I've done everything possible and still aged

[Cheeeeeeese]

I don't drink, never smoked, wear spf50 every day, moisturiser every day, use retinol, tretinoin, and so on. I sleep well 90% of the time, no children etc.
My diet isn't perfect, but this is all I can think of.
Despite this, I've still got crows feet, lines under my eyes and dark circles.
I am only 31 but presume the worst is yet to come. It's frustrating to already feel that I'm looking 'tired' at this age.
I've always looked after my skin well, yet I've still got these signs around my eyes already.

All I can think of is that they don't actually work? I'm using prescription strength products too. Does anyone else feel like this?

Hope your mum's okay. I use factor 50 in the summer or on very bright days, but I wouldn't dream of using it with low light levels in the depths of a UK winter (you may not be UK).

Is it genuinely safe to do that?

Did you know that the skin around your eyes is very thin and sensitive? Sometimes dark circles are just minor bruising from rubbing your eyes for example. Ie a temporary darkening vs a permanent sign of aging as you’re assuming.

Genetics, it's simple. My mum died at 90 and still looked 70.
I'm now 70 and look 50. No lines, no wrinkles, clear skin, and I don't use anything at all.

No potions and lotions work, if they really did they’d cost thousands. I’m almost 10 years older than you and although I don’t have the crows feet yet (I can see where they’re going to form though if I squint or screw my eyes up) I do have 11 lines (between the eyebrows) and it makes me look like I’m angry and frowning all the time even when I’m not. My resting face is a full on resting bitch face 😂 I think aging, how you age, how well etc. is more down to genetics than lifestyle or potions and lotions. Personally I wouldn’t touch Botox, or any kind of cosmetic surgery. You probably don’t look as old and wrinkly as you think you do, we always judge ourselves the harshest and to others you probably just still look like you.

I believe it’s genetics, my grandmother drank whiskey smoked & sunbathed with olive oil poured on her ! She died aged 94 with beautiful soft unlined skin . She sadly had 2 heart attacks in her 50s but carried on with her lifestyle afterwards.

My mum is 84 & has never used anything more than Nivea cream, she doesn't look anything more than mid 60's. I have just found something that really works well for wrinkles, I am on prescription gel at night for dry eyes, I massage the excess in to my forehead & my frown lines have all disappeared.

Do you wear big sunglasses year round?
A good broad spectrum factor 50 year round.
Botox.

I once read a quote that said, ‘aging is a privilege denied to many’ and it totally changed how I feel about aging! We all age. Stop stressing about it. The stress is probably aging you 😂

It’s genetics.
my late mum always looked young for her age & I did up to a certain point - think I look my age now but not older!!
my dd who is much younger than you also has the dark circles - she hates them & they look worse when she’s run down.
white bread etc is not good - no harm in trying to improve diet.

@Flannan yeah of course it is! I take vitamin D as I'm deficient anyway (sun avoiding due to the paleness) so that's the only thing I'm aware of

It is genetics. I've always looked younger than I am but of course looking younger is no longer young!

We all age. It's how we age is the important thing.

You didn't mention exercise.

Exercise can help slow the aging process.

@BabyOnBoard90

Depends. I know a couple of runners who have aged due to more sunshine exposed on their face. Sun cream little effect with sweat.

Which is why Baby said it can slow the process.
I would say that in most cases, exercise will have a positive impact on the ageing process.
You wouldn't pick ultra running in the sun as your exercise of choice if you didn't want to expose your skin to the sun.

Running isn't good for your face. High impact, boing boing boing.

Amazing for your legs though.

It’s genetics. My mum was only 40 when she died, but she still looked in her 20s. My dad is 87 and when I take him to hospital appointments, drs always check their notes to see if it’s the right person and 9/10 comment that he doesn’t look a day over 60.

I’m 43, I’ve done all the wrong things in life, never used any face/skin products, never been off my arse, eaten crap, drank and smoked too much when I was younger, have a toddler who doesn’t let me sleep and I still get people who think I am early 30s and are shocked when I tell them my age.

I have a 20 year old son and much to his horror, when we go out together, I am often mistaken for his girlfriend.

I am a miserable bugger through and I don’t smile much. Keeps the laughter lines away 😄 And I am really stupid, immature and can’t cope with life, so I guess I seem more youthful too.

I think genetics too - my gran died at 93 but barely had a wrinkle on her head

I have dark circles, but so did all the women in my mums family, we are of Indian origin, it’s quite common. My children have them too, even my 2 year old. I am constantly asked if they are poor sleepers when they are young, but it’s the shape of our faces - the bit under our eyes are slightly sunken.

Nothing makes a difference. I am sick to death of people telling me that giving up wheat will help with dark circles - I’m coeliac so don’t eat it!

I run. A lot. I am pretty sure my face does not look 52 years old. My skin isn't bouncing around being stretched.

Yes - people who do a lot of running tend to be slim enough that there isn't masses of bouncing going on. And being slim/strong tends to make people look younger.

It wasn't a personal insult towards you, although you might have just insulted people aged 52 or over. Or the rare few Mumsnetters who don't actually really look 10-25 years younger than they are. They must be somewhere.

Just a fact that high impact exercise isn't good for your face or bust. It boings. It's fantastic for the rest of you. I'm sure nobody who gets benefits from running is going to stop doing it because of an impersonal remark on Mumsnet.

Running is not a good choice for your Fanny either after a certain age just saying. (Unless you make a serious effort with your pelvic floor). I do a lot of exercise but if im training for a half marathon I will consistently use my NHS pelvic floor toner. A good weights session for the vagina 😉. One of the most important forms of exercise that gets overlooked in older women.

It wasn't a personal insult towards you, although you might have just insulted people aged 52 or over. Or the rare few Mumsnetters who don't actually really look 10-25 years younger than they are. They must be somewhere.

Just a fact that high impact exercise isn't good for your face or bust. It boings. It's fantastic for the rest of you. I'm sure nobody who gets benefits from running is going to stop doing it because of an impersonal remark on Mumsnet.

Just don’t forget your pelvic floor. I’ve seen a few saggy ones in my nursing times 😉 and runners can be big culprits.

The NHS pelvic floor toner is brilliant. Like a weights session for your vagina. A lot more effective than bog standard pelvic floor exercises and will keep you happily running well into old age.

Alternatively it can make people look stringy.