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!

Another who was doing ok (and took my face/body for granted) until late 40’s and then boom, literally woke up one day with a different person looking back at me in the mirror.

Yep.
Always looked about 10 years younger.
went to bed one night aged about early 50’s, and woke up looking my age, if not 5 years older!
I think time just really catches up with you once you get to a certain age.

I find the closer people are to your own age, the better they are at aging you. Younger people ( in twenties) often think I look younger than I am but I think that’s because they don’t really know what a 50 year old looks like or how we look different to a 40 year old - similarly I find it’s increasingly hard for me to accurately age young people between about 16-30.

My dad and aunt easily look 10 years younger than they are (dad is 70's, auntie is 60. They are siblings). My mum died quite young at 65 but she looked younger than her age.

I do not have this gene and I look every day of of my 40+ years (and then some)

I don't have much grey hair yet though!

My mum told me when I was a young teen about the benefits of sun screen. I've used it every day since I was 15 and tretinoin eod since I was 25. I'm only 33 but don't have even a line on my face. Very grateful for her! 😅 who knows I may also age overnight. I have lots of grays but am embracing them.

I'm in my 40s and people often think I am 10 years younger (I dont ask them lol, they just always ask me how/what I do when they find out my age)

I agree that genetics plays a role but so do lifestyle choices. I always wear 50spf (am very pale/prone to burning) even in winter and use retinoids, dont drink or smoke, I exercise, and look after my skin.

Looking at Facebook, the friends who sunbathed like crazy and smoked/drink a lot now do look quite a bit older than their years. Thats not judging them in any way- but it is interesting how lifestyle affects your appearance and I think after age 40 your lifestyle really does catch up with you and it shows in your face.

You can have the best genetics in the world but if you go wild with alcohol, sun and cigarettes you really dont get away with it forever, sadly.

I look my age - I have a lot of wrinkles (my neck / chest bothers me most) and eye bags, I think I look my age (47) for sure. People are sometimes surprised when I say I have a 22 year old son but I think that's partly around perceptions of what older parents should look like - the majority of DS's friends parents are 5-10 years older than me.
Apart from my wrinkled old neck and my furrowy brow, I'm happy with how I look. Yes I think I look good, I don't look young but the two aren't the same.

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.

Rates of bone resorption vary greatly amongst individuals. An alcoholic will lose more bone, someone with a healthy diet and lifestyle and good intake of vitamin D will lose far less. It's a dynamic system.

Collagen levels may be lower than in one's twenties, but the body is still capable of creating collagen. Again, lifestyle - excessive sugar intake, sun exposure, smoking, and any diet that promotes inflammation in the body - will affect collagen levels. It's not a one-size fits all reduction.

Some skins wrinkle more than others. Noses and ears do not automatically grow larger or longer with age.

Are you even in your 40s?

I used to look great. Menopause has fucked that over completely lol. I am on HRT but i look completely haggard now.

I always think that if people are guessing your age as 5 years younger than you are then they are spot on (anyone over about 30). That 5 years is the "don't want to accidentally insult them allowance".

My ability to guess ages has gone as I've got older. Everyone 18 to 35 looks roughly the same. I am a bit better with 45 to 60 guesses, but know people who could be 60 to 75, no idea!

Yes. I used to look 10 years younger, now I would say about 5 years younger. My neck and marionette lines are the tell tale areas.

I have moisturised every day since I was a teenager which I think has helped.

I also embrace my age, once you get to late 50s I think embracing rather than trying to hide the years is a better look.

For me the ageing happened at around 47/48. Huge deterioration then.

Most people look their ages minus or plus 5 or so years.

I'm sorry but never in my life have I met a 45 year old who resembled a 20 year old. I have had people tell me they believe they look 20s in their 40s and they never actually do- sorry. I would never say anything because that would be rude/unkind and I'm not about to burst anyone's balloon but inside I often think, yeah, you really dont.

However, if it makes them feel better or puts a spring in their step then good for them. A little bit of fantasy never does anyone any harm 😉

Yes I always get placed at 10 years younger - people seem to assume I'm in my late twenties and then I inform them that my eldest dc is 20 and they look very confused so I'd say I do look good for my age.
The secret? Good genetics for one. Both my dparents (in their 70s now) still have very thick, brunette hair. We don't go grey very early or thinning hair so I think that helps. Also I have very good skin with no wrinkles etc.
I don't drink (well - one glass of red at Christmas so not tee total, but rarely and only as a social thing), I'm not a sun worshiper and never sunbathe, always wear spf on my face.
Only wear light make up and I make sure I remove it every night. I also have classic lash extensions, acrylic nail extensions and balayaged hair which I think helps me look more youthful.
I also smile a lot and have a very positive outlook in life, definitely an optimistic who is willing to embrace a changing world and that also gives me youthful vibe.

Me too. Late 50s here and look miles better and younger than I did in my 40s

My 40s were tough. I had always looked young. Then in my 40s I didn't. Perimenopause was awful. Now in my late 50s I've lost weight, lift weights and look younger than typical for my age.

You haven't met a lot of Asian or African people have you!

No
I look like shit

But that's not because I'm 50.

I've always looked like shit.

There genuinely are people that look completely amazing. Alesha Dixon is extremely close to my age and she looks embryonic by comparison. I’m not jealous at all 😡

Haha. I'm ND too. I agree it helps me look younger. I think because I bounce around and sit cross legged and don't confirm to the expected norms of physical behaviour.

I had a temporary PT in a gym last week confused by my age as he thought his notes were wrong

We had a whole conversation about how people move differently as they age.

Keep jumping and climbing and bending and running about. It will keep your body biologically younger than someone who sits and walks sedately all the time

My husband is Middle Eastern and yes, whilst his skin is great (naturally oily, no obvious wrinkles) and he has thick black hair still with no greys, he is late 40s and does not look in his 20s- he just doesnt! Even he would admit that.

You can tell age, its not just about grey hair and wrinkles, there are subtle signs of ageing on the face that you can absolutely tell when you get to that age yourself.

I could have written that. Compared to my friends I look younger than them at the moment.

I thought hrt was ‘helping’ turns out my oestrogen levels were in fact really low, so have upped the hrt maybe in a couple of months time I’ll look like I’m in my 40s 😂

@rosaleetree
Oh I agree it's unlikely that a 45 year old would look 20. But there are 45 year olds who look 35

This in buckets.
I'm so tired of hearing looking young = good, women are our own worst enemies. I've always looked my age.. but feel better as I get older.

I looked like 14 when 18 and at 25 still had to prove my age. By 50 I looked 50 and 65 look completely buggered. Decades of insomnia probably accelerated the second half of life ageing.🙁

Black skin doesn’t age as quickly as white skin
I used to work with a black lady who looked thirty five or so but was actually fifty one