What age do you think your looks started to fade ?

[LardLizard]

I think I still look pretty great at forty, don’t think my skin looks forty at all
So I’m wondering when will I really notice it ? Know it’s different for everyone
I’m think maybe after 50 now ?

I'm blonde and baby-faced at 25 and I look very young for my age. In a bad way. People think I'm around 16/17. A bit like Selena Gomez but nowhere near as pretty! I was kind of hoping that I will still look youthful in my 30s+ to make up for it....

Reading that back it sounds really depressing! Just adding that I am much happier and more confident now in my 50s then I ever was when young, and really don’t care what people think as much. Am financially stable at long last and have my DC growing up into wonderful funny and loving teenagers.

I think it's weight related, being too fat will bring jowls and a double chin, being too thin can give a haggard look to your face.Therefore, it's so important to keep within a healthy weight, factors like smoking and drinking all have an impact.

I think my thirties were my best looking times, but even now in my forties I think I look ok.

Men lose it too though.

My DH was absolutely gorgeous looking, every woman in the room would turn when he walked in; 6'2" of blonde, golden skinned, blue eyed viking. In his mid fifties he runs or swims every day and has the physique and grace of a man in his 20s. But a few years ago all the abuse he has given his skin, in terms of sun and extreme temperatures started taking its toll. He has the face of a weatherbeaten old farmer or fisherman and he's staring to lose his hair.

Obviously it makes no difference to me whatsoever. And he slaps the odd bit of moisturiser on when i remind him but is basically not bothered. Heads don't turn any more though.

I have known people who think about their looks too much, impose their impossibly high standards on others (not always, but generally - there are always some lovely exceptions) The ones I've met tend to have very stringent ideas about what does and does not constitues "taking care of yourself"and anyone who doesn't not conform to their narrow idea of beauty, which they also apply to themselves and beat themselves up about, is regarded with pity. I find people like that rather judgemental, competitive, boring and not really fun to spend time with. Appreciate what you've got, while you've got it.

I don't think it's self-centred to notice that heads turn when you enter a room. I think it is pretty obvious when men's eyes are following you.

And while I probably wouldn't have phrased it as 'every man's head turned', well, this is a forum where honesty is encouraged (though tact is good!) and if this has happened to PP, then fair enough.

For my part, I turn more male heads now than I did when I was younger. I think it has more to do with confidence and (I like to think) presence than looks, sometimes - though I also look better now IMO, but not that much better!

I'm 48, I think I look better

In terms of being physically perfect, suitable model swimwear or whatever, you probably peak at about 18, 19.

Someone who looks after herself and doesn't have a skin type that's either particularly predisposed to sun damage or is subjected to too much of it can usually keep most or her looks until the menopause or thereabouts.

can usually keep most or her looks until the menopause or thereabouts
Oh dear. Think I need a black bag now to put over my head. How depressing.

All depends if you had any looks to lose. I didn't so I'm not bothered

I think the more good looking/ beautiful you are when young, the harder it is to accept ageing and getting older.

I have known people who think about their looks too much, impose their impossibly high standards on others (not always, but generally - there are always some lovely exceptions) The ones I've met tend to have very stringent ideas about what does and does not constitues "taking care of yourself"and anyone who doesn't not conform to their narrow idea of beauty, which they also apply to themselves and beat themselves up about, is regarded with pity.

I totally agree with this. Some people cannot understand that there's more to attractiveness than looking a certain way. Some people look "perfect" but unattractive at the same time. I think it's the flaws that make someone attractive.

Around 27/28 for me (am now 32). I've had cancer twice in the last 3 years and the stress, treatment, and surgical menopause have all taken their toll and I wasn't stunning to start with.

I fucking hate the narrative that I would somehow be above caring about what I look like because I'm lucky to be alive - the damage done to my appearance by illness does get me down. However, I have a very happy life, try to make the best of myself according to how much energy I have each day, and try to emphasise and focus on the better bits of my appearance. There's nothing else to be done.

