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?

You made the mistake of posting on MN which consistently seems to have an extraordinarily high number of posters constantly mistaken for being 10 years younger than they are

It’s so cringe. “I still get ID’d!” Yeah when I worked in a bar I would ID 40 year olds who looked their age as I didn’t want to get hit with a fine.

I'm almost 70 and I wish I had white hair, I was a red head and the red has gone to be replaced by a very dark battleship grey that is harsh and horrible. I do have good skin for my age, a doctor commented on it and said I must have good collagen. Glad I've got good something as everything else seems to be falling apart.

Try going gluten free as this can cause dark circles in gluten intolerant people.
That said, I do cheat and eat it and lately it doesn’t seem to affect me as much. I had a phase of having very noticeable dark circles but now I don’t so it’s worth experimenting with diet.

Also, you could try using fake tan on your face so they’re not as obvious.

I’m 50 and look about 38. I do all the things you do but my parents look/looked young.

All I can think of is that they don't actually work?

I've voted YANBU in answer to this. Of course they don't!

I’m in the it’s genetics camp because I’m utterly terrible in every respect, except drinking water.
Im 47 and once I get my hair coloured (for the first time in 3 years) soon I know I’ll get people younger than me thinking I’m younger than them. My 33 year old neighbour thought I was younger than her. But.. it’s possible that it’s also height related as I’m fairly short.
oh and face shape seems to make a difference too. Maybe it’s skin distribution over a shit face to start with means it doesn’t age so obviously as a beautiful face.
But tbh if I could look younger I wouldn’t want to at the expense of not smoking, drinking or living (I don’t get much sleep thanks to PTSD and my disabled DD). But she keeps me young too.
A lot of factors maybe but it won’t be in the contents of beauty products as much as water, sleep and genetics

@TrifledOut I absolutely agree - botox generally looks like botox and not youthfulness in my experience.

I look a lot younger too. Here's my latest selfie. Haters gonna hate.

Please don't take medical information from 23andme, it seriously needs interpretation by a geneticist. They just take markers commonly associated with a particular condition and assign a probability to you having that condition. If there is a family history of eye disease go to a clinician otherwise ignore

@Lockheart tylenol? I don’t think the OP thinks smothering her face in paracetamol will make her look younger.

YABU. Ageing is better than the alternative.

Stop focusing on your face - it’s a small part of how others perceive you. People see your energy, your openness, your friendly. I’m in my mid-60s but most people put me at 50 or so. Because I hold myself well, have a lot of energy, am friendly and open, and have an open and curious mind.

The last thing people look at are the lines on your face.

The alternative to ageing is death.

Skin wrinkliness or otherwise is mainly genetic I reckon.

And most of it is genetic anyway. I come for a long lived and young-looking family. But at least 3 generations of us work as educators or artists- don’t dismiss the youth effects of being curious and open-minded.

I suspect skin and ageing has a strong genetic component to it. I'm 48 and don't really have a skincare regime other than makeup wipes in the evening and a wash with shower gel in the shower in the morning, but so far not many lines/wrinkles. My mum died when she was 76 and looked about 60 and my maternal cousins/aunts are the same. Not saying that to rub it in but just to say that people can spend a fortune on all the fancy stuff but I think your genes will ultimately determine how you age.

But what I would say is there's something beautiful about a person who's just themselves and comfortable in their own skin. Chances are no one notices the minor imperfections that you see and those who love you, love you for who you are. My advice...stop inspecting and critiquing the crows feet etc and focus on who you are as a human. That's what'll make you beautiful and age-less not something you can buy in a bottle.

This. Everyone ages and you cannot stop it. No-one looks any younger than their age either... well..... not more than 5-7 years younger. Not when you look properly. @Cheeeeeeese I think you need to get out more tbh if you are so worried about (GASP) looking a bit older.

I know what you mean about things hitting at 30 when you thought they will come at 40😂
Fucking greys.

Didn't read whole thread but Dark circles without tiredness might be issue with iron.
Or just thing you have. Anything really

That's some resting bitch face you have there!

Nobody can stop aging. Look at the array of famous people who have their skin stretched as like on a drum, it doesn't look human being like, let along natural or younger. There is nothing that can stop aging. You will grow old, wrinkle and die. That's just the way it works.

More importantly why are you wanting to look young? Are you after compliments? A younger partner? Not being asked for id in a shop? The answer to that is nobody notices or cares. But even for people who have had treatment it is always a case of, oh they have tight looking skin but still look their age. Plastic surgeons especially as they have often had treatment themselves just look ridiculous.

Ageing is a fact of life but slathering your face in a chemical cocktail every day will be making it worse, not better. Your focus on ageing sounds like it has taken over your life a bit. Chuck the creams, and start living the life you do have to the full.

Also for aging when in shops. I worked in a shop when I was 16; you all look prehistoric by 21, trust me, just for the age difference! Many I had to ask for id because I had no idea whether the person was 21 or 43 or 65! Lol. Stop putting pressure on young workers. I just settled for: sibling, Mum or Grandmother!

But personal matters, I am 37 but look old and haggard. So it isn't me being precious about age either or weird stealth boast. I just look old in general.

Likd I said, haterzzzzz.

OP said she uses SPF 50…

Cheer yourself up with a listen to the Beautiful South

m.youtube.com/watch?v=hR9LYrCR_4I#menu

Lets take a look at these crows feet, just look
Sitting on the prettiest eyes
Sixty 25th of Decembers
Fifty-nine 4th of Julys
You can't have too many good times, children
You can't have too many lines
Take a good look at these crows feet
Sitting on the prettiest eyes

Come on, it's obvious you're using botox, Rene.