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?

I don’t think oily skin is a factor. Most black people have dry skin, have to moisturise and have young skin.

I think it’s just the luck of genetics, water and SPF. I’m mixed raced and wear SPF15 all year round. All of the smokers and sun worshippers I know look a lot older than everyone else I know. Even the big drinkers don’t look as old as the smokers and sun worshippers.

I also think very thin people often look older than those who are slightly overweight.

SPF. You see it with Indian and Asian skin a lot — those that use SPF daily regardless of skin colour or weather look a million times better than those who don’t.

Genetics. I was doing all right until mid 30s but at 41 I look old as the fucking hills. I use SPF 50, drink plenty of water, healthy lifestyle, yadda yadda. When I tried to get pregnant throughout my 30s it turned out my eggs were all messed up and elderly as well, so I reckon my whole body is ageing at top speed, not just my face.

Genetics and sun damage, but also smoking, drinking etc even for a limited period in earlier life can have a massive effect. Drinking loads of water and using moisturiser/makeup help with 'skin plumpness' to some extent.

Stress wrecked mine. I went into my 30s looking ok and by the time I reached 40 I'd had 3 major bereavements and a horrendous divorce. I looked positively haggard and although once I'd recovered a bit I didn't look as old, my face has never really recovered and obviously won't now.

Genetics and lifestyle.
If I don't get my genes from my dads side I'm screwed
Because my lifestyle leaves a lot to be desired.
But then a lot of my dads relatives drink, smoke and eat badly and still could pass for 20 years younger...

I think going up and down in weight a lot doesn't help. Nor does sun exposure. Good skin care is a must as is drinking lots of water.

You say plant based? Oily fish may be a positive addition or fish oil supplements. They are amazing.

Being veggie isn't great if you are because we need the oils from fish and the collagen from meat and fish (in the bones and when you make broth etc.)

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

OP you say this as though it’s nothing, when it is in fact the answer.

The sun ages skin hugely.

It's mostly genetics, but smoking and sun exposure make a big difference too.

IMO being properly hydrated makes a difference too. Plenty of water makes my skin look fresher and plumper. A few days of drinking less and I can see my face start to shrivel

I've aged massively since losing weight. 
I think having a bit of weight on you actually makes your face look better than being slim but others will disagree

More than anything it's lucky genes. I often get told I look younger than my real age (people always look confused when i say i have a 13 year old dd) and I don't do anything special. I only use a cheap moisturiser and while I don't like sunbathing or have ever used a sunbed, I will quite happily go out and about in the sun without being too careful. I gave up smoking 15 years ago.
My dad always looked about 10 years younger than he was so I think I get it from him. My skin also tends towards being spotty (still at age 40!) so maybe the extra grease keeps it supple.

Also I cut down massively on coffee when I was pregnant which did wonders for my skin.

Think its genetics mainly but obviously some things can affect your skin.
Im 41 and i was asked for ID in a pub last week whilst having a carvery with 3 of my children ds1 20, dd1 17, and dd2 13.
Didnt ID my son whose 20..because he has quite a few tattoos. The chap said i didnt look older than 25, my children were highly amused by this.
I think its also related to sleep, rest and lifestyle.

I should add i also dont drink very often, dont smoke, sunbath or drink tea or coffee.

Genes, genes, genes.

SPF works a bit.

DM has incredible skin and no wrinkles at all at 81 - her 'good luck' is a well-known precursor to Parkinson's. So there are worse things than a few lines, is all.

Genetics. DP will be 50 next year and still has a full head of thick dark hair, like a teenager. He’s starting to go a bit grey, but his hair isn’t receding even slightly. He inherited this trait from his maternal grandfather. Most of our male friends of similar age went bald years ago, so they take the piss out of DP and accuse him of wearing a wig. He knows they’re just envious .

Choose your parents carefully....

Genetics. I come from a young looking family. DGM doesn't look old enough to be able to have had a light smoking habit for 60 years and looks a good 10-15 years younger. I've been refused service for alcohol at 37, so must have looked a minimum of 12 years younger for challenge 25. People in their early 20s are surprised that I'm not around their age.

