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!

Some people are just genetically blessed, doesnt matter what they do they look young. Although it can backfire IMO....after a certain age looking like a childlike pensioner is just creepy (Im thinking of a couple of actors!!LOL).

Im pretty sure I look my age but I look good for it, esp compared to a couple of years ago when I was morbidly obese, didnt bother with skincare or dyeing my grey hair.

I also think people who are really happy and chilled out and enjoy life naturally look great whatever their age.

I 100% agree with this. I was served by a woman yesterday, who I would put age 50 - she had lines in her face, and a head full of curly grey hair, but she had such youthful, positive energy about her, she just looked incredible. She definitely had a more youthful vibe to her than people I know in their 20s.
You're energy counts for a lot more than your looks imo

I've always been taken for younger than I am! I acknowledge I am lucky to have good genes. My skin routine is rubbish!
I am very careful in the summer and use sun block prolifically; factor 50 on my face!
The menopause did wreak havoc on my body though so that gives my decrepit age away! 🤣

I think I m attractive but not younger looking.

I genuinely get mistaken for mid/ late 20s and I'm 41. I think it's because I have oily skin which helps keep wrinkles at bay. I'm very into fashion so wear the latest trends and I run and powerlift so am in shape (size 8 with curvy bum and legs). I'm sure when I hit menopause it'll all go to pot!

I'm 60, 2 years post menopause, fat, greying, a little wrinkly... I basically look my age. But I'm recently retired and happy. Smiling makes me look good... and I'm smiling a lot more now.

Hehe - I'm 52 and people meeting me for the first time think I'm younger. I buy senior citizens travel tickets and theatre, cinema tickets.

No one is brave enough to challenge someone older like they did when we were trying to sneak into nightclubs!

Most people don't look at people closely enough to see the details that show someone's age. They just make a quick guess.

I suppose that's why some people guess so incorrectly.

But , like you say , if they take the time to look hard , and have in depth conversation, it is obvious that someone has a bit age to them .

I have taken care of my figure, my skin and hair all my life as did my mother and grandmother and also my two sisters.

We are all fit and healthy (grandmother no longer with us).

Never be overweight and erase stress and eat healthy along with genetics all help to lead a long and healthy life.

Incidentally none of us drink alcohol.

I'm 71. Do I look my age? Yes probably. Do I look good? Abso- bloody- lutly!

Do you mean to say you are 62 rather than 52?

How do you manage to buy senior citizen travel tickets at 52?

"Lose your waist to keep your face"

@henlake7 My older SIL (57) has been mistaken for the younger sibling of her sister (48)! It’s caused occasional embarrassment.

They obviously share the same genes, but to be blunt, she takes far better care of herself. I think that most of us need to make an effort after 40, I know I do. 😂

I'm always mistaken for being much younger. A mix of good genes (my mother much younger than her 70 years, and when she was in her 40s people would think she was my older sister), good bone structure and I exercise a lot, and don't drink alcohol or smoke.

Aside from that I use a Foreo bear (as preventative measure), wash with sulphur soap and do regular sulphur ointment masks and has made my skin lovely (it brings one of my friends out in spots as she tried it). I also drink plenty of water, religiously eat fruit with breakfast, and take supplements, including cod liver oil.

I had baby Botox around a year ago, as I was worried about developing crows feet, but that hasn't happened so I haven't had more since. I tried retinol for the glow but it just irritated my skin and made it look dull.

Same here, I remember someone on a skincare counter decades ago telling me I'd be grateful for my oily skin come my 40s.
I'm now 43 with a preschooler who gets up before 6am every bloody day for 4 years and I feel has aged me rapidly but people are always surprised at my age.. so she was right I guess. I'm crap at drinking water and use basic skin care. My mums the same.

I am regularly told I have good skin at nearly 50. The rest of me is shocking - weight, style, activity levels etc so I 100% don't look younger.

The skin is genetics and no smoking/not much sun. Both my mum and grandma have/had the same.

However my mum is routinely mistaken for someone 10 years younger. I've seen it multiple times - she's 77. She is very active, moderate with things like food and alcohol and whilst no skinny minny has never gone up or down much size wise and has been a solid 12 all her life. She loves her vitamins and lotions and potions as well but that's just part of her general looking after herself.

Personally I think this is preferable to looking younger. Of all the people I know who look younger than their age I find they actually look slightly frumpier, not overly attractive and not at all sophisticated looking.
I follow a few attractive/glamorous 50+ women on sm who are into fashion etc and although they probably look their age I think they are head turners because they are so well dressed and attractive. I’d take that over looking 5-10 years younger.

Apparently I have features associated with youth (and beauty in addition). A short defined philtrum, and defined, full cupid bow, lips are also naturally a deep red. Good skin, though I'm very pale, with no fine lines, small nose, and large blue almond eyes.

I used to model, up to my late 20s, so my features were discussed frequently!

