AIBU to ask at what age did you start to look 'old' and what did you do about it?

[fortunatelynot]

Shamelessly posting her for traffic as I am now fed up of ALWAYS looking tired.

I am 43 and I think I now look 'old'. Of course those little lines have been gradually creeping up over the years and at times I've looked in the mirror and thought I looked a bit haggard, but, with a bit of make up and extra sleep, things have always fallen back into place and/or make up hid them.

Seriously - at what age did you get the crows feet, laughter lines and bags? And what did you do about it?

I have worn sunscreen for a few years but didn't as a youngster. I have never smoked and I don't drink much (although used to). I sleep pretty well and work out regularly. I take my make up off each night and put on moisturiser. My diet is reasonable. I admit I'm not exactly obsessed with maintenance but I don't think I'm neglectful of myself either. I work long hours in a stressful job.

Genuinely interested to hear of anybody who has succeeded in making themselves look less tired or any anti ageing tips I'm missing!

[Bluntness100]

What ages you though op is more than just your face. Only we focus on our own. For everyone else it's the over all appearance. Hair, face, figure, clothes, even posture.

Maintaining a good hair style, the right hair colour for you, a healthy weight, not under or over weight, and clothes that fit well, and flatter, always make you look and feel good.

And that's what it's about, feeling you look good. Not about how old you look or your face in isolation.

If you either have a weight issue, or don't maintain a good hair style/colour for you, or dress poorly in ill fitting or unflattering clothes for example, these things are what can be ageing in terms of general appearance.

As said, few people concentrate purely and solely on someone's face, it's the over all appearance and presentation, and subsequent attitude.

[Vulpine]

Just remember if you think you look old now, one day you'll look back on photos of yourself and realise you actually looked alright!

[thecatsthecats]

I'm 31 and feel like I look old, but it's a combination of a bad haircut and glasses. The haircut being growing out a short cut, the glasses being a poor choice for a second pair.

I swear a better outfit, cut and glasses make me ten years younger.

[hazeyjane]

50 now, and I feel like the last 2 years I look and feel older. Have transformed into my nan figure wise (think hen with a mono bosom) and my face in repose looks tired and worried (because I am tired and worried)

However, I have no desire to try to have a 'good cut', start dressing better, wearing more subtle make up, dying my hair again or trying to appear younger than the me I am.

[Inliverpool1]

Sunday Riley skincare, obviously on a permanent basis it’s doing nothing I get that but rather like a daily sticking plaster it works well I look less shit which I’m happy with.
I work out 6 days a week. Get dripping with sweat, all this 10,000 steps stuff is better than biting but that is all is it. You need to work. Use it or lose it

[chocolateteapot20]

Like my mother, I always looked really young for my age (to my intense annoyance) until the menopause hit in my late 40s. I'd always sworn I'd never dye my hair like my mum did (sorry mum, you were absolutely right, yes, I dye my hair now though it's more of a golden brown or reddish tint I use than my natural very dark brown).

For moisturising I like jojoba oil (you can get it at Holland and Barrett and lots of other places). I've never worn much make up anyway, but if I'm going to wear any I keep it as light as possible. I'm also a fan of the Body Shop's Instablur primer if I'm going out and feel I have to have makeup on.

And also, while this may sound catty, not dressing up like mutton dressed as lamb as a previous boss did, in calf length boots and leather skirts. For work, this is, not clubbing. In her VERY late 50s. This in an environment where some of the "admin" staff often stood out a mile as they were the only ones teetering about on kitten heels while people who did the actual work were in crocs, duty shoes, and brogues.... then again, I always have dressed like a colonial Victorian schoolmarm, according to one ex....and seeing as how my skin is milk-bottle Celtic white, I don't go out in the sun much without lots of suncream, a big hat, sunglasses and lots of water somewhere on my person, which has also helped a bit. So though I look my age now (early 50s) it could be a lot worse.

[kjhkj]

botox, retinol and liquid gold. I'm 46 and generally people who don't know me think I'm ten years younger. But I started on the botox at mid thirties and it has a preventative effect.
I'm also on HRT which I think is helping.