I also like to remind myself that my youthful looking friends have got it all coming in 20 years' time

never I think that depends on what is going on in your life and how happy you've been.

I was stunning (in terms of the Sun/Daily mail fuckablity measure). I'm 50. My youngest DD is 20, settled at college and part time work. So I can work the hours that I want and travel when/how/where I want to. I'm very involved with my Grandchildren etc.

I don't want the male attention that I used to get. Thinking back it was often harassment, even when I had my children with me. I had a good time in my 30's, with 20 something men.

Post Menopause I've lost my sex drive, I've woke up to the patriarchy and how I look is mostly irrelevant, which is so freeing, when you've been beautiful.

I might feel differently if I wasn't content with my lot, in general.

I'm 20 and I've aged quite a bit in the last 18 months. I look more haggered

I think men age better, generally. Like fine wines

I don't agree that men age better.

" In terms of being physically perfect, suitable model swimwear or whatever, you probably peak at about 18, 19."

I don't agree with that. I think 22+ Women look better than teens. Personally all things being equal, I think late 20's to around 36 is the most attractive time.

I totally agree about Men not aging better. I think we judge get the messages of beauty based on who the media tell us, is the most fuckable

It's really hard to say whether men physically age better or not (agree that their overall attractiveness as deemed by society often holds up better, but this is because so many non physical elements are incorporated).

In their favour i suppose they don't have to put their bodies through the trauma of childbearing and rearing, so they don't necessarily 'lose their figure' in the same way. Even without kids, conventional male standards of beauty don't rest on pertness /perkiness in the same way.

Against, some go bald, almost none use hair dye (unlike nearly all youngish women, though this is clearly an artificial/cultural thing, as is the way that they're on average worse at evolving their wardrobes in an age appropriate way. Also many seem to lose their jawline in an unfortunate way.

Call it a draw?

Im 54 and don't have wrinkles yet, I know it's a heritage thing. I look good between size 12-14 and I often think if I went thinner I'd lose my face. I can pass for 40s.
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If you are a beautiful 20 year old you will be a beautiful 80 year old, youth does not equate beauty

^ I think this is mostly true unless you really don't look after yourself. My mum is the beautiful one, better looking than all her children. So at 76 she is still classically beautiful, a few wrinkles but not pronounced, looks after her skin and hair, and is well groomed. I'd say she looks in her 60s. I wouldn't mind being like that.

I'm more about being beautiful in your own skin whatever age you are though, not necessarily thinking youthful is everything. Attractive older woman is fine.

Generally, mid-twenties for women and maybe a little older for men. But it's subjective, there aren't any hard and fast rules.

Humans naturally live (ie no modern medicine or labour-saving tools) to about 40, so it's no surprise that looks begin to fade once a person is into middle age, naturally speaking. The brain declines after the mid to late twenties too, physical powers begin to fade - it's not all about looks. It's just part of aging.

If you are a beautiful 20 year old you will be a beautiful 80 year old, youth does not equate beauty

More accurately, if you believe you are a beautiful 20 year old, you will (probably) believe you are a beautiful 80 year old.

It's a matter of self-perception.

I haven't read the thread yet but going by the title I very strongly believe beauty never fades it just changes as you change. It becomes less typical, deeper. Far far more interesting.

Probably what I'm trying to say is you stop being pretty in the ordinary (boring) sense but then become beautiful.

Always looked young for my age Looked my best at 30-39 I think, now 41 think I look haggard, wrinkles appearing, hair going grey but cba to dye it anymore, it's thin and dye ruins it, save your money cos the face creams don't work either

I wouldn' t say my looks faded but after i had DD4 (so 4 years ago) i turned invisible to the other sex even when without DD (i was 34 when i had DD). I used to attract male attention, often just in passing and men were all over me while i was pregnant (NOT literally! vomit not envy) and not bothered but fascinated as to why i am now invisible; no change in body size, face rescued from slipping over the edge of the cliff by retinol etc. weird but true.