Many people are delusional - but that does not negate the fact that people's lifestyle and environment affects how they age (far more so than their genetics, which is now believed to account for only 20-25% of how we age), and people's biological age can be significantly younger than their calendar age, and it can also be significantly older, care of lifestyle factors within most people's control - such as how the eat, whether or not they smoke or drink alcohol excessively, and how active or sedentary they are.

I find it weird that it can be acknowledged that some of our peers, or some random of similar age as us we see on the news on tv, look a lot older than their age and us, but not acknowledge the reverse.

I am reading a book about the new science around ageing, called "Why We Die", written by the Nobel Prize winner Venki Ramakrishnan, who knows his way around cells... He writes:

"We all know that people age at different rates. Some people look old at fifty, while others are remarkably youthful into their eighties."

It's not just good genes, it's about epigenetics, and factors that switch genes on and off - and that is lifestyle, levels of stress and hardship, and to a degree environment (so, pollution, etc). I would also say, attitude.

It's not just good genes, it's about epigenetics, and factors that switch genes on and off - and that is lifestyle, levels of stress and hardship, and to a degree environment (so, pollution, etc). I would also say, attitude.

I very much agree with this. I come from a family where people die young and the outlook for most is very much race to the bottom. Most men in my family die in their 50s ( grandad 59, 4 uncles 55, 1 uncle 29, DF 67.. This is both maternal and paternal families. The attitude is very much once they hit 40 it’s all down hill, for some younger. The women live slightly longer but not by much.

I moved away when I was 19 and met lots of new people with very different outlooks on life, many still rocking it into their 70/80s. Then I moved abroad to a more sunny climate and extremely different outlook on life. It was a big culture shock to see how older people viewed their lives. Many looking forward to retirement to enjoy travelling, attending my friends grandparents 80th & 90th birthdays. When ever I spoke to my parents it was all doom and gloom. Even now I know when I get a phone call from one of my siblings I know it’s to tell me someone has died, it’s the only time they call.

I think I look pretty decent for my age (70). I am very active, can still get my aging rear into a pair of size 10 skinny jeans, my skin is good and I look after it properly (but my mum didn't look her age either, so just got lucky with my genes I guess) and I look after my hair although I don't colour it. People are generally surprised when I admit to being 70 which is nice.

Of course you don't start looking old at 40, what rubbish. I had my last DD at 41, I went to a work do with my DH,a lot of people asked if it was my first....my oldest DD was 21. When I took my then youngest DGD to the beach 10 years ago, got chatting to other families,who assumed I was her mum. Someone told me on here recently I was obviously talking rubbish because I'm in my 70s, but victoria coren Mitchell recently had a baby at 53. I would say I look good for my age. I don't use Botox, retinol. I have my hair lo lighted,wear nail varnish, make sure the feet are in good nick. A little make up if I go out. I'm a pale blue eyed blond,skin cancer this year. I sit in the shade, with fake tan. Saw some one recently I haven't seen for a few years,was shocked, they are 20 years younger than me, and let themselves go.

Some people are just genetically blessed, doesnt matter what they do they look young. Although it can backfire IMO....after a certain age looking like a childlike pensioner is just creepy (Im thinking of a couple of actors!!LOL).

I have never seen a pensioner who looks "childlike" - who do you mean?

I disagree that genes take you all the way- if you've lived a life of hard living, smoking 40 a day, drinking like Oliver Reed, stress, and eating junk it absolutely will get you in the end. As someone mentioned above- epigenetics has proven this- your healthy genes get switched off and unhealthy ones get switched on and that is due to lifestyle factors.

I used to get told I looked very young all through my twenties, but extremely so sometimes people actually thought I was 13/14 if I wore no make up and a hoodie etc. Not good!

Then I had my kids at 28 and 30 and aged seemingly overnight and now in my thirties I never get told I look young, however people do compliment me more and tell me motherhood suits me etc so I think looking more like a woman than a girl has made me more attractive generally! I saw someone I’d not seen for years the other day and they initially didn’t recognise me then said I looked ‘amazing and was like a fine wine’ 😂 so not sure if it’s a compliment as I’ve clearly aged to the point of not being recognisable but still look ok I guess ha.

I don’t mind looking my age but I do find all the wrinkles a bit depressing 😅 Can someone recommend the best affordable retinol?

Some people look ‘good’ for their age, and people with plump faces stay youthful a bit longer but in my experience beyond 50 most people do really look their age… Even those with help/surgery etc just end up looking well-preserved (up close) rather than younger.

If someone asked if you were the mother to your DGD, I’d assume they were just being cautious/polite. I have done the same many times when speaking to strangers - just erring on the side of caution because some women have children very late and I wouldn’t want to offend them. It doesn’t mean that I actually think the 60 year old granny in the park with her ten year old DGD looks 45.

That said, I also like to think I look good for my age & my friends and family often oblige me with assurances on that count but I’m willing to accept I’m probably as delusional as the next person 😁