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Why don't some people age?

191 replies

Heytheredeliah · 07/06/2023 21:08

I often notice people who do not age very much at all.

They still look 20 at the age of 30. Why don't they age?

I don't smoke, drink around 2 glasses of wine a year, eat ok, exercise, worn factor 50+ on my face everyday for years, but I can still me my face and skin aging. I don't know what is causing it.

Does anyone know any tips to stop aging or slow if down?

OP posts:
BarleySugars · 08/06/2023 02:19

Think it's genetics, my maternal line seem to age really well. So far I'm happy with my progress but noticed a jump forwards when I had kids! It changed my face shape, i had a childish podgy rounded face before despite weighing less and afterwards i had cheekbones for the furst time which made me look mature! DP is kid free and was still getting ID'd for alcohol into his 30s

Remaker · 08/06/2023 02:41

Genetics. I am 55 and have no wrinkles. I have a round face and full cheeks which I hated when I was younger but now I appreciate them! I take after my Dad’s side of the family and my aunt who is in her 80s still has a round race with few lines. My brothers look younger than their ages mostly because they still have a full head of hair in their early 60s and few wrinkles. I don’t wear much makeup and have a very simple skincare routine. I have a facial every couple of months because I find it relaxing.

BastetsWhiskers · 08/06/2023 04:25

Everybody ages. You are not one second younger than the moment you are right now.

You need to think about internals as well, it's not just about appearance. Plenty of people die younger because of disease.

Sure I'd like to have 20 year old skin again, but I can look better if I pay more attention to it. It is what it is!

sashh · 08/06/2023 04:52

Good genes.

My dad's side of the family doesn't age like my mum's side.

I also have Irish and Scottish ancestry so have avoided the sun since my teens.

I didn't go to uni until my 30s but no one thought I was a mature student.

The last time I was asked for ID buying alcohol I was 40.

I don't think I look young but apparently I do.

Also I'm short and I think people assume I'm younger because of that.

Duckskitbank · 08/06/2023 05:31

All of the people I know who look really youthful have pretty boring lives.
Dull low- stress job, very little travel, no real hobbies, very little time outdoors, no kids or pets.
I’d rather have wrinkles than spend all of my time watching tv.

Aslanplustwo · 08/06/2023 06:08

Duckskitbank · 08/06/2023 05:31

All of the people I know who look really youthful have pretty boring lives.
Dull low- stress job, very little travel, no real hobbies, very little time outdoors, no kids or pets.
I’d rather have wrinkles than spend all of my time watching tv.

I really don't see how spending all your time watching TV makes anyone look younger!!! I don't have kids, am about to retire from my dull low-stress job, don't travel much, do have pets and hobbies and spend a lot of time outdoors ( and I live in a country with more sunshine than the UK) but I suspect the reason I look younger than I am (despite having wrinkles) could have more to do with genes than my lifestyle.

hyggeb · 08/06/2023 06:17

Everyone ages but some people features makes them look younger/makes it seems like the process is slowed down.

It's like you see kids with old faces, some older people just have younger faces.

Genetics is a big one too.

Cozytoesandtoast00 · 08/06/2023 06:19

LadyAstor · 07/06/2023 21:15

Everybody ages - apart from Heather Graham - god knows what she's doing but we're the same age and I look like her mother!

She hasn't got children! 😂

Thequeenofwishfulthinking · 08/06/2023 06:28

I think it’s down to genetics no matter what we do to try and stop the ageing process. I look younger than I am. I’m not being arrogant. My mum is nearly 70 and looks a decade younger. I think I’ll age overnight when I hit the menopause. Theres nothing I can do to stop it. One thing I’ve noticed is that women who are a healthy weight or above seem to look younger facially.

GoodChat · 08/06/2023 06:30

Its just genes.

I'm 27 and every single time I get ID'd the cashier or whatever will go "oh... ok!"
I started a new job recently and nobody believes I have kids until I show them pictures, because they think I'm too young.

I'm definitely aging - I have light forehead lines, for example, but clearly not as quickly as people expect.

I dont drink enough water, dont exercise enough and dont have the best diet.

I dont drink and dont tan well, so maybe that helps, but I'm pretty confident it's just genetics.

radiantorange · 08/06/2023 06:32

I have been told I’ve got a baby face tho I am definitely ageing. I don’t mind my face but people assume I’m much younger than I am and I don’t get taken seriously at work, mostly by men, which makes it really frustrating.

sandgrown · 08/06/2023 06:35

I have often been told that my skin is very good for my age ( in my 60s). It’s genetic as my mum had great skin BUT I have moisturised at least twice a day since I was about 13 . I have used any old cheap moisturiser when I have had no money but I have always used it . I just wash my face with water and rarely wear foundation.

ChickenMacaroni · 08/06/2023 06:36

I have aged a lot in the last 3 or 4 years but I like my face. Some people must be like me and age worse than others cos they don't do anything to stop it 😂

I don't wear any make up ever, and just wash my face with shower gel and put some sun cream or E45 on. I also have a very mobile and expressive face and I laugh a lot. Sometimes I think I'll do something about it and start looking after myself better but it hasn't happened yet.

