actually improve the appearance and texture of your hair as well as (hopefully) the colour.

Gramercy - do you mean make-up makes you look orange? That should be fairly easily fixed by getting the right shade, it might be that you'd suit a really pale 'rose' shade rather than beiges. Unfortunately this means subjecting yourself to the attentions of the scary make up ladies - I tend to choose my lady by how she's done her own make up rather than by which brand she's flogging.

[CiderIUpAndSetIFree]

WilfSell - yes agree re primer, I keep forgetting to apply mine but it does make a difference. Mac do one called Prep + Prime which is quite good.

[bubble2bubble]

More water, and some strong vitamin B will help definately help with dry hair

I was given a sample of Nuxe Creme Nirvanesque First Expression Lines Cream last week( I think this means for wrinkly old bags, but the girl was being nice ) and am realy rather converted - my face is a lot smoother looking. Never had a wrinkle cream before so quite impressed. I've a tendancy to be quite allergic as well, but there don't seem to be any nasty ingredients in this

[diddl]

BendyBob-perhaps it was the trowel I was using that caused the problem

annasoprano-do you use Touche Eclat?

If I´m lucky,maybe if I got rid of the dark circles my face wouldn´t look so pale!