Is this the age we start to look old-er…?

[Bigchocolatemilkshakes]

44/45?

Turned 45 not long ago and almost immediately have more grey hairs, at the stage where I have to dye it now…had the odd silver straggler I’d yank out before.,but this is visible now. Started with strong lines around my eyes around 39, they’re still the same, but I just don’t look great, not really any extra lines yet, but puffy under eyes and just not the same?
Looking at Instagram photos of friends of the same age recently (very attractive friends who were stunning when younger) but thinking ‘Gosh, she looks older’ then realising the same must be thought about me…😫
Is this the age it sort of hits? Whhhyyyy

This is around the time it started for me.

I'm lucky, i don't have wrinkles, but my eyelids became softer and wouldn't hold make up like they used to, and i noticed my neck skin starting to go a bit less taught.

When you use face cream, also bung it all over your neck and your chest above your boobs and the backs of your hands! because these are all areas which get a bit .... less than youthful looking, quite fast.

Really think a lot is genetics. My mum is 76 and doesn’t look it.

I think that about people who are the same age as me, mod 50s, and then I realise that I look exactly the same or older

I started to age noticeably a couple of years ago. In my 40s I didn't age drastically, but the aging process is now in turbo charge for me!

I'm noticing a bit of sagging now at 53 but I still don't have lines on my face. I definitely have more grey but it doesn't bother me.
I don't think everyone ages suddenly at 45.

Start slapping on the tretinoin at night and the sunscreen in the morning. Doesn't halt the march of time but it helps.

Im almost 45 and have noticed my neck is getting “loose” which I hate. Ive fine lines around my eyes which dont bother me as much!

When i was in my 20s a very glam older lady i knew through work said to me:

''Make sure to always look after your forehead daaaaaarling. It's what's holding your face up!''.

I took her advice and have never neglected my forehead. Sun block and plenty of decent face creams ect.

25 years on - face seems to still be mostly 'up'! She knew a thing or two that woman 😂

45 here and definitely over the last year I've noticed aging. My skin looks tired, the greys have tripled and I certainly don't feel as fresh as I used to!

Yes. Cells can no longer regenerate themselves, or something (don't know the exact science behind it). Lots of things going on in the body hormonally, too.

I'm 47 now and where I could always 'bounce back' quite easily, had very good skin, looked years younger, etc etc, I now look my age. Which I'm happy with - I intend to grow old gracefully (touch wood).

44 and no grey hair here - yet.

I've recently had an upper eye blepharoplasty and that's taken a few years off me, I look much brighter and less tired. I'll definitely be considering a lower facelift by the time I'm 50.

In the last 3 or 4 years I've started to spend a lot more on my skincare products, which is probably something I should have done in my 20's but just didn't have the finances to do that back then. I can't get away with sleeping in my make-up any more or drinking too much, both leave my skin looking dull and just bleugh.

When you get to my age (60’s) you will look back at your photos aged 45 and weep at how young and gorgeous you looked, but didn’t realise it at the time.
Just enjoy it op I bet you look fabulous.

I'm 48 and think it's starting now!

I'm 51 and say I aged most during mid 40's. I intend to age naturally.

I'm 51, and I'd say 45+ is significant, like you say. I'm told I look younger than my age, but I reckon that's on the good days- I now and again look in the mirror and my hair's good, bit more rested and think 'Damn I'm alright ' 😆- the majority of days I look tired and less myself as I was (my eyes were always my best feature and they show the tiredness these days).

I still have great skin but my elevenses are pronounced, lines around my mouth and some wrinkles. BF has less of these issues, but her skin has gone looser and crepey. Swings and roundabouts.

At 45 I noticed that my skin was suddenly and rapidly losing its elasticity.

I was trying on some new jeans or trousers in a shop one day, and saw with horror that a small but very noticable ring of fat/skin was hanging over the waistband!

I have always been very slim (still am at 60), so it came as a bit of a shock. Gradually it dawned on me that it wasn't new fat, but that it used to be higher up my body and held nicely and evenly in place by my skin. Sagging skin and gravity were actually the cause of the problem.

For me personally, it's been all downhill since then, but it's not the same for everyone. Both genes and lifestyle can play a part. One if those you can do something about, but the other you are stuck with.

I’d say it’s genetic but also lifestyle. I see people much younger than you who have bad wrinkles. They look really hard faced tbh and it’s most likely a combination of genetics and just not looking after themselves very much. Stress ages you too.

Oh, and my hair is almost completely pale grey. I was blonde, so that helps, as in it's a less noticeable change, and it's short/ mid-length, getting cut every 6 weeks by a gem of a hairdresser who adds some blonde hi-lights. Darker haired friends have discovered dyeing dark can age you hugely.

I’m 38 and think I have started looking a lot older recently. However I always looked young for my age in my 20s/early 30s- so I probably just look my age.

I agree op! Have to try much harder just to look half decent!

I'm 46 and definitely starting to notice this. Though I started with my first grey hair at 30 and it's now only silver highlights and looks basically light brown still.

I'm not remotely interested in procedures to hold back ageing but I do use a moisturiser: that's about it! Have lost too many friends at a young age to get particularly upset about looking older. The cliche that it's a privilege denied to many is so true.

@laiste ditto ! I was very young, living in France....one of my older female friends (given I was 22 most of them were) told me to "always take care of your décolletage cherie" - the fragile skin from your neck to your bosom. I started using sunscreen every day from then on in...and kept it up all my life. My 'décolletage' is now in great shape (smooth, unwrinkled) and because I avoid any sun damage is in much better condition than friends who are in their 40's/50's and are also sun bunnies (I am late 60's fwiw)
If it's just one thing - use SPF EVERY single day. And I did, even in gloomy grey days in UK. Never been able to give up smoking mind, which is about the worse thing you can do to your face (and the rest) !

Pregnancy late-30s did it to me 😞 Weight gain and loss - my face and neck never recovered.

I'm 50 and fortunately don't have any grey hair yet. Think that's genetic as DM is 80 and only has very few. Skinwise, I have a few fine lines under my eyes, but the rest of my face is pretty good. I have noticed recently that my nasal labial folds are getting a bit deeper though. I've always looked after my skin, even when really pissed in my youth, I always remembered to take my make up off! And I always use SPF.

My neck. That’s what I’ve noticed now in my late 40s. Face is still fine, but neck, oh, and slight bat wings. Grim.

Aged 45 here and yes I’m definitely starting to age - hair going very grey, lots more fine lines and my teeth are looking not so youthful. People still comment that I look young for my age and maybe I do but I can definitely see a difference since turning 40! I try to remember that getting old is a gift not given to everyone but yes it is hard to see yourself getting older!