What age did you start to think "this is it, I'm looking older"

[cheeseandpickledonions]

Light hearted thread as I know it's a privilege to grow older.

I'm 37 and it's hit me. Lol

I thought I was lucky and blessed with one of those eternally young kind of faces (round, button nose, full lips) but boy oh boy the past few months have come at me quick.
I changed my blond hair to brown so now my greys are SO much more noticeable
My skin is just dull
My neck and chin feel 'looser'
My under eyes are dark and this morning I noticed crows feet without even smiling.
I can't lose weight as easily as I used to so I've got this middle aged spread way too early that won't budge

Ah well, I've had a good innings
Time to embrace it and grow old gracefully? Dye my hair back to blonde and get some Botox once lockdown is finished

34

Late 50s with a hangover. REALLY thinking this is it... last week when I hit 61.

Maybe 38 - that's when I started working makeup into work except on dress-down Fridays. I wasn't upset or bothered, but I work in a smart dress office and I just thought that wearing smart clothes and not being made-up made me look a bit severe and unfinished now I was looking slightly more mature, so makeup would work better (I mean, I spend 2 mins at most applying it, so it's not a massive effort).

TBH, most early signs of age no one else can see unless they're looking right in your face really close up, which other people don't actually do, so it's nothing much to worry about. I do feel people are being a bit silly when they spot some fine lines when 2 inches from the mirror and assume everyone will think they look ancient!

Recently. I’ll be 40 in July. I’m fine with it but I got a shock at how young I looked on photographs from 5-10 years ago and that is when it hit me. I was oblivious until then

41

Op I'm your age but I haven't had a lightbulb moment thinking I look older. Ageing has been slow steps for me, but I lost 3st a few years ago and it did wonders to my face and body (have regained some of it though).
I have very dark hair so greys very noticeable from about age 32, but I dye it regularly. My skin has changed (drier) but I've changed my beauty routine because of this. I don't have any wrinkles unless I really frown. I got asked for ID twice in last fortnight though my dh laughs as did I- shops just more strict! I do take pride in my appearance, so dye hair, paint nails, preen eyebrows, have good facial routine and wear makeup. I even wear makeup in lockdown (not full face) but it makes me feel better, which may be weird but I do it for me, nobody else. And I try and exercise a few times a week. I think ageing is genetic but I also think that there's lots you can do if you want to change it and make yourself feel better in your own skin- if you want to.

37 like you.
I have started doing a lot of zoom meetings and all I'm seeing is wrinkles.

This past 12 months - am 50.

Not til about 47 tbh. I thought I'd held off ageing pretty well. I think I went through a real shift in my thinking and starting to accept that I was going to have to look in the mirror and be content with ''healthy, rested, stylish, happy, well groomed''.

34 started to notice wrinkles around mouth and forehead

44

41. Realising that I'd started the peri-menopause (thank you breast cancer) did it.

39, when I had DD2. It was an horrific pregnancy and it aged me dramatically. Since we're in lockdown i'm trying retinol and happy to emerge looking ten years younger

Late 40's...
But a smidge of makeup and good lighting helps

34. Huge levels of life changing stress throughout my 30s (and a non sleeping child) means that my frown lines, sunken eyes and under eye circles and grey hairs are violently noticeable at my current age (36). It depresses me no end as I wasn't exactly an oil painting to start with

Round about now - early 40s.