MySoCalledWife · 08/06/2023 07:17

Poor OP, asking for tips and gets 5 pages of people saying they are genetically blessed and look sooooo young themselves (notable exception from @ChickenMacaroni )

delusions 😁

but as you can see OP, by 40/50 most people’s confidence levels have soared and they think they look pretty great 😊 That is 1 positive thing about ageing, you care less and your confidence goes up

at 30 you are still very young, and diet, lifestyle, hair and make up can really improve your looks if you want to

FWIW I am 51 and still get ID’d, and also people always say I look younger…, this means that some cashier’s eye sight is bad, and also that people will always try to flatter you. If you want to believe them you can! Many on here do 😉

amluuui · 08/06/2023 07:29

I was still getting ID'd right up to age 36 – and the cashier would often go 'oh my god wow'. (Which I bloody loved, as I never received compliments on my looks otherwise.)

Mix of genetics, sunscreen, no sunbathing and thick Astral cream, I think. Also having no kids, and always feeling like I was much younger. (I am a responsible, sensible person – but secretly quite babyish.)

However, after covid, several family deaths and various stresses, I'm suddenly looking closer to my age. Grey hairs, facial volume loss, some light wrinkles. I guess menopause will accelerate all that. Oh well! Coping by buying a Dyson airwrap and now getting some actual compliments on my looks.

Aslanplustwo · 08/06/2023 07:42

MySoCalledWife · 08/06/2023 07:17

Poor OP, asking for tips and gets 5 pages of people saying they are genetically blessed and look sooooo young themselves (notable exception from @ChickenMacaroni )

delusions 😁

but as you can see OP, by 40/50 most people’s confidence levels have soared and they think they look pretty great 😊 That is 1 positive thing about ageing, you care less and your confidence goes up

at 30 you are still very young, and diet, lifestyle, hair and make up can really improve your looks if you want to

FWIW I am 51 and still get ID’d, and also people always say I look younger…, this means that some cashier’s eye sight is bad, and also that people will always try to flatter you. If you want to believe them you can! Many on here do 😉

Rubbish! Surely you must know people who look younger than they actually are, it's nothing to do with people trying to flatter others. If that was the case it would happen to everyone, and it really doesn't. Just as some people look older than they are some look younger. I have been taken for up to 10 years younger since I actually was young, it's nothing whatsoever with being older and having confidence. I'm not saying I'm blessed or being confident, it's just a fact of life.

Cosycover · 08/06/2023 07:51

I look late 20s but I'm late 30s. Kids aged me a good bit due to the lack of sleep.

I reckon it's genetics because I don't do anything to help it. It will hit me one day sure. But hey ho. I don't mind.

Watchinghurling · 08/06/2023 07:57

It all catches up with you eventually. No one stays young looking for ever. I am 42 now and definitely have more wrinkles and greying hair. Everyone is the same ultimately. I also think people overestimate how youthful they look because they get the 'can't believe your age!' response. It's often just people being polite. I've just been in hospital and got that reaction off a few nurses but they're just being nice! They're gorgeous 23 year olds. What would they say to me - oh yeah, I thought you looked early forties. Lol.

Nutterjacks · 08/06/2023 08:35

How old are you?

I used to look younger than my age until I hit menopause and my 27 year old DD still gets asked for ID when in pubs and clubs and buying age restricted products in shops.

I do think genes play a big part.

edenhills · 08/06/2023 08:51

I was a non ager. I was still getting asked ID when I was 40. I would put it down to wearing spf15 everyday since I was 25 and a vegan diet. I have always drunk a lot of alcohol and used to smoke. It catches up with you in perimenopause though. At 45 I would say I now look much nearer my age.

MartiniFlan · 08/06/2023 09:07

Tbh, no, I don't know anyone who looks dramatically younger than their actual age. Maybe everyone I know is just a bad-gened, sun-worshipping 60-a-day smoker, but I'm not convinced. Some people have good skin, some people have bad skin. Some people have fewer wrinkles than others, but are still clearly their age. I've never met anyone who, when they've told me their age, I've been shocked by it. I'm also not convinced 'being asked for ID' is a reliable indicator of youthfulness - when I've worked in retail, we had to ask for it regardless of how craggy and decrepit the customer looked, if we were required to do so by the system. Customers going 'ooh, I must look young!' in response are looked at in the same way customers who go 'ooh, can I get it for free then?' when their item doesn't scan properly.

Catspyjamas17 · 08/06/2023 09:08

Good muscle tone really helps so plenty of exercise, good diet and sleep. I'm not doing it to look young though but to feel as fit and healthy as possible for as long as possible.

Catspyjamas17 · 08/06/2023 09:09

Not smoking helps as well. People who smoke have rubbish skin, though that is probably the least of the effects.

CrackedSkull · 08/06/2023 09:31

The difference between late 20s and early thirties is staggering. I think something happens around mid thirties as it does around 50 . These were the ages I noticed a lot of change .

Mmhmmn · 08/06/2023 09:43

LadyAstor · 07/06/2023 21:15

Everybody ages - apart from Heather Graham - god knows what she's doing but we're the same age and I look like her mother!

😂 haven't seen her since Austin Powers film but she has great bone structure. The cow 😂