AIBU to think that some people automatically age and look a good bit older when they hit 30

It's probably the having kids rather than being 30, although everyone does go through periods where they age more rapidly, whether because of stress, life events or just genetics.

I used to get ID'd quite often up until the age of 32. 5 years, 2 kids, one pandemic and 3 stone later, I errrr don't.

I’m 30 and I think I look …. 30 😂

There’s people my age who look younger (probably from using SPF daily, drinking loads of water, work out, no fillers and Botox which DOES age you).

Then there’s other people my age who look older (the people who drink alcohol often, use drugs, smoke, have used sun beds since their teens, have 4/5 children and started having kids at 17/18).

It’s probably a combination of genetics and lifestyle.

But I disagree with your main point that most people automatically age at 30.

You must have great genes.

Just something to think about for the posters talking about their Chinese friends who don't seem to age.
The modern pursuit of beauty is unprecedented in China – about 1.05 million people underwent plastic surgeries in 2020, and a majority of them were females under 30 years old.
www.statista.com/topics/6815/medical-aesthetics-in-china/#topicOverview

I brought my DD to school for her first day at secondary school. We were running late so we went to reception. I was asked "Are you one of our new sixth formers?" Well, yeah, I was 18 years ago when I attended the same school. When I said "No, I’m her mother and I need to sign her in" the woman looked at me like I was lying.
Again as I've posted, 5ft tall, baby faced and dress/look alternative. I’m now 35. It does happen and I hate the mumsnet go to of people assuming you're bragging.
It's not bragging when things happen like your DD is in hospital quite ill and the doctors will only address your own mother rather than you because they think she's the actual adult with responsibility.

i’m 35 and yesterday when i bought liquor chocolate in tkmaxx, the cashier asked my ID. I get that a lot. Despite u agree i feel when i reached 30 my baby fat its gone and my face more mature. But i’m asian. I’m still waayyyyyy look younger than most people here.

At the age of 35 I still get asked for ID. I’m 5ft tall, baby faced and dress/look alternative. That probably makes a difference. Everyone's different. It's still a joy to me to be asked, which helps me deal with the greys I’m now getting.
It's not nice to judge though. And believe me, I’m judged daily for the way I choose to look, which hasn't been fun throughout my time being a parent - DD is 13 next month and I'm even now I'm not often taken seriously as her parent, most assume on first impression that I'm not her parent. I choose not to judge back because I’m not an arsehole.

I wouldn't expect a 30+ woman to look like a teenager - that would be strange. But she might easily look 25. And some 25 year olds look like teenagers, so I see what you mean about your friend being at a different stage of life (still a young stage, just not very young!)
I don't think that 30 itself is a particularly crucial age, anyway. Late forties is when ageing is usually more obvious.

Interesting and I think it varies. I was lucky enough to look very young until I hit 40. Even at 40 people thought I was 10 years younger. Then I noticed a massive change within 2 years. Crows feet, wrinkles, mouth lines sagging down, wrinkly neck. May be the perimenopause as happens very young in my family.

Also Chinese heritage, also been told I look younger. I'm mid 30s now, I sometimes look back at old photos and I definitely don't look like when I was 18, but would say photos of me from 25+ compared to now look more or less the same, weight fluctuations notwithstanding. I think my school friends still look pretty much the same too, not all of them are ethnic minority backgrounds.

As PPs have said I think it's a combination of genetics and life stressors (mainly children).

I agree with this! My ageing process has definitely been down to having 3 kids in 7 years😀. I'm 34 and very definitely look it!

Oh well that's life.

No, it's not a thing. I think your imagination is causing you to see your friend in an exaggerated way, because you appear to have a rather odd fixation on looking like a teenager as the epitome of beauty. It's perfectly obvious a 30 year old woman isn't going to look like a teen so you will of course noticed changes in her. All the business about her make up and how sad it is are you issues though. And you really need to work on them because aging will be coming for you too and you'll spend a whole lot more of your adult life as an over 30 than an under 30. So put the youth fetishism in the bin where it belongs.

I think it's also about the time you start dressing as a grown-up instead of a teenager.😂

Can't say I've noticed it. I wonder if it's a tendency if you're younger and worried about ageing to perceive that friends who have hit 30 look expontentially older?

And also remember 30 IS NOT OLD, it is OK to look 'older' it's even OK to look 'old', I don't know why most people should feel a need to look young unless they're actors or models or some other job where it may seem critical.

Life starts to catch up. Drinking, smoking , drugs, unhealthy food etc all contribute to the aging process.

Wait until you get to your 50s 😂

I thought things had started to.decline in my early 40s.

Now early 50s and starting to get weird skin on my neck and losing fat from my face.

Get lots of.sleep, eat healthily and naturally, and drink lots of water.

I need something additional to the above though 😂

Well I tell you what this thread is reminding me of - of how much of a dickhead you can be in your early 20s and how much you grow up and become a wiser and more well rounded person as you age.

Definitely noticed this more so at late 30's to early 49's....including massively in myself whose always been v youthful, feel like and look like an old hag now pahaha

This happened to me aged exactly 40. I looked great in my 30s. I'm no supermodel but my skin/ hair/ style and fitness were at their best in early 30s I'd say.

Also Chinese heritage & told fairly often that I look much younger than my age (mid 60's) - my parents both looked extraordinarily youthful until elderly (and were/are considered to be "good looking" too) - bodily my skins much older

I aged when both my parents died. It seems to age you.
10 years ago, I could quite easily pass as looking 25, I’m 49 and look my age (though I don’t act it) 🤭

I tell you what does age you is having a baby. The sleep deprivation and worry are terrible for your skin! Is it possible that your friends are aging around 30ish because they have had children? It’s a fairly average age to have a child.

I read an article saying there is a big biological aging time bomb that goes off at mid 40s then you are on a straight road again until 70. It seemed to have found that a lot of illnesses started around these age points. Quite interesting.

You sound very very immature.

Seriously!

I have this friend who when she was 27 could easily pass for someone who’s 19 or even younger but now she looks much older 5 years later. She looks maybe about 27 at youngest but you wouldn’t look at her and think she’s a teen.

She’s in her 30s she’s not meant to look like a teen! I’m guessing your friends 32?… yet you say she looks 27 at youngest, isn’t that a good thing she’s still younger looking than her age