40 soon, feel I look every bit of it

[Happygoluckylady]

Turning 40 very soon and seriously contemplating a facelift. Not really serious but suddenly feel every minute of my years. I never thought I looked old for my age but recently just look tired and I suppose nearly 40.

Any suggestions to brighten up my ageing face? Seriously thinking of Botox which I'd never have thought of before. Or do I just need a new blusher?

Help!

[libertychick]

Start with the less invasive and less expensive stuff. Go somewhere like John Lewis and try out some foundation, concealer and blusher at different counters. Also I have found the Boots No 7 counters helpful and the body shop.

Book a cut and colour and get your brows done - makes a huge difference.

And are you actually tired? A week of early nights, some exercise and eating well can give some perspective. I am turning 40 soon too and look terrible today but it's due to a heavy cold and no sleep as DD is also poorly.

[chubbymomie2012]

Great advice Liberty! I have a windfall coming soon and I'm going to have a new hairstyle and then visit debenhams beauty counters for some skin treats. X

[fromparistoberlin]

dont have a face lift! maybe botox tho !!!

I too am nearly 40, and yes my eye bags are not delighting me

My recent tips are

do my hair most days
fake tan, chanel foundation
a moistursing face mask and hot flannel
fake tan and spray tans (honestly I am not orange
make up

and so on!!!!!

[Eliza22]

Obviously, sad as it sounds, your skin and hair and body shape/tone changes, as you age. Even someone naturally slim (I have a friend who eats like a horse, always has done and who is the same size 8-10 that she was in her early 20's). I wear makeup every day. I'm lucky, I have hair I can wash, comb and leave to dry (one less thing to do!). I need to lose a stone if I'm honest but that too gets harder and harder as one ages. I run five days out of seven for 20 mins followed by a 10 min brisk walk. I look good some days. I look shite on others.

I was recently in Boots chemist. I was after a new blusher. The SA was horrified that I wear makeup everyday.... She was like , genuinely. However, she was about 22 and at age 50, I looked at her and thought "when I was 22, I wore mascara, bronzer (it was the 80's) and a big smile and looked and felt fabulous!

I'd say, as others have... Try to catch up on your sleep. Everything, including you, looks better, after a good nights' kip . Do visit the counters for some advice. Maybe try a brighter lippy? I was advised recently, to try a brighter pink but thought "no! Gonna look like mutton in that". But, I loved it, bought it and loads of people have said I look really "well" as it's lifted my whole face! I'd been using beige neutrals for years, which were actually draining me!

Try to get some exercise. Up your water intake and just be kin to yourself... X

[Eliza22]

Kind....KIND to yourself!!

[QueenCadbury]

Don't we all !

I sometimes think we are bombarded so much with airbrushed images that we've forgotten that we are meant to age! Seriously though I turn 40 too this year and some days I look awful ( not helped by the huge teenage hormonal spots that I've developed!) yet other days I think actually for my age I'm not looking too bad. My tips are face scrub, mascara ( I look totally pale and washed out without)' blusher and lipstick. Also a good flattering haircut. And also watch what colours you're wearing next to your face. The older I've got, the more draining some look.

[Chandon]

Despite being a bit of a beauty junkie, I find that getting fresh air and excercise daily do more for my skin, than any lotion or potion.

I find make up often does not look good on my skin in day light, but these products help my skin to look best au naturel:

REN glycolactic mask, really smoothes skin, I use it twice a week.
Good moisturiser ( I use REN, agaon, as it is silicone free)
And a slap of Clarins Beauty Fash balm ( gd knows what is ij that, suddenly my natiral skin care regime is out of the window)
body shop wise woman eye cream.
I love korres lip balm in rose, it has a nice tint without being too lipsticky. Clinque almst lipstick good for daytime too.

But everyone has different skin, this works for my sensitive, relatively dry skin.

Lots of people say use spf, but I am allergic to it, plus it clogs my pores and gives me breakouts, so I wear a hat or stay out f the sun. Anyway, it is not often too sunny here.

I fond having a good haircut makes a huge difference as well, really worth it.

And NICE clothes, something that suits YOU, and you feel comfy in.

Being 40 is nice, it is a time tocut yourself some slack, and focus on your best bits.

[Chandon]

Sorry for typos, I just CANNOT get on with typing on ipad!

[misscph1973]

I feel your pain, I will be 40 in a few months, and although I don't have many wrinkles, I also have spots!

I have had really good results from the oil cleansing method (very good for the spots), coconut oil as moisturiser (very good for spots and also very good for wrinkles, smooths them) and no longer eating grain (really good for the spots). Now if I can just give up sugar...

