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?

@mandes1

I have always looked younger.. Now, I am always being told I look like I'm in my mid to late twenties. I'm 51.

😂

This. ^ Even if it's true that people are telling people stuff like this, (which it's not,) you have to be hilariously deluded to think you actually DO look a quarter century younger than you are.

NO-ONE does. NO-ONE looks more than 5 to 7 years younger. Not when you look properly.

Like that post I PMSLd at, ^ NOBODY of 51 looks like they're in their fucking TWENTIES! This place sometimes. 😂

It's interesting that a one off demand for ID is more compelling evidence than all the times you didn't get IDed.

I went for a routine mammogram for over 50s this week and they said I looked way too young to be there as I look about 28! Don't get wrong, I am very critical of myself so don't think I look THAT young, but it's what people always say. I would say I could pass for 35 x

They say that as standard. They've often called me the "young lady" when I've been in hospital.

I'm in my late 30s, so not old, but nor am I so young that you'd define me by it.

Well I do!

You know what they say 'black don't crack!'

😁

OMG STOP!!!!!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂

But I get it all the time!

I used to hate it when I was in my twenties as I felt people treated me like a teenager but it is what it is.

Its probably genetic. My mum also looks young for her age and I always remember the girls at school being amazed at how young she looked.

Also it is said that black and brown people tend to look younger for longer (not in all cases obvs) x

Well, go to a club full of bright young things and enjoy all the date requests from 28 year olds who truly think you're a contemporary of theirs. At this rate, at 28 you must have looked like a foetus.

I don't understand why it matters to you really. Its my reality, my experience and It doesn't really affect you at all.

I just want to leave it there, thanks x

Embrace it! But also sugar is seriously bad for ageing! My friends who "look young" don't touch sugar with a bargepole

Someone will be along in a minute to say that they eat 6 bags of haribo a day and still get mistaken for 20 in their 60s

A lot of it is genetics, my Dad had amazing skin and when he passed away at 85 had almost no lines, my Mother didn’t do quite so well but still had better than average skin.

I have his skin, I’m not white and I think to an extent that makes it a bit easier. When it comes to sugar, which I hadn’t thought about till I read this thread no one in my family has a sweet tooth.

I looked very young till I hit menopause and then change came but still have very few lines.

@mandes1 I am not white and looked very young till menopause. I would say I looked 20 years younger till post menopause.

Well, why does it matter to you? You're in this discussion too. Why is it so important to you that I believe you look literally 21 years younger than you are?

I suspect you think that 51 means dowdy and boring. It doesn't. But it also doesn't mean the looks of a person comfortably under 30. Have any 28 year olds mistaken you for being their age?

Sorry...23 years younger than you are.

Using prescription strength retinol in your 20s causes your skin to thin, making it more susceptible to ageing from UV. The only reason to use it before your 30s is if you have bad acne. So having a clear skin is a fair trade off for a bit of early aging in appearance.

Not true, it does thin the upper which is a good thing (the upper epidermis thickens as we get olderas it also thickens the lower dermis making the skin more like young skin. The instructions advise to use a pea sized amount and to always use spf, every day. I've used prescription strength tretinoin for 20 years since my 20s and my skin isn't thin and aged, it's plump,,bouncy and well hydrated. If people abuse retinoids that's on thin not the medication. Like I say the thinning of the upper epidermis and thickening of the deeper dermis is literally how it works!

In addition starting young is positive as if used correctly it will prevent lines and wrinkles forming in thr first place.

These threads always go the same way.
Those posters saying it's impossible to look less than 5-7 years younger than their age and telling every posters who says that this is not the case a liar. I am 37 and clearly imagined the following throughout my life then- Being asked if I was due to start secondary school when I was 17 years old.
Angrily being told to get onto the school bus 'with your friends ' when I was 34
Asked out on a date by a 19 Yr old when I was 33 because he assumed I was his age
When asked if I have kids people often say 'Don't know why I'm asking you actually, you're too young to have them.
I'd'ed for alcohol everytime and told often that I only look 18.
Must all be in my head then. 🙄

@TheLostNights 37 is still relatively young - looking mid 20s in your 50s is a big difference.

I always looked young for my age but the older I get, the more I look my age.

You 100% look more critically on yourself than others. And most of it is genetics.

And unfortunately the only way to stay young forever is to be dead.

I look maybe just a few years younger than I am but some people really do look A LOT younger! I have a friend who's in her 60s. She genuinely looks about 35. I'm 48 and I showed my mum a photo of me and this friend. My mum said "It's nice you're hanging out with younger people." This woman's nearly 20 years older than me! My sister in law is 58 but looks late 30s. She is Indian and people say that sometimes Asian and black people age slower.

And ironically, that is incredibly bad for your skin and youthful looks.

This is so true. Estrogen receptors all over our body including our skin so this definitely plays a huge part in our appearance after menopause! xx

I am your age, botox (especially around my crows feet) has been magical and changed my life! Zero crows feet now! Understand it isn't for everyone of course but it will truly get rid of them! 😊