Anyone find their looks/health had a dramatic cliff drop at 40?

[pastabest]

A few weeks ago I was 39, but could pass for 28 on a good day, 35 on a bad day. People frequently expressed surprise when I told them my actual age.

I expected this to continue for a few more years and a gradual ageing process to occur, but pretty much in the weeks since I've turned 40 wrinkles have appeared from nowhere, my grey sprinkles are now proper grey roots and things ache. My eyesight has gone a bit funny and my hearing has become... problematic and when I'm staring back and myself on Microsoft teams I suddenly look drawn and lined.

I've had my 40 NHS health check and in theory I'm in tip top condition for my age, but I've visually aged about 10 years in less than 2 months.

Is this a thing!?

Yes, me. I remember looking at my 40 year old photo and getting a shock.

I am now 57 and it turns out, I still had a way to drop.

I’m similar, OP. I never used to wear much makeup but now I do a whole makeup routine I never used to do when I go into the office, otherwise I have been told I look tired. I think age, DC, work, relationship stress, general life stress, less focus on wellbeing has all added up to aging me a little fast now in my 40s.

I didn’t notice this, if anything when I look
at photos I looked better in my late 40’s than late 30’s.

I’m early 40s and I genuinely think I look better than I did mid/late 30s, when I was in the midst of tiny babies and toddlers.
I probably do have more wrinkles, but I’ve lost weight, have better skin generally as more time to make it look better, my hair is definitely better, have a bit more cash to spend on clothes.
so whilst yes I probably do look older, I feel I look better than I did.

Yes, aging is dramatic in your 40s and also your 50s.

There is another big drop around menopause. Enjoy your 40s looks.

This!
I am 54 and I do my best, am still interested in beauty and fashion but I realise that I looked great in my early 40s and should’ve appreciated it. Fine lines are one thing but by 50 things start to be affected by gravity and no cream fixes that! So my advice is enjoy yourself at each stage because right now I look better than I will in 10 year’s time( should I still be here!)

It CAN’T have happened over a few weeks. It’s probably just the seasonal changes. Get your hair done and apply some fake tan!

My looks are OK. HRT improved my skin tone.

But health has been one thing after another since I turned 42.
All my tendons, connective tissue, diagnosed Hypermobile, 5x surgeries in three years etc.

I was runing half marathons before all of this!!!

Try 50+ - my health, looks (what I had, not much!) and posture have all gone for a burton. Def meno related - not all, but some.
Figure is still ok but it’s because I eat v healthily cos of my health issues.
At 40 I def looked younger, now I’d say I look my age, but not older. Some of my friends look older than me!!

Approx 40 is when a shift occurs then 60 ish then 80. It's a shock but you now have to be thinking about diet, exercise, hormones etc. Generalisation I know but all the 'bad' stuff, late nights, drinking, overindulging start to to take their toll. You aren't the only one it happens to but society values youth. Whenever I see those teenage boys and girls I smile ruefully. If I could bottle what they have I would be richer than Musk

My joints ache and I struggle to get up off the sofa or floor without looking like my late grandmother doing the same

Strength training. My mum is in her 70s and can still do the get off the floor challenge with legs crossed without using her hands. She’s been strength training over 10 years

I agree it’s in bursts, I looked great till I had the menopause.
I weigh about half a stone more which in itself isn’t loads, my bust size has gone up but my waist has thickened and that I do not like. Plus my hair has lost volume and oddly what I would call weight and seems sort of flyaway now.

I felt the changes setting in at 35.

My 40s have been my worst decade easily. Loads of stress, horrible divorce, not enough money, kids SEND issues are a constant battle and my health has dropped off a cliff edge. I would love to be in my 30s again.

I never gave my age a second thought until I hit 39. I'm now 41. I'm very thankful that I have zero lines on my forehead at all (hereditary) or grey hair other than one on my eyebrow, which I pluck out every couple of months. Unfortunately I have a ton of lines under my eyes, my hair is getting thinner and it's much harder to lose weight.

It happens to us all and unfortunately women age much worse than men.

Yes around 42-43 for me too :(

I was shocked to age overnight at around 42. I woke up with lines on my face and hooded lids - the stuff a facelift is designed to fix. It was particularly shocking because for some reason I thought it wouldn't happen until I was in my 50s, so I was expecting to look great now my kids weren't babies and I had more time to myself to sleep and exercise. I wish I had been more prepared.

I haven't noticed drastic aging yet (ttt, mid-40s) but my facial features seem to have changed in a weird way. I just look less pretty. My eyes have become smaller, my face wider (even though I actually lost weight), my smile is different. Still have a good skin and not many wrinkles but I have definitely changed in a way that I don't look as youthful anymore. Cannot exactly pinpoint it but the change is there.

I made it to 45. But after that? Yes. Especially my face.

Mid forties for me but the good news is thanks to botox filler, fitness & healthy eating the new 45 is 30ish.

No. Early 50’s and look better than ever. Lost lots of weight, invested in new work wardrobe. Get checked out by young hotties 🔥 is v welcome since I got rid of exH!! I have more confidence than in my 20’s or 30’s and more time and money for myself since DC left home. Pilates and being sober for two years helps also.

Any chance you can link the powdered collagen?

@Newsenmum https://ancientandbrave.earth/products/wild-collagen I use this one (advertised by Davina McCall). My friend uses NutritionGeek but that’s bovine only and I prefer marine.

Can I ask what collagen you are taking? I have tried several powders that are supposed to be taste and odour less but they all make me gag. I'd love to find something that doesn't!