[JustDanceAddict]

I’m late 40s and is say in last couple of years.
I’ve dyed my hair for nearly 3 years (luckily went grey late)
I’m not massively wrinkled but I have the beginnings of the saggy neck which is a massive giveaway of age.
My skin is much drier as well now as I’m entering the peri menopause.
I would advise a lot of moisturiser, facials, good foundation (I am yet to find a v good one), dye hair close to your ‘natural’ colour.
A lot of ageing is hormonal, I think this is why I have looked much older in the past year.

[Notmyrealname855]

Checking in! Am early 30s but had a lot of deaths in the family and a mix of stress and grief makes me feel 130 :( also have a LOT of lines under my eyes as have low-set brows - think wrinkles around the eyes are the worst, as you lose your twinkle. During very heavy grief months I used to watch a lot of really frivolous and fun makeup tutorials on YouTube just for some lightheartedness - we need this for real life makeup and anti aging tips!! Oh and my neck very suddenly went crepey- feel so much more confident with a scarf on!

[Notmyrealname855]

thetweakmentsguide.com/ People on MN seemed to rave about this but I haven’t tried any! (Wish I’d be brave enough to) And wasn’t there a new filler lots of people were raving about?

[JustDanceAddict]

My skin is also terrible so I’m a mix of old and teen in one (dry patches and spots) - it’s delightful and definitely a hormonal issue.

[Zoflorabore]

I’m 42 this month and am in the process of completely overhauling my entire life.
I’ve always been overweight but don’t look what l actually weigh and I smoke but weirdly have great skin that I don’t take care of.

Meeting a man who is really into diet and exercise a few months ago has finally given me a kick up the arse that was much needed and I’ve started drinking tons of water, eating better and doing jogging and cardio with him and it’s already noticeable.

My hair is very dark naturally and has been going grey since I was around 20! I’ve always dyed it and have a fringe like Claudia Winkleman which hides a lot.

I really need to work on my skincare routine which is awful. I’m full of good intentions and it never lasts. I can see the difference in my skin around my eyes and it scares me. I hope it’s not too late to change.

Overall though I believe a good mix of confidence, make up and a blast of your favourite perfume does the world of good, as does wearing clothes that properly fit.

I have a long way to go- around 5st and am doing it with a year in mind. Lots of before and after pictures I’ve seen of people who have lots lots of weight seem to show a huge difference in how old the person looks as a slimmer person ie they look younger once losing weight but we shall see.
I’m doing it for my health first as I have fibromyalgia and am sick of being in pain.

Good luck to everyone who is on a mission.

[Dontsweatthelittlestuff]

I am past 50 and after suffering years of oily skin it is being to pay off as I don’t have crows feet or wrinkles.
Last year I decided to embrace the grey and stopped colouring my roots but as my hair is quite long this will be a long term project for going completely grey. I have changed my shampoo and conditioner to a purple based one so I don’t get that dull yellowing tint to the new grey. And I am really happy how soft it is as I dreaded it going wirery.
I don’t wear makeup but I do use body shop skin peel and toner I also use a lot more body butter type stuff paying attention to feet, knees, elbows and hands. Nails I keep short and clean.
No change to dress as I tend to dress for comfort rather than style so in winter lots of jumpers and high waisted jeans with boots.
My one real change is I pay more for orthopaedic shoes and boots as I wear an ankle brace and I also have planter fasciitis so need the extra arch support. Luckily orthopaedic shoes are no longer the granny styles of the past and dont look any different than an ordinary shoe.

[Ilovemypantry]

I think we should all just be grateful that we have made it to an older age. Sadly, many don’t for whatever reasons.
It’s good to have pride in your appearance and make the effort, but such a waste of time and energy to obsess over it.

[diddl]

I would say it was mid 40s & menopause.

Thinner hair, more grey, weight seemed to pile on overnight!

Tbh I haven't done that much about it!

Trying to eat better to drop some weight, but am more concerned to have my health.

[Apileofballyhoo]

Miserychops try a cleansing oil - I think simple do one but DHC is very good. I got a sample bottle on look fantastic for less than a fiver.

[IwannabeNaaz]

Sleep and bad diet 100%

[ethelfleda]

I’m 35 and look like a fucking hag. I’m probably past help!

[NameChangeNugget]

The tipping point for me was mid to late 40’s.

