If you have physically aged well.. to ask...

[TheSmilingBeaver]

What is your secret? =p

Light hearted thread.

I am 31 and with more time on my hands due to lockdown started to Introduce new skincare to my daily routine, including vitamin C, retinol and BHA.

Got me thinking of whether those who have aged well physically have had a good regime (I.e skincare, diet, spf, exercise, water etc) or whether it has been mainly down to genetics.

I have also noticed my teeth are yellowing from too much coffee so I need to take more care and get them whitened !

Wrinkles are now cropping up and I have dark eye circles!

I also have noticed as I've got older I gain weight so much quicker, up until I was 25 I physically couldn't PUT ON weight and was stuck at 7 stone. I definately don't have that problem now and I need to kick my bum and get back to running!

I'm 48 and have been told I look late 30's. I drink like a fish, alcohol wise, but I've been vegan 20 years, have never smoked and have never drunk tea or coffee (can't stand either). Drink plenty of water. Face gets a good splash of cold water every morning but no skin care regime to speak of. Wear eye shadow and eye liner every day but no other make up. Could just be good genes though...

@TheSmilingBeaver money means less stress and more choice. A lifetime ago I had to bury a baby and it was the most awful, crappest period of my life but paying for a nice funeral wasn't an issue, therapy wasn't an issue, an au-pair for ds1 wasn't an issue when I was pg again. Money didn't repair the heartbreak but it made a period of utter shite easier to bear.

Even when life throws its utter worst at you, options help and money buys things to look forward to rather than more of the same.

It doesn't make the shit easier, but it makes it more bearable iyswim. Doesn't mean you ever get over it but perhaps makes things easier to come to terms with.

SPF!

People generally assume I'm younger than I am. I've used sunblock religiously since I was about 20.

I know it's the sunblock, because my face looks quite young but my decollete (which I never thought to sunblock for some reason) looks wrinkly and about 10-20 years older than my face. Thank God for high necklines...

Not smoking/drinking/taking drugs
Enough sleep
Not too much sun
Looking after your teeth

I agree with pp living in poverty definitely ages you.

Genes and time and money to invest in and look after yourself.

I have none of the above. I look rough as shit and am considering botox.

I wouldn’t say I have aged well in every respect, but I do have good hair & very good skin in my early 50s. Obviously, part of this is due to genetics - all my family have really thick, wavy hair and the men don’t lose it. Choose your parents carefully .

My own contribution to my good skin is never, ever sunbathing, even I when I was young, seldom wearing make-up and aways using sunscreen. I smoked when I was much younger, but I quit a long time ago. Apart from that, I leave it alone. As for my hair, I really do just leave it alone. I don’t dye it, blow-dry it or use straighteners.

People who age well do do do to genetics and not smoking or getting extreme amounts of sun/ uv exposure.

People who think they age well and pass for ten years younger are people who ask other people how old they think they are for dome incomprehensible reason and actually believe the standard ten years younger polite lie-guess.

They're not necessarily the same people.

I have reasonable genes. I'm also fat, which has the effect of smoothing out your face . Now that I'm losing weight, it'll be interesting to see how I look later on. I don't sunbathe, rarely use makeup and I do take vitamin supplements (mainly a general all round multivitamins with minerals plus extra B12, D and K).

I do get people saying I look younger than my age (52), and as above, will be interesting to see how it pans out with weight loss.

I look good for my age but so does my Mum and her Mum did. I also like wine. I'm not into unhealthy food though and I drink a lot of water. I need to exercise more. I haven't got a grey hair yet in late 40's. I could do with losing a few pounds but only a few.

Genetics is by far the biggest factor.

If you are a crackhead or sun worshipper you will appear older than you otherwise might have.

Other than that I firmly believe it's just the luck of the draw.

Another one saying genetics. Both of my parents look very young, and it's especially true on my mother's side. My Nan is 86 and looks a good 10 years younger. My parents are both early sixties and again, look mid fifties.