I think in a few months when we have all had a bit of sun and fresh air, we will all look 39 again ;)

[becstarlightstarbright]

I nearly started this same thread yesterday (except that I just turned 40 this year). I had a horrible moment when I saw a reflection of myself unexpectedly and thought 'Oh, what's my Mum doing here?' And I don't have one of those stylish young-for-their-age mums... Gah. I need to take myself in hand...

[Swiddle]

I was just about to start a similar thread (but without the facelift stuff) cos at 41 I am truly horrified when I catch my reflection unawares. It's just the overnight speed of deterioration that hurts: one second I looked quite okay, the next like a haggard, hollow-eyed, crumpled paper bag....
Would appreciate tips for creams that WORK.
Would never consider injecting poison to paralyse facial muscles (botox - wtf?) but am an open wallet for a miracle cream.
(Yes I know there are more important things like world peace, but hey ho)

[rubytutu]

Oh me too. The spots are something of a shock though. Assume due to changing hormones??
Watching this with interest....

[cathyandclaire]

Shamelessly marking this, 45 and need all the help I can get!

I have one top tip...NEVER buy a mirror covered dressing table, sometimes I glance down in the mornings and want to cry at the dangly jowly face, gravity is a terrible thing. Have taken to not dusting it that's my excuse anyway so that I get a sort of fuzzy, airbrushed effect

[becstarlightstarbright]

I never thought I'd ever ever consider botox, but I was checking out websites for clinics after seeing my reflection yesterday! Can't afford it at the moment, so will use that as my 'cooling off period'!

I've put a bit more make up on today and am going to go and get my brows threaded on Friday. It would help if I lost a stone. It's weird, I could always stick to diets before, had a will of iron, but having lost and regained, lost and regained so many times now when I lose a few pounds I think 'oh what's the blimmin' point, I've been down this road before'. And then put it all back on.

[Eliza22]

becstarlightstarbright that's exactly how I feel. I KNOW I need to lose a stone and I CAN do it but I'm 50 now and have been yo-yoing all my adult life. It's a swine, really it is!

[Charliefox]

Swiddle, don't bank on a miracle cream - they simply don't exist. None of them work. Save your money and have Botox instead. It works. End of. Nothing else works like it. Totally understand if it's not for you though but just don't expect any cream to give you even similar results.

[janmoomoo]

Get your colours done. It is well worth it IMHO, one of the best things I have done. Makes you look brighter if you are wearing the right colours plus your wardrobe will gradually become more co-ordinated.

Plus remember it is February, we all look pasty and drawn (well I do). A bit of spring sunshine will make you feel more positive.

[Happygoluckylady]

Oh thank you! It is nice to see I am not alone here! Lots to think about. And shopping to do :-)

[fromparistoberlin]

i have read good stuff about botox, not yet....but would not rule out


alot of 39 year olds on this thread

agree, there is NO miracle face cream

[Fishandjam]

[marthamydear]

Help!!

I need to do something about my jowls - it's like my jaw line has just dropped since having my little one 2 years ago.

Can anyone recommend Thermage procedure done?

Would you say it's worth the money? it's non invasive... and my jaw line dropping has aged me more than my wrinkles.

Thanks

[Dancergirl]

chandon, get yourself an ipad keyboard stand thing! It changed my life!

[TheCarefulLaundress]

Jesus wept - would you listen to yourselves. You probably all look perfectly fine; brush your hair, put on a bit of slap and get on with enjoying your day instead of denigrating yourselves.

[Fishandjam]

Ok, DD is asleep for now, the little fecker.

Overall my face isn't toooo bad with slap on. I have got some thread veins including a spider one right on my cheekbone (legacy of years of hormonal contraception, I think). I am going to get them treated once I'm off maternity leave and have some more cash.

But oh dear, my under-eyes. I have a big patch of really thin skin there and it's ALWAYS shadowed, no matter how much sleep I get - though it's much worse when I don't get (like at present). I've always had to use major league concealer. And now it's going into fine crepey lines too, which just get even more noticeable with concealer! Is there anything I can do about it? At present I use an Avon under-eye concealer wand, which is quite good, and Benefit pressed face powder which doesn't highlight the creases too much. But the problem is rapidly outpacing my attempts at remedy!

[Eliza22]

Fish... Do you drink enough water? My under eye circles are worse when I haven't made the effort to drink water.

I use Benefit Boing concealer. It's heavy duty and works better than others, for me. Lasts ages so, not £££ in that sense

A smile works too. Not a mad crazy-lady one but it DOES lift the features!!