My face now resembles an ordnance survey map

[Chocolateandamaretto]

I’m 30 and I have wrinkles!!! They’re all laugh lines around my eyes though so I mostly take it as a sign I enjoy myself a lot...
I don’t think I look old though. It has made me think more about skincare but I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all! Will be looking at some of the products mentioned on this thread now

[LoobyLou1976]

Probably noticed the first signs of ageing when I was about 38, just a slight changing in the angle of the jaw. I started facial exercises in earnest (have done them for years though) and it does help to keep the jaw line tighter. I have a couple of little lines above my top lip which I hate (not a smoker though - my Mum has the saem ones so I think its genetic). I'vce always has horizontal lines on my forehead as I have a tendency to raise my brows a lot. Had these lines since I was about 18! I went once to a skin specialist for something else and they told me I would look 100% better with botox so I had it - it was a TOTAL unmitigated disaster and my brow dropped like a stone. The forehead looked great, like glass, but all that extra skin has to go somewhere and it ended up under my brows which instead of being nicely curved and high, dropped to sit on my eyelashes/lids. I couldn't apply makeup as I had all this extra hanging skin on my lids. I looked awful and I barely left the house for 3 months until it wore off. I would never get botox again.
I honestly don't think it is wrinkles that make you look old. If you work on your skin texture (use retinol products or even pure retin A if you can get it online), sunscreen factor 50 every day, and good quality moisturiser with hyaluronic acid and other skin friendly things like vitamin c, and work on your facial muscles by doing exercises, this can all help.

White teeth also help, its worth paying to have a mould made by your dentist and getting the dental bleach to keep your teeth looking nice, as yellowing teeth can be very ageing.

Stay out of the sun. 90% of ageing comes from UVA rays which are present all year round, even on cloudy days. Look at the famous truck driver picture of the guy who spent his life driving trucks with half his face in the glare from the sun and the other half in the shade of his cab. The difference is astounding. If that's not an advert for using sunscreen I don't know what is!

[Lippy1234]

I look good and I’m 50. When I was 47 I started to look sad and my lips thinned so I had filler and have had it done twice since. I’ve had Botox twice , once a year ago and once 6 months ago. I’m really pleased with the results of the filler and botox. Since around 37 I’ve had a really good skincare routine. I’m very lucky with my hair which is still long, thick and shiny. I eat 5-8 portions of fruit and veg a day and my hair and nails grow really quickly. I don’t drink and caffeine just herbal tea and water and I think that helps my skin.

[Yellredder]

I'm 50 and I don't particularly think I look old yet. People are usually surprised that I am 50. I don't use any wonder cream or anything.

[mynameiswah]

This is so fascinating to read. I love the internet, you never read this stuff in the media. I'm 48 and my skin is still OK (I think!), but my hair has aged faster! It doesn't grow as long as it used to and has a 'crinklier' look to it that it didn't used to have. A few greys as well of course.

I wear more makeup now than I did when I was younger but I think that's more because there are more colours available to me these days (brown skin) and I really enjoy wearing it now. I like feeling 'polished'. I never wore foundation or concealer in my 20s as I could never find the right shade.

I agree with a PP that my body feels less 'forgiving' now than it used to, it takes much longer to bounce back from weight gain. I do my best to eat healthy these days as I believe our 40s are the time for us to develop good habits before our 50s arrive and the dreaded old-age diseases begin to show up!

[fortunatelynot]

Thank you all for your great tips.
I will definitely go for an oil cleanser (as my skin is quite dry) and I know I am going to need to make a bit more of an effort with exfoliating/face masks etc. I will also be trying some of the suggested products.

I saw a friend today who I haven't seen for a while. She is ten years older than me and has gone the whole haul with botox, fillers, lip fillers, hair extensions etc. It DOES make her skin look smooth and plump but she tried a few different places before she felt happy and said that some places had said that forehead botox can make your eyes droop.

In terms of offering suggestions back and for those looking to improve their bodies, the best thing I can say (apart from the obvious of exercising etc) is to make sure that you if you go to the gym, incorporate some weights into your routine. In my thirties I was a die hard cardio addict (and still do some cardio) but weights really, really help as you get older. It keeps things toned and just makes you feel stronger.