I'm 38. I can't pass for 28, but most people put me early to mid thirties. DH is the same age as me and everyone thinks he's much older (he is, by 4 months). I'd say he looks our age.

The women on my mother's side don't seem to get wrinkles until very late on. My mother has none (apart from your usual crow's feet when she smiles) and my Nan was well into her seventies before she got them. I am starting to to grey at my temples though. Just these last couple of months (I blame homeschooling).

I never, ever wear make up. Just never really learned how to apply it. Neither my mother or grandmother do either, so that has probably helped.

I find that people younger than me are shocked at my age, but people of around the same age as me are not. I thinks it's perception, and people expect you to look like the grannies in the 70's.

Don’t sunbath and use a sunscreen
Don’t smoke
Sleep well
Good straight teeth and then whitened

Genetics.

I'm mid-50's and would easily pass for mid-40's. The only thing I've avoided is smoking.

I drink, only use sunscreen when abroad, really only started to use moisturiser once I hit 50, I have kids.

My grandmother always looked younger and I seem to have inherited here genes.

@UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme

People who age well do do do to genetics and not smoking or getting extreme amounts of sun/ uv exposure.

People who think they age well and pass for ten years younger are people who ask other people how old they think they are for dome incomprehensible reason and actually believe the standard ten years younger polite lie-guess.

They're not necessarily the same people.

I don't ask people how old they think I am. If it comes up and they find out how old I am, I usually get a startled 'oh! I thought you were about 33'. When I was 31, I had a conversation with someone and mentioned my DH in passing. They said 'husband?! How long have you been married and were you a child bride?'. I'd been married for 4 years by that point and we had two DC.

Genetics, no smoking and a big dose of luck (I grew up in the southern hemisphere when baby oil was an acceptable 'sun screen'). I'm 50 and could pass for 40.

But baby oil makes your skin burn more....

I’ve always looked after myself , never smoked and never really been keen on alcohol but genetics plays a big part as my parents don’t look their age either.

Genetics and hormones. I always looked much younger than my age, despite, drinking, smoking, sunbathing and getting little sleep for the best part of 30 years. Then the menopause started and it was like I gained ten years overnight but just on my face, which suddenly resembled my mother's with no warning. My face has aged exactly like hers, sagging, not wrinkling. My skin is great, despite my previous crimes. It's what's supporting it that has apparently collapsed, like scaffolding in a high wind. Face exercises worked a bit for a while but it'll take something more syringe or scalpel based to undo the damage. The rest of me is doing OK and everything is still roughly in the same place and the same size and shape it always was, which I"m surprised about and very grateful and have done nothing, to achieve.

People always think I'm younger than I am. I say it's luck and genetics.

I love sunbathing. Have used sun beds. Smoked for 15 years plus of my adult life. Never been a big drinker. More the occasional binge.

I do exercise though and eat fairly healthy. My Mum looks young for her age and I think it's just down to that.

@Thewoodfromthetrees

But baby oil makes your skin burn more....

Exactly! that's where the luck came in (it could have ended SO much worse).

I'm almost 32 and people genuinely think I'm early 20's. I gave up smoking 4 years ago, alcohol 10 years ago. I moisturize my face every night. Gave a relatively healthy diet but enjoy treats. Work as a nurse, have a 1 year old. It could just be luck tbh!

Don't be too thin
Stay out of the sun
Drink lots of water
Have good genes
Don't smoke or drink too much

People are often surprised by my age if it comes up. I'm 50 next year.
The main thing is I feel heathy and well so am very lucky. I also do a job that means whist I'm not rich I have enough money for leisure and decent quality food etc.
I don't drink, smoke, eat sugar, refined carbs or meat (was an addict of some of those so gave them all up in my twenties). I exercise most days - running, swimming etc. as I enjoy it.
I think the fact I meditate and have had lots of therapy helps too 😂