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!

I'm 48 and definitely feel like I'm aging ,sagging jaw line ,upper eye lids dropping and vertical lines near mouth.
a few years ago I caught a reflection of myself in a window and momentarily saw my mum ! That's was my first jolt and thoughts about getting older, but can remember exact age probably around 40.

42 and still looking good for age lol ! But I’ve noticed the last year has been harder on me so worried there will be a sudden drop !

I dont think you get to have your cake and eat it too.

The women I know with the most youthful looking skin well into 50s etc either are the ones who
A) arguably didn't look as good (or at least as groomed) as peers in 20s/30s etc as wore almost no makeup whatsoever.
B) are not quite so lean. The very trim women i know have gone from looking fabulously slim to rather angular/hard as they have aged.

True arse or face comes into place

Carlamity thank you, my daughter keeps telling me to get real hair ,but i think they might take too much looking after,and seem very expensive
I will have a look around

Lobster thank you i will have a look at Hothair
I would prefer a topper, but they all look very straight and lifeless somehow in real hair

Can anyone recommend something to actually take make up off with?

The Ordinary anything Squalane Cleanser is fabulous. Non-drying, removes make-up and can rinse off if you prefer. And cheap!

Lots. Almost 43 and I have Botox twice a year, and do hydra facials and radio frequency treatments with micro needling. I do have oily olive skin, so that helps on the aging front, too.

I also don’t drink, wear sunscreen daily, exercise five times a week and am strict about what I eat.

princessTiasmum I have worn toppers for the last 4 years. I have really fine hair and felt it was ageing me. Toppers have given me my confidence back. I started off with Jon Renau Easipart which is a synthetic topper, then moved on to a human hair one. The synthetic ones are really easy to maintain but imo they don’t blend well with your real hair and I always felt like it wasn’t part of me. For me, human hair is so, so much better and although a bit more pricey so worth the money, I wear my topper each day all day and it feels like my real hair. I have got toppers from Simply Wigs and Joseph’s wigs and they are reputable suppliers. I now get my toppers from Perfect Fringe, the lady is called Andrea and she is on Instagram, Facebook, Etsy and YouTube. There is a website called Mimoswigs which is supposed to be good and one called Beautiful Betsy (although hers are quite pricey), I also follow Fabricating Fringe and Kristina Young on Youtube for topper tutorials and to follow the latest topper reviews. I sound a bit evangelical about toppers but they are great, I have thin hair it’s not going to get any thicker so these are the next best thing imo. I can pm you photos of me with my real hair after with my topper if you like, just pm me ( don’t want to put it on here as don’t want to out myself online lol).

I think from the age of about 40. I always get told I look younger than my actual age (46) but it's not much comfort - I still feel like a 19 year old in my mind!

One thing that's quite liberating is that I can become 'invisible' with no make up on, hair tied back etc. I don't get a second glance!

I think there is some truth in the face or arse thing

There definitely is!

I'm sorry OP but the thing that has made a real difference to me is botox and fillers. I look much younger as a result. Shame theyre so expensive

I think there was truth in face or arse until weight lifting became main stream. You can weigh a lot, I’m 11 stone and size 8/10 and I eat a lot of good food. But the metabolism as a result of that makes my skin cells renew quickly, Botox lasts 4-5 weeks on me, so I’m hopeful that’s saving my chops too

It’s true. I chose my arse and my face has paid the price .

I am now at the stage where I am shocked to see an old person looking back at me in the mirror.

But I can’t bring myself to do much about it. My mum and grandmother have/had very wrinkly skin and they are /were still attractive because they smile and enjoy life

I didn't start to really look my age until the menopause hit at around 50. Am now 59 and don't do anything other than get plenty of sleep. I'm never going to pass for 40, so what's the point in putting myself through loads of procedures or spending hours on make up anyway?

I am just ageing disgracefully.

I think the arse or face thing is probably true but the problem is that being overweight can make people look older because being overweight can make you look frumpy and that in its self is ageing. My (overweight) mil always looked younger in the face but tbh she never looked good for her age as she looked frumpy and mummy, harsh but the truth nonetheless. I think slim but not skinny, well toned and well groomed is the best look. It’s no good trying to look younger because very few women do even those who have Botox and fillers may look good and even wrinkle free but wrinkle free doesn’t guarantee a youthful look, they still, in most cases will look roughly their age.

mumsy

I have botox and fillers not to look younger but to look a slightly better, less knackered version of my natural self. It’s the same with dying my hair, I could leave it natural but I prefer a lovely shiny warm brown to a dull brown.

And I agree with RhodaCamel, you may have to choose between arse or face, but I'd rather look my age and be slim enough to keep Type 2 Diabetes at bay and be reasonably fit and healthy, so I run to keep my weight down.

Too many of my similar aged friends have chosen to let their weight go and, as a result have rampant arthritis and incipient diabetes.

39 this march and defo noticed i dont look as youthful as i did couple years ago. Though 2 years ago i only had 1 dc now ive 4!! Try to avoid mirrors now tbh.

I'm 43 and look reasonably ok, with almost no grey yet and quite decent skin. My face started to "drop' a while ago and I definitely have jowls, but everything else is still okay-ish. I wash my face with unscented soap, water and a flannel, followed by nivea moisturiser. I don't believe in expensive skin products.

I've never worn much makeup but in recent years, to give my face a bit more life and colour, I've started wearing a bit of makeup: Benefits cheek stain, a bit of eyeliner and some tinted lip balm. On work days I sometimes use Touche Éclat under my eyes to get rid of dark circles.

In terms of weight I'm a naturally slim person which unfortunately means I'm complacent about exercise. My aim this year is to actually do some! I also want to get started with some basic weights to stave off osteoporosis which runs in the family.

I think it's best to try and 'look good for your age', rather than chasing after a much younger version of yourself that will never return.

Haha.

Past the first flush of youth, but still looking decent - aged about 27;

Really starting to look seriously middle aged - 40, more or less.

I'm 43, my 'physique' is pretty much as good as it ever was, near enough, but the face, jesus, sometimes I'll catch an unexpected glance in a photo or stray mirror & scarcely believe it's me.

RhodaCamel thank you,that would be great,but not sure if you can pm photos,
I prefer the idea of a topper, as i have quite a lot of surrounding hair, so would look more like my own hair,but not sure if i have enough on top to clip one to

Im 41 in a few months and haven't really noticed that much ageing just yet. I do get miconeedling regularly though and also botox and fillers. I am not trying to look 20 but I don't want to look tired and wrinkled either. I have about 5 stone to loose which after reading this thread I'm going to try and loose slowly in the hopes that my face doesn't collapse in on its-self. I have never looked my age and I'm hoping to continue this into this decade - finger crossed!!

princessTiasmum they do toppers for all stages of hair loss, some have smaller areas with the clips on but others much larger so can clip on lower where there may be more hair. There is also the option to purchase some toppers without clips which you secure with special tape.
On the Kristina Young site you can hire toppers and wigs for a week to see if they are for you so that’s always a good option.

Rhodacarmel thanks,i will checkout all those sites,
Can't remember if i mentioned it[think i did ] but havng a scalp biopsy on monday, to see if there is any other reason my hair is falling out,
It has actually got worse in this last 2 weeks, so maybe stress, but this doesn't help either,
I did call in at a local shop who sold extensions and toppers,but she just said i hadn't enough hair to clip a topper onto,
I think she couldn't be bother to be honest to try