Avoiding extremes of weight and changes of weight helps. Slightly rounded faces look more youthful. Thick hair. If hair is dyed, keeping it complimenting skin tone. Being too dark matching to a previous natural hair colour can be aging too. Smaller builds can look more youthful, I regularly had collegues coming to my classroom and failing to identify me amongst y7s as they are typically around my size and build

Lifestyle is important and more controlable. Sleep, hydration, exercise (good muscle tone, posture, boost to circulation and mood). Balanced diet including moderation of alcohol, healthy fats. Sun/ UV damage is aging. My oldest-for-age looking relative was a sun bed user in her early 20s.

I'm 42 and people regularly think I am in my late 20's ( after reacting with horror at the thought of me having an 18 year old). My diet isn't that great but I do wear sunscreen and sleep a lot. Also, just clean my face with Sorbolene and use a few drops of facial oil I make myself to moisturise (25mls apricot oil, 10 drops each turmeric and tomato seed oil).

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

This will have made a huge difference. I'm always being told that I don't look my age and I'm sure it's because I hate being in the sun. I spent as little time outdoors as possible in the spring/summer, when I was younger, because of horrendous hayfever.

I may not have wrinkles now (mid 40s) but I will have been permanently Vitamin D deficient as a kid, which probably has long term effects I'd rather not think about...

Genetics for me, but I’m convinced it’s due to hypermobility which has caused chronic pain due to spinal injury. DH has it too and no wrinkles, he’ll be 40 next year. I have oily skin, he doesn’t, my sister is oily and we both had terrible acne, still getting break outs now, but she looks older despite being younger. She didn’t get the hypermobility genes and she smoked. We both now use daily spf. I have kids, sister doesnt, but they didn’t age me, well not my face, my boobs are another matter. I sleep badly due to pain, diet hit and miss but I’ve lost a stone recently. She is vegetarian while I love meat. We both keep fit but she runs more as I risk injury. She’s been asked if she’s her friend’s mum while I’ve been asked if I’m my daughter’s sister. It doesn’t add up except genetic luck of the draw.

Darker skins age better due to natural in built spf as well as it being easier to spot lines and blemishes on a lighter surface.

Genetics and also varies by ethnicity. Women with darker skin tend to look younger compared with pale skinned women of the same age. Combo of melanin (aka sun protection) and amount of fat kept in the face versus other parts of the body.

I actually think having a very low fat healthy diet is worse for aging in the face but better for aging in the body. Lots of very slim women start to look haggard as they age.

When everyone says they use spf, do you mean buying foundation with it in or do you put something on in addition to make up?

I think my body shop foundation is spf15.. wondering if that’s enough now!

My Grandma looks far better and younger than my mother. People think they are sisters. Most likely due to the fact she has had a less stressful life and has never smoked.

I’m genetically lucky here - both my parents look young for their age and are in good health. I have been using SPF since my 20s and it’s paying off now - very few fine lines at 47. I went grey early though and have been colouring my hair for years.

I'm told I look young for my age. I've never smoked, rarely drank (now teetotal) and not a lot of sun exposure. My DM has had a wrinkly/baggy face since in her 30's. She also has never smoked, one small sherry at New Year not for years now though and no sun exposure or skin burning as she was a red head. She does have an awful habit of holding her hand against her face. Perhaps I take after my Dad.

I also think that we age at the same time which is why you still recognise those in your school year and they still look the same. Although some haven't worn well.

“She does have an awful habit of holding her hand against her face.”

What does this mean Troy?

“I think my body shop foundation is spf15.. wondering if that’s enough now!”

It won’t be unfortunately Peony. Think about the amount of product you use with foundation, then think about what percentage of that product will be the sunscreen itself. Unless you’re trowelling it on, there just won’t be enough of the product sitting on your skin.
I use a Boots Protect and Perfect (I think?) sunscreen in SPF 30 and it makes my face look much better on a day to day basis - makeup looks better over it, it’s like a primer, so I don’t resent using it. Not expensive either.
I don’t use SPF50 daily as there’s a lot more nasties in that for not much more protection.
So find a sunscreen that works for you and incorporate it into your routine if you’d like the benefit of SPF x