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?

I’m in my 20s, I see the aging and the wrinkles and think I look haggard…I get ID’d every time I buy alcohol. I think you might need to seek some therapy OP because this sounds like a lot of stress and anxiety to avoid the inevitable.

Ageing is natural and unavoidable no matter what "they" try to sell us or encourage us into. I am shocked at some of the claims made for HRT in an anti-ageing sense and wonder how many women will be sucked into medicating themselves now the skincare angle is more or less exhausted

Actually when I think about it OP -- while like others here I've lucked out genetically and look younger, I remember in my early 30s I went through a phase of having really dark circles under my eyes (I'm also very pale). But they did go away eventually. I have no idea why but just to suggest that maybe this is temporary for you so try not to worry.

You could maybe test for vitamin deficiencies?

Have you already started drinking collagen? I'm 51 and it's made a lot of difference to my skin. It was only recently someone told me you need to use it from age 25.
But also very important to remember
You're never going to look much better than you do today basically. So accept it.. hard as it is xx

Dark circles are genetic. Use some light reflecting concealer.

I doubt your lines are anything noticeable. Some lines are normal or you’d look 12 and that would be weird.

I was scrolling FB and saw a lot of old school friends on a post- first time in years.

Every single one of them looked better than they did as a teen. Every one. The glamorous ones still looked quite glamorous, but more mellow. The more homely ones looked great- they'd grown into their faces, their lovely personalities were written in their laughter lines. We're mid 50s now.

I try and remember that when I look at myself. Every one looks better now than then. So I must, too!

If it’s any comfort, I had huge circles around my deep set eyes when younger-but strange-now I’m 60, they haven’t got any worse and I know I look young for my age. It’s because I have one of those faces that doesn’t change a lot. Maybe you’re the same-wrinkles around your eyes now but they might not get worse. All I ever did was start use in spf on my face around 40. Also if it’s any comfort, I’ve found I don’t think about ageing and looks the same way I did when I was younger. I’m just so grateful I can do the things I’ve always done!

My theory (from studying colleagues faces in Teams meetings too much) is people with expressive faces develop wrinkles, those that don't don't.
I.e the colleague who never moves his eyebrows has no wrinkles. The one who is always raising his eyebrows has worry lines and the one who frowns a lot has lines between his eyebrows.

If you have crows feet you must be smiling a lot - which is a good thing. I have worry lines which I don't like at all. I wish I could pull off a fringe.

The beauty industry is people who look amazing due to genetics, lighting, filters and Photoshop selling stug

Best thing for dark circles is fake tan and clothes that suit you

"wear spf50 every day, moisturiser every day, use retinol, tretinoin"

Of these only the spf is doing anything for your skin, rest is marketing.

Your skin will age according to your genetics and sun damage, that's about it. The simplest E45 moisturiser is the same as the expensive stuff you're buying.

I do smile a lot but have zero forehead lines whereas people much younger than me have them so it makes sense! I'll try to stop worrying about this anyway. It just made me question whether retinol and such are actually a load of rubbish

I’m 59.

I’ve hardly done anything to my skin. Just lots of moisturiser. No SPF version though. I’ve got hardly any wrinkles.

Its genetic.

-- stuff to the rest of us who have no hope of looking like that.

Just look in mirrors less! One day you'll be ancient, if you're lucky and after that you'll be dead so not much point fretting.

Oh and smoking of course, about the worst thing we can do for our skin..

Facelift ?

I’m a bit older than you OP and don’t have under eye wrinkles/crows feet yet (despite having kids and smoked/lived a harder life maybe!). I do feel like I’m starting to show signs of ageing, but retinol, SPF and hyaluronic acid seems to work wonders keeping it at bay. Noticeable difference when I get slack with my routine. So to answer the question in your OP, I do think these products work.

Skincare wise you could try switching it up if it’s not working for you? I think caffeine based products can be used for dark circles, maybe have a play around? The Inkey List and The Ordinary is both cheap and good imo.

There’s always filler and botox if the eye wrinkles really bother you. This is what every woman (and many men) in the public eye over the age of 35 will have had done. Probably micro doses regularly so it isn’t obvious. So don’t compare yourself to them.

There’s nothing wrong with caring about your appearance, but definitely not worth missing out on fun things (booze/nice food/nice experiences) for.

I looked younger than my age for years. Even when I reached 50 I looked younger, apparently. Am Mid 50s now and I look a lot older, I can tell ya! The wrinkles have really set in and I don't like it I don't drink or smoke, am vegetarian, if that makes any difference. I've done facial exercises since my 30s. I use lotions and potions, and am still ageing rapidly. One side of my face has crevices and one side not so much. I'm trying to adjust. It's tough, but I'm still here, and that's a good thing.

Some people seem to age more at different points in their lives and then less so at others. There are people who look middle aged early but then stay that way for decades.

Retinol and hyaluronic acid are both powerful vitamins/substances but are not absorbed by the skin! My DH had to have injections of Hyaluronic acid recently into his foot to aid recovery of problem bones and I remember consultant laughing the the fact that the cosmetic industry was making so much money putting HA into creams and it does nothing for skin.

You're 31! You honestly can't look that old. In 10 or 20 years time, you'll look back on photos of yourself now in wonderment.

I'm heading to mid-50's territories, worked outside most of my life, drink way too much and am a serial insomniac. My skin is still looking pretty good and I look younger than my age. My mum was the same though so it's either genetics or not putting petrochemicals on my skin. Maybe a combo.

I also honestly don't care that I'm aging, it's unstoppable and quite honestly, the women who have had work done pretty much always look far worse than the age naturally ones.

Take up cardio, if you don't already, drop the sugar and processed shit from your diet, drink plenty of water and you'll see some difference

Genetics - my Dad hardly looks his age my Mum looks in her 60’s as she is. As is her Mum in her 80’s.

My Mum tried lots of things & it’s made no difference. My Dad likes an occasional smoke and drinks - and his diet isn’t great. He looks at least 10 years younger, in his late 30’s people thought he was early 20’s.

I and my sister take after my Mum and my younger sister my Dad. We look old, she in her mid 30’s looks younger (smokes and drinks) . I’m grey, wrinkles and dark circles, same as my healthy vegan sister (who doesn’t drink) so genetics play a huge part.

It’s a fact of life - I hate the dark circles but buy a good concealer that helps.

Not being flippant but maybe it's the stress of trying so hard not to age?

The only thing that will actually stop aging is death!