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 have noticed my 71 year old DH is looking more like a little old man nowadays, I don't usually notice it, but I was waiting for him at the bus stop and when he got off I noticed how old he was looking compared to the other people - still love him of course

@peanutbutter00

A colleague of mine is 50 and looks early 40s. She puts it down to not having children

This is so true, people who don't have kids often look much younger.

I'm aging at a rate of knots. Dh on the hand is 50 but looks 35. He's slim with an athletic physique, lots of hair that hasn't lost colour. Smooth skin

He does nothing to deserve this though as he loves nice food, drinks every Thur-Sound night (although only a few bottles of beer).

Its definately genetics.

Never smoke
SPF
Not much alcohol
Yoga/pilates for muscle tone and flexibility
Don’t over eat
Positive outlook - be happy
These work for me . Last one is the most challenging - especially now !

@BawJaws

I’m honestly think the key is

Limited sun
Limited booze
NO SUGAR
Sleep
Exercise
No fags. Ever

This. I am 35 and all the women in my family look old. I have dreaded ageing my whole life but I have come to realize that they all use sunbeds several times a week, smoke like chimneys and have crap diets. One cousin is on the 'aesthetics practitioner' bandwagon and they all now go to her for their botox and lips and most look even worse. She was trying to get me to go recently and i said 'which wrinkles exactly are you doing away with?' I don't have any. She is the same age as me and looks 15 years older.

I think it's genes based. I look a good 15 years younger. My skin care is soap to wash and also moisturiser in a morning. Don't use it at night. I do use sun screen in the summer

I get told I look younger than I am. I think genetics is part of it, as my aunt looks great for 70.

I do drink tonnes of water - not consciously just always have (and was checked for diabetes because of it).

I have incredibly fair skin that doesn't tan so I never sunbath and always cover up and tonnes of sun cream in hot weather to avoid burning. I also work full time in a room with no windows for my job, so lacking a lot of UV.

I don't eat a lot of carbs or sugar as they trigger my migraines. I don't drink much at all (special occasions only - again not a conscious thought process just not a big drinker. Probably also because it can trigger migraines because of the sugar content).

I don't wear make up, can't stand the feel of it. So my skin gets to breathe a lot I guess.

So 98% of mumsnet looks much younger than they really are? I'd suggest a night out but it sounds like we'd all get carded.

So 98% of mumsnet looks much younger than they really are?

It's not that surprising that a thread which asks for people who look younger than they are is going to mostly get responses from... people who look younger than they are! I doubt most of MN would claim that tbh.

My mum is 59, I'm 38. I genuinely think I might overtake her in how old we look soon... She packed in her job this year and has such a twinkle in her eye, she isn't grey, yes she has some wrinkles, but mine are more noticeable! I've got a big one right between my eyes! And a dark patch of pigment appeared across my forehead 2yrs ago that I can't seem to do anything about. I exercise and I eat healthily in general. My mum does no exercise, eats no fruit, and mostly lives off black coffee! Go figure...

I don't think I look younger than my age any more.

I would say I am well preserved now

Avoid things that cause inflammation and stress and keep out of the sunshine. Eat good fats and avoid bad ones. Don't smoke. Double cleanse. Exercise gently. (Look at what joggers are doing to the elastin in their faces and their boobs ) Find joy where you can and laugh at yourself, but not at the expense of others. (That's ugly AF).

Also, eat food that's made of food - not crap you can't pronounce. Cooking isn't rocket science. It's not bloody Masterchef Wankery either. Just explore the colours, flavours and textures and it's actually fun and pretty damn easy.

I was aging fine and then I had a third baby. I haven't been ID'd since. I got very excited last year when it looked like a bouncer was going to ID me going into a bar in town but then he took a second glance and said "you're alright love". The fucker.

I always get told how young I look. Got carded in Sainsburys yesterday.

I used to smoke, drink way too much, use blue nivea as a face cream / cleanser and nothing else, spent way too much time in the the sun without SPF when younger.

I also drink gallons of water. I'm a bit overweight but very fit, I definitely think that helps plump the appearance of skin and it's clearly genetics for me.

@Simonfromharlow

Oily skin and genetics.

Yep.

Defo genetics in my case as my mum and grandma are/were both the same. People always guess we are at least 10 years younger.

My diet is shit even though I'm vegetarian, and I don't really use much skin care other than cleanser and moisturiser. I've never smoked or done any drugs though, and haven't been a big drinker. Spent lots of time in the sun as a child but not as an adult.

I think I looked younger than my age UNTIL ...... the menopause! Now I don't. But for those who do, I really believe it's primarily genetics and keeping yourself fit with plenty of exercise. Don't smoke and use a high SPF (although my mum smoked for 20 year and didn't know what an SPF was and she only started to look her age in her late 80s - sadly, I took after my dad)

Limited sun
Limited booze
NO SUGAR
Sleep
Exercise
No fags. Ever

I agree with this too. Plus, genetics do help a lot.

Genetics, sun protection, don’t drink alcohol,
don’t smoke, don’t take drugs.
Genetics is definitely the major factor in looking younger

plumpness, HRT, no smoking or sunbathing.

I'm 51. Until about a year and a half ago people were genuinely shocked to hear my age as I easily passed for 10 years younger. Until I suddenly had brain surgery... it took a massive toll on my body and I've aged significantly since then. I definitely look my age now - so I'd conclude that the health of your body and how hard it has to work must play a big part in how well you age. (It took nearly a year for my brain to heal, during which time I think my body was putting all the focus on that, not hair/skin/wrinkles...)

54, I'm told I look early 40s. People have routinely pegged me as younger, at 42 I was asked for ID buying alcohol.

I drink like a fish, eat crap and can't exercise.

I do avoid the sun and don't smoke but I have inherited good genes from my Nana.

Oh and I don't do makeup, I use a face wipe if I'm leaving the house.

Following!!

I'm 64 and could pass for at least 10 years younger. I put it down to good luck and genes because I used to drink a lot and smoked until I was nearly 50. I use whatever is on offer at the supermarket for moisturiser - at the moment it's Simple but usually Nivea. I wear BB cream and eyeliner, have my hair cut every 8 weeks (pre covid).