What makes people look/appear younger?

[SmellyWellyWoo]

This is not a stealth boast! Ive been musing on this today. I'm in my early 40s and sometimes people think I am younger when they meet me. I've got forehead and 11 lines as well as crow's feet. I'm very average in looks. Don't wear a lot of make up. Not polished or overly groomed.

I do have brightly coloured hair and stretched ears (had them for years). I also have naturally very thick dark eyebrows which are in fashion at the moment. I wonder if these help?

I also wonder if it's down to a perception of women in their 40s looking a certain way? I didn't used to get as many people thinking I was younger in my late 30s.

Or maybe it's something that everyone days out of politeness? 🤷🏼‍♀️

I am 51 (and quite poorly). However, I do make an effort with appearance and many people have commented I look much younger. I dress like much younger (mutton dressed as lamb 😂), stay away from fillers, get a good haircut from a lovely lady who listens, I have Ehlers Danlos so no wrinkles, I dye my hair and wear little makeup, stay away from the sun, I keep my weight down (for health reasons), fairly active despite being poorly and don't smoke. My boyfriend is 57 and the barman asked him what his daughter would like to drink recently.

All the obvious things:
good diet, not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol, not too much stress, enough sleep, exercise and good posture

i would say maintaining a particular weight and not dieting constantly and yo-yoing in weight is more important than just being slim as sometimes a bit of extra fat padding around the face is quite youthful

also having nice teeth (white but not too white as that can sometimes look fake and look like dentures) and healthy, glossy hair (hair can get so dry and frizzy as you get older - I’m fighting a losing battle with mine 🙁)

not dressing in a way that looks obviously dated

a cheerful disposition and positive outlook on life

I only know a couple of people who manage all of the above and yes they do look amazingly youthful!

Honestly who knows?
I’m 47 and got ID’d as under 18 the other week.
I smoke, drink, am a size 12 with fat over muscle, a2 c-section stomach, rarely sleep thanks to my disabled DD, but I do drink a lot of water and am vegetarian and have good genes (as in my c@nt grandfather had no wrinkles when he died at 100).
I cut my own hair (badly), have lots of white (in the last 4 years) but still I don’t look vastly different to when I was 30. I don’t know how or why

What does ‘stretched ears’ mean? I’ve never heard of this. Is it a typo?

Attitude. I’m often judged as late 20s I’m late 40 s I don’t take any shit. I have young kids and I’m small with blonde hair.

@TheBigPeach

I think it’s like if you wear heavy earrings? And your earlobes look longer. I’m not sure though!

it's where people have the metal disc in their ear lobe.

I think that definitely works.
My friend is a Sontaran and regularly gets ID requests in Morrison's.

Is this a joke? If she’s 60 years old and easily mistakeable as a high school student please contact your local hospital university. She’d make a great study as she’s obviously a very unusual looking person.

@PuppyMonkey I admit I don't necessarily see it in myself as my lines etc are very obvious to me. I also think it is something people say to flatter women AND I think society expects women over 40 to style and dress a certain way and if you don't fulfil that stereotype it's because you must be younger.

No 60 year old gets mistaken for a teenager, come on now.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches thank you ☺️

If its natural its genes! - bone structure and skin. But I agree fashion also ages people. Though the most fabulous woman I've met wears 1950s clothes and looks fabulous. I think she's in her 40s but looks a lot younger.

If it's not natural - Botox young and maintained keeps people young looking because lines can form if your muscles are frozen! I don't know about fillers - they look artificial to me. Skin peeling keeps skin surface young, HIFU and vampire facials do the same all without alternating how you look.

I'm 56, most people think I'm in my 40s (I feel my age physically but in jy head I'm 27). Anyways in me, it's genetic, but on Friday I tried botox - they recommended frown area and edge of eyes though I don't have lines as such, one is forming on my brow and the eyes area was to help lift my now drooping eyelids. The doc said if botox doesn't work got get an eyelift it'll last for donkeys years. I might just do that. Cos its hard putting eyeshadow on drooping eyelids....

There is a massive difference between wearing the fashions of an era and being a young person vs still wearing them because you never took them off from the first time around!

Attitude

Fresh hydrated skin, bright eyes and light natural makeup
White teeth
Clean, neat hair
Cool, simple clothes without following older trends that age you like Maxi dresses worn with a denim jacket and trainers or Cons which can sometimes scream middle aged mum even on younger girls
Natural nails in a neutral classic colour
Drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet and get plenty of quality sleep
Smiling

surely it is lack of facial lines
lack of grey hair

Are any of the young looking posters able to post a picture so we can see if we can pinpoint what it is that makes them look young?

I can't help - I'm only 37 and having just listened to the inane shrieks of hordes of graduate aged kids traipse up and down the stairs to an open house in the flat upstairs I feel ancient and ready for retirement

I am often mistaken as being a few years younger.
I am slim
I have good teeth
I smile alot
I keep an eye on current trends but am not and cannot afford to be a fashion victim
I wear minimal make up but cover imperfections and am never without lipstick

I think the following can be aging:
Too slim
Too big
Wonky and discoloured teeth
Heavy make up
Dated make up
Boring hair cut

lack of grey hair

Although, dyed grey hair was hot for a couple of years wasn't it?

My very fashion forward flatmate (in late twenties) had it a few years back. I think grey hair looks amazing on women a lot of the time but have to admit, on her it looked quite odd! But then I know nothing about fashion, so...

For women in their 60's is about weight. Not too fat. Not too skinny. I think some women actually look older if they are too thin. And the same for those who are quite overweight, it can age you more. Sometimes a few extra pounds can be just right though. But not obese obviously. However loosing a few pounds too many can unfortunately age you too

What the heck are "stretched ears" ?

Or any age actually. Not just women in their 60's.

I cannot believe the number of women on here who look young for their age. I’m jealous

It’s so unbelievable that I don’t believe it ;)

MN is full of women who have people regularly telling them they don’t look their age. In reality, everyone looks their age.