At what age do your looks fade?

[Katie901]

I am coming up to 30 and really worried about this

On the other hand I really looked my best between about 38 and 50. I grew into myself and I was more confident than before (and more than now).

LOOKS DON’T FADE.

Definitely early 40s, although I worried about it all through my 30s, don't do that!

I'm 44 this year and think I look pretty much the same. Sure the hair is going grey and there are a few lines appearing but it's still my face which I quite like

Youth isn't everything and there are so many wonderful things about being older. Don't worry so much about it. You can't stop yourself aging so make the best of it.

I’m 58 and still stunning😂

well said that pp!
I also agree, looks don’t fade! That sounds like a load of crap enforced upon women by blokes in olden days so they can bag themselves a young filly.
No one talks about mens looks fading.
i think looking healthy and alive makes you beautiful, at any age.
went to a posh party and the skinny orange ladies in tight frocks looked amazing, but as they didn’t move or speak, they quickly lost their attraction and the vibrant podgy woman held court instead. And everyone loved her for her warmth and humour.

I’d say personally for me it was about 43/44 but I had also gained a lot of weight then. I’m 50 now and I try not to look in the mirror because I look so so old and ugly now. Makes me really sad.

If you are 30 and hoping to attract an 18yr old then I would say, yes your looks have faded at 30.
Fortunately though the reality it you are attracted and attractive to others if a similar age to yourself -therefore your looks never really fade.
A 30 year old looks very attractive to other 30 year olds and a 60 year old looks very attractive to 60 year olds.
Beauty is in the eye if the beholder and it is all relative.

of not if! Autocorrect

38 for me- my skin texture has deteriorated so much and now I have pigmentation.

I’m 58 and bearing up well!
not looking forward to 65+ but the alternative is much worse
if I lose some weight I will be even happier
I was never a stunning beauty at any age but reasonably happy with my looks so maybe I’ve not had as much to lose!!

Almost 62 and I think they just have. All of a sudden I look awful on zoom. Seem to have aged lots in the last few months. 12 hour days probably not helping.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I mean I know they are celebrities so probably have the best care routine but people like Jennifer Aniston are in their 50s and are absolutely gorgeous. I guess if you feel like your looks are fading, do whatever you can to feel better but they definitely don't fade at 30.

Christ some of posts in this thread is depressing. Why is youth equated with looks? My mum is almost 63 and looks amazing. I’m mid 30s now. Started weightlifting, stopped drinking and switched to a vegetarian diet at 32. I can definitely say my body is in the best condition it has ever been in. Sounds like I’m bragging but it’s better than most of the 20 somethings who get in the gym (imo) I will add though I’ve never had children.

When I had a child. So 39, due to the lack of sleep, exercise and unhealthy eating as a result of said child. Before I’d do stuff like make lunch for work and cycle to work etc. Now I’m always tired and time poor so can’t be fucked with it all.

Menopause is when nature decides you don't need to attract a mate anymore. So for me mid-40s and the start of peri Meno

Just get Botox now you’ll be ok , I’ve started getting it in the past year I’m 32.

I must say I still have a stunning face and I am slightly over 40. Never heavy with the make up - natural beauty.🙌

I used to worry about this, then my best friend died of alcoholism, aged 52. I'm 65 now and still look the same, but I've got laughter lines around my eyes, my neck has just started to go and my hair is grey. I do have a good skin/hair routine, don't smoke, don't drink much and try to eat healthily and exercise. Everything in moderation is the key I think.

Weight training is the best way of retaining muscle tone, muscles do shrink as you age.

Don't worry and just enjoy yourself :)

Am 50 next year & in last year or so my skin has started to sag a bit & loose some elasticity. Unlike Caitlin Moran, I have not yet learnt to love my wattle. Apart from that, all still pretty happy with how I look. But have felt like that since I came out of the teenage hormone riot & purchased a catsuit.

I always like to quote the Baz Lurhman song from 1999

"Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth, oh, never mind
You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth
Until they've faded but trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back
At photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now
How much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.
You are not as fat as you imagine."

Following the advice in the next chapter also prob helps to keep you looking & feelings young too.

"Don't worry about the future,
Or know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind
The kind that blindsides you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday."

I'm not ageing, I'm growing.

I'm ok with that.

The lines in my face are happy memories with the people I love.

Absolutely this!!!!!!!

I felt good about my appearance up until my late 40’s. At 49 I had a 32 year old telling me I was hot. Not sure if covid had an accelerating effect, but in your 50’s it’s a rapid decline. Minor cosmetic tweaks and active skincare don’t seem to be doing much.

For Jennifer Aniston et al, their looks are their livelihood, so maintaining them is almost a full time job. There are very few women who look that good post 50 without significant intervention. And I don’t mean major surgery, but anti wrinkle, fillers, and regular, frequent and expensive salon treatments. It’s a facile argument to say ‘Look at JA, it’s possible to look great after 50’ when it’s not realistic for most women without an unlimited budget lots of free time.

Same. I look back at old photos and I see a pretty enough young woman, but I genuinely don't recognise this 'bloom' and 'glow' people speak of. My face was rounder with no crows feet, but that's about it. My eyes are bigger now and cheek bones better now my face is less chubby. Theres such a tendancy to worship youth, when in reality, there's some beautiful young women and some very plain ones, just the same as there are older women. Most of it is presentation, imo. Weight changes, tiredness, and choosing less flattering hair styles and clothes, rather than losing some mythical glow.

Mid 50s and perfectly happy with how I look