Do you look good for your age?

[AngryBird6122]

Weird question I know. I get so surprised by some people's ages. Like I can't believe they are older than I think they are in my head, or younger. I used to get IDd long after I was 18. Now I would say i definitely look my age and people would probably guess within a year or two. I try to look after my skin but there's only so much you can do!

I'm talking about the way a person moves - a dead give away of their actual age. People are just in denial. No harm in that but it doesn't change the facts.

Oh, right, but you quoted my post where I referred specifically to a raft of changes that do only occur in the very aged.

Also, there is no particular one way a person of a particular age moves - individuals move very differently at the same age. For example, Mick Jagger on stage versus the old bloke down the road who is ten years younger than him.

Of course there are signs of aging. Of course people age. But I disagree with that list posted as an inevitable part of being over 40, and typical.

Yes. I look good for my age. I am in my 50s, I look like I'm in my 50s and I'm fucking gorgeous.😎

Sometimes I just look OK. Sometimes I look dog tired.

I don’t think the 50’s are kind to anyone tbh @blueshoes . My BIL (56) is looking old, older than my SIL (57) and she’s presumably gone through the menopause now.

The irony is that he’s really into healthy living, it’s not v. encouraging. 😂

there is no particular one way a person of a particular age moves -

There very much is, I'm afraid.

I’m late 40s and was told unsolicited by two different people in the last month that I look in my mid-30s. (They were different ages - one in 20s, one in late 50s). I’ve been told I look young all my life.

I think there are four factors

• Genetics - my dad basically never wrinkled and people always commented on it. I take after his skin and honestly often see people who I know to be in their 30s with a lot more lined than me. And my mum didn’t start going grey until well into her 50s. I only have a few strands. My dad was full silver by 40 though!
• Facial structure. I have big, round eyes, quite a “rosebud” type of mouth and high cheekbones which are all quite “youthful” structures
• I have very pale skin and never ever go in the sun without full cover-up and sunblock
• I have used retinol for about a decade and a half

I am well past 40. I don't have an enormous nose or ears. That might just be you exaggerating for effect.

There are subtle changes which an observer may not be able to pin point which happen as we age that make us appear, well, older than 40. These relate to changes in the underlying structures and skin laxity and loss of volume in the face. It is more subtle in some than others which has the effect of the person aging well, but age they do.

All celebrities age or have facelifts and tweakments but they still look older other than J.Lo and Brad Pitt😂

There are general racial differences in the speed of aging in the face. At one end of the spectrum is the white woman and at the other end is the black man and Asians fall in between.

Just to add some balance, I look older than my age. I was usually taken for around ten years younger, until menopause kicked in. I never expected to 'look young' though. I've smoked, drunk and suntanned VERY enthusiastically ever since my teens and was, quite frankly, surprised it all took so long to catch up with me.

I'm 69. What's the fucking point in looking 59?

I refer to the piece I quoted and that I refute as standard occurences over 40:

cartilage gets bigger, nose, ears etc

This is not a regular part of aging, but can appear in the extremely old, usually very old men. HTH.

Yes, regular comments about it.
People genuinely seem shocked at my age (mid 30s) even though I know people go mad if you say that on here.
My body shape hasn't changed since I was a teen and I had my kids when I was young so my body bounced straight back. My kids even say it's freaky that I haven't aged at all since their baby pics.

I'm 51, had kids in my late 30s and in my 40s I was asked more than once if I was their grandma. Not much fun.
I had a frumpy practical haircut, was obese, exhausted and unhappy and drank too much. Had a real wake-up call after Covid and cut down on alcohol, started HRT and in the past year I've gone from a size 18/20 to a 10 (injectables), updated my skincare (hello retinol!), makeup and hair and whitened my teeth. My neck and hands tell my age but I feel great and can report both face and arse bounced back nicely, always had oily skin and a baby face so that probably helped. I'm no J-Lo but could pass for 10 years younger on a good day.
I swear by HRT, drinking less and staying out of the sun, losing the weight also helped massively in that I feel comfortable in my skin and can wear any clothes I like. Sorry if it sounds shallow. I'm also very grateful to be here.

The reason I posted what I did, is because these threads always seem to attract the ‘nobody can guess my true age’ posters who insist everyone thinks they look 10 years younger, and I just think you definitely won’t, people are on the whole are polite, they will be knocking off years to be kind, everyone looks their age or older.

It would be difficult to get exact true matches, but you would need to sit two photos side by side, one when you are 25 next to one at 45, you will absolutely not look the same because as much as you take collagen or whatever vitamins your structure will be changing.

