Growing old naturally or...

[FairytalesAreBullshit]

I was watching an advert on the late night channels for this magic eye stuff that gets rid of problem areas under your eyes, so bags, winkles, all abated for about 8 hours with this magic eye gel that's £30.

It made me think, do you want to grow old and let nature take its course? Or do you or have you had work done, if you've had work done do you think you've got value for money? Would you admit to what you've had done?

I've spent money in my time on most skincare sets from Chanel to Claris to Dior. I've got magic cream that cost a fortune that's meant to be the Mountain Dew of youth, but costs £80 a go, plus this magical serum didn't seem to do anything. I've got lip stuff I think from Dior that is meant to plump your lips, it does burn which I take to be a good thing, but overall I don't notice a difference.

If I was that bothered and maybe won the lottery I'd have a tummy tuck to sort out my section belly. I've noticed I'm getting the maternal face lines below my mouth, I don't know it they're called jowels. They don't both me as my face is quite skinny, so they're not that bad. One thing DS & DD love to point out is a rash I've got on my face & has been there a while, but that could honestly be a health thing.

My Nan used to say a woman of my age should have appropriate hair, so no long hair, it should be cut short, I'm not sure whether in her 'How to grow old Gracefully' book it advocated perms too I always remember one of her friends religiously dying her hair so you could see no grey. Where I've let the odd strands come through, at present having silver hair is in trend. The crazy part of me looks forward to it as maybe my hair will go light enough I can see what honey blonde looks like, or really embarrass the children with pink or turquoise hair

So is it growing old gracefully or preserving youth?

Do you think clothes are age bound, as in your clothes should match your age? However that works?

[picklemepopcorn]

Growing old gracefully! Saves panicking about managing the roots as they get harder and harder to sort out.
Clothes, I don't think age comes into it. If it suits you and the occasion, then it will look good. I've seen older ladies look slightly odd in fashions but it wasn't their age, it was something else that didn't quite suit them. Maybe their age made it more noticeable.

[MyOtherNameIsTaken]

I heard that haemorrhoid cream works for wrinkles and under eye bags

[catscurledupbythefire]

My skin is quite nice but DH has made friends with someone who does Botox and I wouldn't be anti a bit of work.

What is appropriate hair? My mother had her beautiful long, wavy dark brown hair cut off into a Marge Simpson style that was mousy brown. I won't do that although mines blonde not brown! I've always had straight fair hair worn long. I think I always will.

I do think brightly coloured hair in lilac and pink and turquoise looks stunning on younger women though - not so much on older ones.

[Crumbs1]

One of the greatest joys of ageing is to be confident enough to dress and make up as you want (or don't want). To be able to pop to the shop in your slippers, to need nothing more than a navy blue dress and a string of pearls to feel dressed ready for work, to not need a six inch layer of makeup. Life becomes so much less complicated. Growing old gracefully is the way forward (apart from highlights and Creme de la Mer).

[picklemepopcorn]

My hair is bra length. Easy to twist up and clip. Fine to leave loose. I won't be cutting it as I age, as it's much easier to manage this length.

[ComputerUserNotTrained]

Professionally, I'm finding it a lot easier to dress as I'd like rather than in the bland officewear I felt I had to wear in my twenties and thirties, and still be taken seriously now that I'm older. There is a lot of prejudice against older women, but there is a different kind of prejudice against younger ones too. Or maybe I'm just more confident

[NurseButtercup]

I advocate for growing old gracefully, accept your wrinkles and grey hair (dye your hair if you want to).

This is not the same as letting go of your vanity, i hasten to add. The other benefit of getting older is that hopefully you will have figured out what hair/clothes and makeup is right for you so you can wear what you want and look good ;-)

I've looked after myself and I'm fortunate that I look 10-15 years younger than my actual age. I wouldn't contemplate botox/plastic surgery because I'm too scared of the potential side effects.

Without sounding preachy, I advocate following a diet of very little red meat, drink lot's of water, try not to eat processed foods and minimize use of microwaves and try to do some gentle exercise 3-4 times per week. I wear a dress size 16-18 (aiming to get to 12-14 within next 12months) and I'm relatively happy with how I put myself together.

This short clip of an interview with Courtney Cox made me do a silent applause:

[NurseButtercup]

Correct link to clip with Courtney Cox

[Iris65]

I'm growing old gracefully and am often taken for slightly younger than I am. I have my hair shoulder length, wear a good quality BB cream and subtle make up. I am also slim and dress for my shape (hour glass) I still wear above the knee dresses and skirts but with opaque tights.
I drink very little alcohol, don't smoke, eat lots of fruit and vegetables, eat very little fast food or fried food. I also work out in the gym three times a week, do yoga four times a week and meditate.
I am high risk for premature aging as I am a lot of medication for different problems, major surgeries regularly and have several major health issues.

[specialsubject]

Assuming you stay alive, there isn't a choice about ageing. As you see the creams dont work and we all know that those who opt for endless end up looking terrible. Ageing is not ugly.

