Does anyone really look younger than their age?

[smoleyjolie]

Online on forums, social media, on dating profiles and even in real life people claim to look younger than their age, they are X age but don't look it. They get ID's in the supermarket buying wine.

I am always highly sceptical because I've know people who say to my face how they look like they are 25 when they are actually 38 because they have no lines or wrinkles when I am looking at them and thought they were actually in their 40's and they have obvious wrinkles and grey hair, people are delusional! Honestly the capacity people have to delude themselves about anything is quite staggering and I have never met someone who claims to look younger and it actually turn out to be true.

When I was younger I thought some older people looked younger so I once thought a woman when she was 49 was closer to 30 but that was because I assumed all people of 49 looked "old" which isn't the case at all and looking back she looked great but she also looked her age which is fine.

Going back to the first case where the women was convinced she looked over 10 years younger, what could I say I just said yeah you look great and its the same anytime anyone makes that claim. People aren't going to dispute it.

I defo look 10 years younger , told by everyone. and I'm not showing off as I'm not attractive with it 😂

Genuinely shocked! I thought 30.

I would have guessed almost all of the picture takers as younger than they are. It is only because I know what the thread is about and people are therefore most likely older, I have mentally added more years. Without the frame of reference I would have guessed all of them to be younger than they are... Some quite dramatically younger! I totally believe they are told they look younger whenever age comes up.

Thank you. And nope!

My guess would be 38. You are very pretty.

@Delphina17 why thank you. That's my week made!

I’d say early to mid-50s. In some ways you look younger than me (I’m 40, but in these same ways I feel like I look old for my age); in other ways, you look older, but these areas on most people’s faces are more telling, imo. Did I guess the ball park correctly or are you older/younger?

@NChance how old are you?!

Which posters age are you guessing?

Just about to turn 40

Everyone looks 37

Yes but due to a genetic condition. It’s the only positive thing about having it. I look about a decade younger than my age

I thought mid thirties to mid forties so in the middle - my decade theory is right again!

You are very pretty and your hair is gorgeous 😊

Not me, but my DH looks at least 10 years younger than his real age. He's 2 years older than me but I was laughingly 'accused' of cradle robbing when we were in our 30s.

You are clearly not 55! People who say that are just dicks. You can see by your jawline that you aren't in your 50's!! I would have put you at any age 35-40.

Early 40's

35

One on the right early 50's, one on the left mid 50's

I often see people on TV who are at least 10 years younger than me who look a lot older. I'm 61 and have no lines or wrinkles and people often say I don't look my age. My sister claims we have a youthful gene that we inherited from our mother. She was a nasty old cow but at least she did something good for us 😃

I think everyone who has posted photos looks their age and I'd guessed about right for all of them. All are pretty and have great skin/hair, so I think the 'Wow you don't look your age' comments probably just mean that you look great for your age. I think half of it comes from the fact that our inner image of what a woman of 40+ looks like, is still influenced by our youths. I read today that Shirley Valentine was 40! I watched it as a teen. Even though I'm older than that now, there's obviously still an image in my head that women of that age have perms, slight jowls and wear pleated skirts with blouses! 😆

@Fionaville I think you're right. At my age, I expected to wear crimplene and have a blue rinse...

I also think it's possible to confuse people a LOT between the ages of about 25 and 45, because skin and facial features don't really age dramatically and just staying in shape and having a lively appetite for life can give a youthful impression.

As someone who spent decades being mistaken for 15 years or so younger (probably partly based on me being such a chump 😉), the difference since my late 50s is really noticeable. Over the past few years, I hardly recognise myself in photos or if I catch sight of myself in a reflection. Everything's deteriorated rather rapidly 😎 but hey ho, it is what it is. Nowadays I focus on being grateful for ongoing health etc rather than lamenting the lack of compliments 😜

Pauline Collins was 49 when the film was released so that's probably why she looked older than 40. Ignoring the hairstyle, makeup and lack of botox I don't think she looks old for a 49 year old.

As horrified as I was reading it (because I can't believe I'm now older than Shirley Valentine!) She did look well for 49 (good skin etc) Perhaps it was the character who was supposed to be 40. Either way, it all lends to the theory that in lots of our subconscious minds, women over 40 dress and have hairstyles like they did then. And as teenagers/children watching these shows, these women looked old. So women with modern hair and dress, just seem younger.

When i was 40 I was told I looked 30, but the menopause has put paid to that. Feel like I've aged a decade in the past year. Definite dried up old crone vibes 😂

The menopause definitely made a difference to me.
However, I really think the preconceived ideas of what, say, 60 looks like do make current ages look different. I remember having an aunt who said for years "I'm nearly 60, you know" and made it sound ancient.
Nowadays, nobody automatically cuts and perms their hair at 40 and starts wearing sensible cardigans; people are smoking and sunbathing less; there's far better skin care (and "tweaks"), and generally people do more exercise, so are less likely to move in an "older" way, iyswim.
60 is more Nigella, less Mrs Brown.
But the sterotype hasn't caught up.
I think people should make the most of "Ooh, you don't look your age!" because eventually the expectations of what a particular age looks like will catch up with today's reality and the comments will probably start to dry up (like my menopausal skin ).