At what age do your looks fade?

[Katie901]

I am coming up to 30 and really worried about this

Men don’t see to care about it as much that’s for sure. My ex DH looked older than he was at 40 and stopped taking care of his appearance. He didn’t give a toss though. As long as his football team won and he could get a pint with his mates he was happy.

I’d agree with this. I’m 49 and happier with how I look now than at almost any point. I’ve lost the dewy featurelessness of my 20s and gained accent and character.

I worried before I hit 30
Now I'm 38 and don't really look any different, and I'm dating a 28 year old
Don't really have many lines, nothing around my eyes. I'm obsessive with SPF and skincare and don't drink, and quit smoking
A lot is genetic, my dad has aged amazingly, my mum not so much so will see if my face falls off

Yes 38 is fine. 40 is fine. You start to feel quite smug. Like ageing will escape you.

Then you hit 43. I think mid 40s are where it kind of catches up a bit with us all. And I don’t think ageing is linear. You don’t change for years then go through what I heard as an ageing ‘cluster’ where your face seems to fall off over night. That’s nice! But you adjust.

I don’t think I aged much at all from 30-40. And still was mistake for much younger.

However, it’s fine. You just up your game a bit! And nothing wrong with looking your age but still looking good.

But you can’t really tell in your 30s how it will pan out as you’re still very young with lots of collagen.

Ooh where did you meet the 28-year-old?

Do you have kids? I notice a big difference between those who do and those who don't among the people I know.

@pixie5121 online and nope, no DC

Jesus H but this thread is depressing. Have some self respect some of you!

Why are you assuming the people on this thread have no self respect?

You can tell yourself looks never fade. But they do.

You don’t have to put too much premium on looks - you can value the many other aspects of yourself. But pretending 55 year olds look like 30 year olds just makes you look silly.

I don't think anybody is pretending 55 year olds look like 30 year olds, are they? I certainly don't want to look like I did between 20 and 30, because that was dog rough thanks to being broke, overweight, working all the hours God sends in crappy jobs and smoking like a chimney.

I look much better now at almost fifty, thanks to having the money for good food and a decent gym plus only having to work part time and being able to rest when I need to (plus lovely skincare doesn't hurt!) Nothing has 'faded', that's for sure

I've never had them tbh but definitely my 20s - ironically at my most self conscious 😆 i wouldn't worry till you get to 40/50 and the wrinkles and sagging start

Never, if you look after yourself.

Yep post 45 tone definitely going everywhere! Just noticed my thighs wobbling in shorts - never ever had this before!! Admittedly, post lockdown wfh more & less active daily life but all the same I think the muscle tone everywhere is just relaxing. Not to say it can't be sorted but it just takes more effort than when younger and muscles are more taut.

@Delatron Yes 38 is fine. 40 is fine. You start to feel quite smug. Like ageing will escape you. Then you hit 43. I think mid 40s are where it kind of catches up a bit with us all.

This ^

Yes @Baggyeye I run 25-30 miles a week and teach Pilates for a living and somehow my thighs are still wobbly when I run and the skin is a bit saggy in certain lights.

I don’t think I could do any more exercise so it must be ageing. Probably a bit of sun damage too that is catching up with me. My legs used to be my best feature so quite depressing!!

If I hadn't gained a bunch of weight in my mid-20s, I would still have good looks. I'm in my early 30s now. Hoping to lose a few stone post pregnancy!

*Yes 38 is fine. 40 is fine. You start to feel quite smug. Like ageing will escape you.

Then you hit 43. I think mid 40s are where it kind of catches up a bit with us all. And I don’t think ageing is linear. You don’t change for years then go through what I heard as an ageing ‘cluster’ where your face seems to fall off over night. That’s nice! But you adjust.*

’Aging cluster’ yes that’s exactly it! I’m only 37 and I don’t think I’ve aged terribly so far but I definitely hit a ‘cluster’ a few years ago where I noticed myself get noticeably more mature-looking pretty much overnight. Up to about my early 30s my looks barely changed and people always thought I was so much younger than I was. Then it’s not like I suddenly got ancient-looking, but one day I started to notice that when I told people my age they didn’t really comment any more, like they were just thinking ‘yep that makes sense’ rather than ‘omg no waaaay, you can’t be!’

But I am sure that 20 years from now I’ll look at pictures of my 37 year old face and think ‘oh my god, I look so young, I can’t believe I thought I looked old then’, as we all no doubt will! So I try to just appreciate myself however I look and try not to take any of it for granted!

I think it totally depends on the individual and how you look after yourself. Good genes play an important part.

I have a friend who is 44, who was stunning when we first met at 18 and still is. She could very easily pass for under 30. Never had any work done, doesn’t overeat, doesn’t undereat, doesn’t diet, drinks (sometimes at a lot) but socially, not in the house.

I was never pretty, but quite attractive when younger so perhaps I’ve not had such a shock as image as was not especially invested in my looks. I’m now early 70s and am just grateful that apart from a few aches I’m still healthy when several of my friends are facing very uncertain futures and unpleasant treatments. We all age even if we work really hard and spend money to try and stop it. It’s sad that women still seem to only value themselves for how they look.

Most don't though. I care very much about how I look. I like to see myself looking nice. To me there is no difference between that and enjoying seeing my house nicely decorated, my garden looking good, or a nice view. It's just preferring to look at something that pleases me.
I don't think I'm a better or worse person based on my looks, and my looks are just one thing amongst many I care about. I have a job, voluntary work, family, friends, and hobbies and jnterests and I know I have value and worth. That's irrelevant to whether I want to see an image in the mirror that pleases me.

Late 50s - still look good. Probably peaked tho in my late 30s when I had lots of money and dressed really well, was v slim and went to a top hairdresser. I’m tall with good skin and cheek bones - my mum and aunt look fantastic in their 80s -all about the cheekbones and skin. I have monthly facials, work out at least 3 times a week and have botox twice a year with an excellent doctor who doesn’t leave me with a plastic dome forehead - that helps a lot but it’s mostly genetics. Not in denial about ageing just want to do it as elegantly as possible.

I'd say late 50s. Up to 55 I think I looked good. Not now. I definitely look old.

@TwoBigNoisyBoys I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure you'll fight it and flourish back to your old self. X

@courgettigreensadwater thank you 😘

I don’t agree with the peaking in the early 20s though (for me) I think late 20s was more of a peak through until about 32/33. I think maybe I was healthier then though and looked after my skin more.