[Floisme]

I think you've set up a false dichotomy, op (if that's the correct phrase?). I don't intend to do either of those.

[Babyroobs]

I'm not bothered about expensive skin care products but I am nearly 50 and feel too young to let the grey take over so I do have my hair coloured. I wouldn't consider botox or anything. I don't go in the sun much or smoke or drink excessively. I think these things really affect the ageing process especially the sun.
I have a colleague who reslly looks after herself, in her late 50's , really slim, wears full face of make- up every day , long hair immaculately highlighted etc but her skin gives her age away, she has had 3/4 foreign holidays a year and it really shows.

[Elphame]

I'm growing old disgracefully.

The "rules" were set years ago when twin sets and pearls were all the fashion and perms were common. I shall wear my hair long if I want to. I shall dye it or let it grey if I want to and my jeans are non negotiable.

[Truckingalong]

No creams work. Only Botox and fillers.

[Meekonsandwich]

I don't understand why you would want to pretend you're younger than you are?
Apart from usually fooling nobody haha
I will be proud when I reach all my milestone birthdays and get old!
Not everybody Is so lucky and when to get older your so much more knowledgeable and full of stories!
I will be wearing my grey hair with pride :)

[n0ne]

I'm blessed with good genes (black don't crack and all that) so at nearly 40 don't have a single grey hair and few lines on my face, but when I am blessed with these things, I'm happy to leave them. Of course, I make sure to moisturise, but that's it. I don't see the point in chasing youth - you can never win. And facial plastic surgery and Botox, imo, look awful.

[Lostpangolin]

My MIL is 76, she was wearing jeans when I saw her last. Looked perfectly ok to me. If anything, I think she has looked better as she's aged.

[Delatron]

I'm trying to avoid Botox/fillers. I'm 41 but come back and ask me at 50!
Currently doing a course of CACI (expensive). Trying out facial exercises! Using retinols, being careful in the sun. Hair is long and I'll keep it that way.
Exercise four times a week. Lots of good fats, trying to cut down on the wine..
However, I feel like my face has fallen off the edge of a cliff in the last year! I don't want to look younger, just like how I looked a mere couple of years ago! It's tough.

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

The people who look best as they get older are the ones who adapt, so keeping in line with trends, but going with what works for them too rather than slavishly following, or going for classic styles that don't date easily that are well cut (but not "old") Good posture makes a massive difference. Complexion changes, so hair colours and make up styles need to change. Dying hair to heavy dark colours of youth can be more aging than embracing the lighter grey colours.

My plan is to embrace life in a fairly healthy way, and keep strong with exercise. While I'm open to the idea of a tummy tuck (but suspect that I can't be bothered), I'd be unlikely to make more obvious changes to somewhere like my face that could easily be betrayed by something like my neck or under arms. I tend to have a natural, low maintenance look at present (mid-thirties) but may end up putting in more effort if I feel the need.

The most efficient ways to look aged are to go for aged styles like the twin set look or fighting too hard to imitate youth.

[STFU]

I have botox every so often and have my hair dyed too.

I think I wear age-appropriate clothes.

At some point I'll stop but not yet.

[overwroughtowl]

Grow old gracefully I think, mainly because I'm lazy and cba with upkeep

My skin is so sensitive I can barely use anything on it so I shall have to embrace the lines and saggy bits that have started without throwing money at creams. Luckily my hair has lots of natural highlights and few grey as yet.

I have started paying more attention to drinking water, applying sunscreen, wearing sunglasses to avoid squinting and eating healthier last few years probably too little too late

[PetallyTyrants]

I have a colleague who really looks after herself, in her late 50's , really slim, wears full face of make- up every day , long hair immaculately highlighted etc but her skin gives her age away, she has had 3/4 foreign holidays a year and it really shows

I bet she has a bloody good time on those holidays you spiteful sounding cow

[P1nkP0ppy]

Definitely growing old gracefully or as near to as I can manage!
I'm damned if I'm going to pay out for expensive potions and lotions (been there and done it), my hair's silver and cut into a classic bob.
I wear whatever I like but nothing low cut, too short or too tight and am about to radically cull my wardrobe now I no longer need to power dress for work.
I wear subtle makeup and keep myself as fit as I can by walking and gardening and running around after my dgcs.
I don't think I'm doing too badly 😀

[JanetBrown2015]

I've always liked how I look at all stages. I don't buy make up and stuff like that. I do dye my hair and have since my 30s. It costs £7 and I don't particularly want grey hair even now in my 50s.

I eat well and am no more than 7 pounds over weight. I do stuff like the lotus position every day. I am sure i could do more exercise but I work full time and don't like it.

I suspect most women who want surgery and pay a lot of skin creams and worry about lines below their eyes need therapy.

[Owllady]

Don't smoke and drink lots of water, neither cost anything and are the best things for keeping your facial skin as hydrated as possible