I actually think my post has been projected on as meaning the extreme end of aging, but I definitely mean from your 40s onwards. Our skeletal structure renews itself completely every 10 years, gradually degenerating, our collagens deplete, our skin gets worse and yes our noses and ears also lose this and begin that process. When someone said to me recently, ‘oh so and so hasn’t changed/aged one little bit’, I answered that they must have been one weird looking youngster, because of course they’ve changed, they may have their forever haircut and wear similar clothes, but physically if you stood them beside their younger selves, they will look very different.

But for the benefit of giving a positive side for OPs thread, we can look good, we’ve just got to own it. If you’re tall and broad shouldered, don’t look at others who are petite and wish you were like them, own it, stand tall for example. Same with our age, just own it, you will look your age, be proud of it, you are allowed to age, it’s normal and inevitable, wear the jowels, get used to you skin being looser, dress however you like, mutton dressed as lamb! Sod it, go for it if that’s your thing, positivity shines, but yeah you look older, deal with it.

There will continue to be post after post of the apparent younger looking and il be disagreed with, but there we go. When I was 21 I worked with a 27 year old, I thought they were past it, so you can only imagine what that age demographic think of 40 and above, I also used to knock years off guessing people’s ages, but yeah your right, someone down the cafe spat their tea out when you revealed your true age of 52, NO WAY, I thought you were only 18 months!!!!

I'm 45 and people often think I'm late 30s

I lost a ton of weight which helped, got Botox and changed my look in the last 3-4 years.

I'm 35 and still get asked for ID.

I don't have children and always wear sunscreen but that's about it 😂

Losing weight ages you . I used to be mistaken for at least 10 years younger regularly, lost a lot of weight and now when I say my age no-one says anything, which they did before. My advice is don’t let the balloon down

I work with people mostly 30s and under. I am 44 this year and nobody has ever guessed I am remotely close to my actual age. I definitely look younger with a bit of extra weight as my jawline can age me when I’m slimmer but overall I think it’s genetics.

My parents didn’t look their age (and my DF still looks years younger than his peers). He didn’t even go grey until well into his fifties I don’t think. So I think luck and genetics plays a big part. I try to look after my skin with sunscreen, Retinol and moisturiser.

Some people certainly look less weathered than other people of the same age. No sun damage can leave a youthful complexion that can be described as looking good.

There are also some people who always have facial features that are associated with youth , like a plumpness in one's cheeks , that is known as ' baby fat ' during the teens /20s . A lot of people lose it but some people are genetically predisposed to having that type of face into their 30s /40s.

Studies have shown that most of us think we look younger than our peers. That we alone are the outlier. Must be an evolutionary coping technique. 😂

The key is to look at celebs, whose jobs are literally to look good for a living. Women in particular are punished for aging. But even with the best surgeries/treatments available, the majority just look like very good versions of their actual age.

Exactly the same here. I used to hate my chubby cheeks but I'm glad for them now they've thinned out a bit as it definitely makes me look younger. I also used to hate the "innocent looking" comments but now I've embraced them

I feel I look better now than I did when younger
Not necessarily younger but better
I've NC anyway but this was 24 and 40 - I don't have two with the same angles

I have a chubby face and am short which I think contributes to people thinking I'm younger.

I was mistaken for my DC older sibling a few times, when they were little.

I'm mid 40s now and possibly look slightly younger, but not massively.

From about 14 to 30 people generally thought I was five years older. From 40ish generally about five years younger. Much of it is frame of mind.

I have good skin and a reasonably proportioned body albeit a bit overweight.

I have spent a lot on my hair over the last 10 years to keep the grey at bay and recently more on skin care than previously.

I'm 64 and still work full-time and people seem genuinely surprised when I say I'm close to retirement.

Overall it's likely to be partly genetic and partly privilege. Whilst I have always worked hard I've never drudged at home or had to worry about very much and most importantly I've always been happy and satisfied and have loved work rather than finding it a chore.

Depends which of me you look at.

Most women my age dye their gray away & the British ones don't have my acne & sun exposure history (skin damage, wrinkles). Lots of them wear makeup, too. OTOH, most are fat & unfit.

With reference to my actual age,
my face / head: +10 years
My hands or neck: about right
otherwise Below the neck: ? -15 years

I obviously don't mind if I don't "look good" so no tips from me. Ppl should try to be as fit as they can for better quality of life, obviously. There are many ways to achieve that.

People generally think I'm 10 years younger than my 54 years. It's pure genetics and luck on my behalf, as washing my face with water and remembering to moisturise occasionally is my skin routine. I was a smoker for years too.

I'm also neurodivergent and hyper mobile, and have a sort of theory that this makes me look younger.