Sad about my face - it’s hard to look in the mirror

[nibdedibble]

I used to be ok with being quite average looking - symmetrical enough, could do a good cheeky look when I wanted to and makeup improved things.

I’ve aged a lot over the past few years, put on weight and become intolerant of most skincare and makeup, it makes my eyes burn, even products you’d only put on your cheeks for example . So I’ve got one good moisturiser (hooray) but nothing else to give me a lift.

I’m trying to work on losing weight (it’s so hard, late 40s) and with luck making this double chin smaller.

I barely recognise my face and now hate looking in the mirror. Is this normal? Is this it? I don’t go around thinking women over 45 are munters but I do think that about myself.

It’s easier said than done but the very best thing you can do for your looks is to stop caring so much! I don’t mean to the point where you stop taking care of basic things such as hygiene. But just embracing the changes. I spent years caring too much. I’m not photogenic at all, and every photo I saw of me would make me want to cry! Sometimes I did cry! But I’m 50 now and have already lost quite a few friends and relatives to cancer, heart disease and so on. So worrying about a few wrinkles or a bit of tummy fat feels quite shallow and pointless. I’m here, alive, happy and relatively healthy. So when I look in the mirror I smile. Yes the woman smiling back at me does look 50 but that’s ok. I don’t need to impress anyone. And the thing is, I’m then feeling confident and as most people will say, confidence makes you more attractive.

@thenightsky

Sorry I know it's a cliche but I think about it every time I look in the mirror.

@AmazingGreats no worries; personally I find that quote difficult as I have atrocious resting bitch face And it feels a bit unfair!

Much exercise done since starting thread, much water drunk, no sugar etc. Nothing for it but to kbo! (Keep buggering on)

That Roald Dahl quote should be consigned to a dustbin, and then blasted of into the far reaches of space.

I have a friend who is actually one of the kindest, sweetest people I know. Literally never has a bad word to say, always positive. But, she has the kind of face that settles into a grumpy expression and people do judge her for that. People do not always have the faces they deserve.