Why do some people i.e. me age faster than others?

[kismetqueen]

I am in my early 40's and my looks really are on a downward spiral. I keep fit, eat a plant based diet and look after my skin and hair but while my figure is decent my face is awful, my eye bags are getting worse and worse each year and nothing can fix them except maybe surgery I can't afford.

On one hand I do accept its just a normal part of getting older and that I have to accept it and I look around at my peers and can see most of them are also getting more wrinkles etc but then a few hardly seem to change at all and look much as they did 15 or 20 years ago.

I have a friend who is my age (41) and has no wrinkles at all, no crows feet, no forehead lines, no nose to mouth lines just lovely plump youthful skin which has never changed in the all the time I have known her. The only real difference in our skins is that she has always used spf she certainly doesn't use any treatments like botox or filler as she could not afford them and I would know as I see her several times a week.

Why does aging happen at different ratesonce your out of your 20's some (like me) age over night but others stay the same for decades? Is it just genetics or do they have some secret practice like bathing in the blood of virgins?

Genetics, trauma, grief, smoking, type of skin, weight. Two female relatives one 76 and the other 70. The 76 year old looks about 15 years younger than the 70 year old. Both had the same miserable childhood, but one is very skinny (70 year old), and one smoked and lived with a smoker until her hubs died 5 years ago (again, 70 year old). The difference is shocking. No one believes the 70 year old is the younger sister, she looks and sounds so much older.

Genetics, UV exposure, smoking, general health, weight, stress/anxiety level, affluence level, and 100 other things.

Mostly genetics though.

We certainly don't she at the same rate. It's down to genetics. There are certain genes that mean you age more quickly. I believe people with a fast metabolism have been proven to age more quickly.

SPF does really help as does drinking a lot of water, all the time not just when you remember, I have two aunts three years apart the older one is very active, a jazzercise instructor on top of her full time very demanding job, she eats very healthily, always uses SPF and is never without her water bottle, she looks younger than the actual younger one. The other difference is the older one never had children (choice) the younger one had two and is a teacher. So who knows maybe you can drink all the water you like, apply SPF religiously, eat healthily but having DCs will ruin you every time!

I’m in my forties and although I can discern a change in my skin quality, people often assume I’m much younger.

There’s no real virtue on my part. It’s 90% genetics and 10% because I’ve never smoked/sunbathed or drank much. I’m also fat but eat plenty of fruit and veg which probably helps.

I just clean my face with a face cloth and stick a generic moisturizer on if I remember. My friends hate me.

Thing is, I don’t think there is anything wrong with looking your age and I purposely don’t dye my greys (which are plentiful) because I don’t buy into the “shame” of aging.

Do we need spf in England everyday? Sorry if that’s a stupid question!

I think almost all of it is genetics. The person I know with the most amazing youthful skin is late 30s, a heavy drinker and smoker, lays in the sun at every opportunity and her diet is truly shit. Another friend is a health freak, gym bunny, fastidious about diet, never smoked, burns easily so stays out of the sun. She looks 10 years older than she is.

I have very dry skin and lots of wrinkles. All the people I know without wrinkles don't have dry skin!

Oily skin definitely helps. Shit when you’re a teenager, but as you get older it really makes a difference.
SPF everyday without fail.
I just buy all moisturisers which have spf in them and foundation which has spf in them,

Then extra spf in the summer

The only real difference in our skins is that she has always used spf

That’s probably the key then, sun damage ages the skin and preventing it is the number one thing you can do to keep your skin looking young.

Do we need spf in England everyday?

Yes, even when it’s cloudy. This is a simplified way of looking at it, but essentially there are two types of UV radiation, UVA and UVB. UVB is what causes sunburn and you’re only really exposed to it when it’s sunny. UVA on the other hand can pass through clouds (and windows) so if it’s light outside then you’re being exposed to it, even if it’s grey and miserable. It also passes deeper into the skin than UVB rays do, so it causes more damage. More importantly, it’s also a major cause of skin cancer.

It must be genetics. I have lived a fairly healthy lifestyle, never smoked or drank and eat quite well with lots of fruit & veg. I don’t sunbathe and keep fit. However I look a good 5-10 years older then I am & people generally can’t belive I am in my early thirties. A lot of it is my downturned mouth which people comment on weekly & the fact that I work shifts and haven’t had a decent nights sleep in 3 years due to DS.

I am trying to learn to live with it but it’s quite hard especially as my DH looks way younger then he is!!

Wait till you hit menopause ...

The person I know who looks the most youthful is Australian and never wears suncream. She is a miracle of science. She is 50 but most people think she's in her late 20s and are absolutely flabbergasted when they find out her age. I genuinely don't know her secret.

It must be genetics because I've drunk & smoked for about 25 years, sat out in the sun and lived on takeaway (I don't anymore and haven't for some time) and I'm nearly 40 and barely have a wrinkle - I have a fine crease between my eyebrows which gets better/worse depending on how much water hungover I am I drink.

Most people think I'm under 25.

Definitely genetics, but also lifestyle and luck. I’m 50 and look 40. I smoke but I don’t drink, but I drink a lot of water, have oily skin and don’t diet, I’m thin and in fact if anything I eat more fat than is recommended but also less sugar and carbs. I use fewer products than most people, so I reckon my face gets less stress, which has to help. I noticed my eyes aged when I was regularly having my eyebrows threaded so I wax now. And I use an eye cream. Nothing posh, I’m using a Nivea one at the moment, the important thing is to use it rather be parsimonious because it was £££.
I’ve noticed runners have great bodies but old faces- the sun and wind and jiggling your face?? 🤷‍♀️

I think how pale your skin is and your bone structure matter a lot in terms of ageing. My pale skin is very wrinkled compared to black, Asian and mixed race friends of the same age.

I think shift work adds years too. Lots of the nurses I've worked with look 10 years older than they should due to stress and swapping between nights and days all the time

Sheer luck mostly, although lifestyle plays a part. I know people who had stressful jobs like teachers, nurses, drop 10 years in looks after their retirement!

Having money helps. You can pay for dental care, decent hair etc..

It also helps if you had a round chubby face when younger.

My friends who are aging well all have full faces and thick hair.

In my case it's because of early perimenopause (sorry OP!)

I'm 50 but can easily be taken for 35. I've been using SPF since I was 20. I also exfoliate regularly and have been using retinoids since my 30s.

By "ageing" you mean looking older facially? Actual ageing is not the same thing, and seems to be getting confused with looks on here. You may be wrinkly, but live 20 years longer than your smooth faced friends; and SPF cream will keep your skin looking more youthful for longer, but its unlikely to add years to your actual life.

Just keep healthy. Looking younger than your years is not that important, and doesn't extend your life.

I'm slightly overweight, have oily skin, have always used spf and moisturiser. I don't smoke and drink in moderation. My family aged really well but I have annoyingly aged much worse than my family and friends. I am early forties with jowls and wrinkles. Although no grey yet. I do get I look good for my age, but what age they think that is who knows but i do look older than i am. So i think it's just the luck of the draw.

Genetics and sunscreen are two major factors. I'm 37 and since my early 20s I have worn sunscreen every day, rain or shine. It makes a big difference!

Sun and major stresses in life like grief. I swear I've aged 5 years in less than a year. But hey let's just all be thankful for what we do have as what's a few wrinkles and grey hairs amongst friends .

My mum looks good for her age and puts it down to sleeping a lot (ill) and putting on a lot of weight mid 30’s