If you’re mid 40’s

[Lastdaysofsun]

What do you look like? What is your life like? If you’re 40’s

I’m 45, long dark hair, pretty basic style, jeans, converse, denim shorts (am I too old for this?)
Recent signs of ageing, laughter lines and puffy under eyes (hate this!) forehead still quite unlined, it’s my eyes mainly. No Botox yet.
6 or so strands of grey hair that pop up, I cover that with one of those L’Oréal wand
things.
Couple of stone overweight, this and my eyes are my main ageing issues.
I work part time, have a young daughter, see friends for play dates and the occasional drink/dinner out.
Exercise is walking my dog and sea swimming, I need to do more.
Only got more seriously into skin care a few years ago, which I know is terrible. Cleanse & Vitamin C in the morning, cleanse, collagen oil, wrinkle filler, eye cream and Tretinoin at night.
Barely drink these days, smoked socially years ago, still getting periods but only every couple of months, so I’m guessing I’m peri. Not massively happy in marriage, but adore my dc, friends and have a nice job/lifestyle

Curious to know about others of a similar age?

Anyone 40’s?

I’m 48 - not mid 40s anymore!

Me!

I'm 2 stone overweight also, but still looking attractive. Age is creeping up on me but still looking a few years younger than my age. Fine lines in forehead, not much else wrinkle wise! Very start of jowls. I do no skin care except a splash of cold water every morning, and wipes or flannel to remove makeup of an evening. I need to improve this! I do not mind ageing one bit, looking dlforward to the second half of my life even more than the first half.

Now onto the important bits..!

Settled and mostly very happy with husband, three primary age children who get on. Rent, but have a lovely big house with a good landlord.
Worked hard on our own business last few years, and money is getting towards comfortable.

Aging parents, but they aren't too bad yet.

Energy flagging a little. Periods regular, but menopause can't come quickly enough for me. Hate periods and all that comes with them.

Drink too much alcohol, but that is (gradually) improving.

All in all happy with my lot.

I'm 45 btw

One thing I really like about being in my mid-40's is that what I look like no longer seems to be the most important or interesting thing about me.

43. 5ft 10 size 12 with black hair. I have a casual style. Get botoz in my crows feet and forehead.

Botox

Am just about to turn 46.

Wfh 4 days out of 5 so live in sportswear. Terrible about using make up, really need to but got out of the habit during lockdown and now feel really weird when I wear it. When I do it’s tinted moisturiser, eyeliner and mascara only. I have a jowly chin, a frowny forehead and marionnette lines which I hate, but not enough to spend money fixing. I have a very simple skincare routine but do drink collagen and spf every day. I feel very healthy and do lots of active things (outdoor swimming, running, dancing, boxing) which has been the key to fixing a life long tendency towards depression and other MH issues. I am lucky and still have a reasonably good figure although have lots of loose skin on my tummy from two pregnancies. Just had my very long hair cut into a bob to try and encourage myself to act a bit more grown up!

Have just separated from DH of 15 years but see each other regularly and still love each other a lot. DDs (8 and 11) are the light of my life and I miss them dreadfully when they aren’t here (we share them equally) but also loving having the time back to work out my own needs and wants and desires again. Quite antisocial but see friends for sport or a drink about once a week, it’s enough for me right now.

Generally, more at peace with myself and life now than ever before, after a rocky few years. Not scared about looking old, scared about losing my energy and my health.

Oh - and started HRT a few months ago to help very bad peri menopausal PMT. My boobs are growing!

Why are you bothered about others OP? You are as you are. I am 45 with dark hair but would be totally grey if I didn't colour it. DF is nearly 80 and is only just going grey (just to add he's never coloured his hair)! What's the point in worrying about stuff you can't change?

I’m 46 but look older- probably too much partying/smoking/sun worshipping in my youth, plus I lost both parents very close together ten years ago and the stress of that aged me. Then more stress in the Covid years and now perimeno and I look and feel a lot older than 46. I’m not into grooming or fashion so I just keep myself clean and wear what’s comfortable. Am a healthy weight and strong because I teach fitness classes. Occasionally consider Botox in my more insecure moments but not sure I want to start down that route and my lovely 18 year-old DD implores me not to!

Got two lovely teenagers. I worry about their future almost all the time 😕

Am in a good marriage. We’re celebrating our 20th anniversary soon. He’s lovely and definitely ’my person’. I imagine we’re both bored sometimes but we do make each other laugh a lot which is great.

I work part-time and am wondering whether to try a different job soon. I’ve never had a ‘career’, despite probably being capable and never stuck with any one job for more than about five years. I have a very short attention span and a lot of self-doubt. Wonder about ADHD and might see about an assessment though I’m not sure it would change anything. Realise I’m going to need to work for another twenty years and wonder whether I should try and get into something with a decent pension scheme (but I don’t really want or need to work more than about 20 hours pw)

I don’t enjoy social occasions as much as I used to and seem to have fewer friends than I used to, so I don’t go out much these days. Fairly content just walking the dog/watching a series on TV/Playing Two Dots on my phone.

My life is pretty boring but I’m ok with that. Honestly, losing my parents in my 30s sort of changed everything. I mean, I’m ok and still find joy in life but that was an incredibly traumatic year we had and I don’t know if I’ll ever fully recover from it.

I turned 44 this year. 5"2 and 11st7 so I'm trying to lose weight, have lost about 7 pounds in a couple of months with calorie counting so slow and steady. Periods still regular but shorter.

I do have botox on my very ageing crows feet, I tried all sorts of creams and stuff and nothing ever worked so I went for it after a lot of research and thought. It works! Skincare could be better but do moisturise and wear a spf 50 on my face.

I live in dresses to hide the lumps and bumps. Exercise mainly home based, treadmill and weights however have neglected them while other stuff has been going on, will start again soon.

Few visible greys if I have my hair up, flit between box dyes and hairdressers depending on budget and time.

Primary school age DD, socialising tends to be with other mums at after school activities and that once in a blue moon where we are all available at the same time without the kids in tow!

Knocking alcohol right back because of weight loss efforts but will have a vodka and diet coke. Wine is now a major treat because of the calories, but used to get a bottle a week.

Also 45 with long, thick, curly hair. I've used Clairol casting colours semi for years- but saw my 1st grey at 23. Only go to the salon for a cut and the odd blow dry.

No kids. TTC 13yrs, lost 3, rounds of IVF and no reason for sub-fertility found. In fact my AMA (egg count) was above average for my age, but I assume the egg quality was poor. Periods are still very regular, but they have changed from a 32day cycle to a 27day one over recent years. Otherwise, no signs of peri.

Work full time from home. Married. Love gardening, cooking and knitting.

I think the best thing about being mid 40's is not having to worry about what you look like!

I have a pretty casual style. Jeans, trainers etc. I have pillar box red hair (that would be mostly grey if I didn't dye it). I do go to the office a couple.of days a week so I do dig out a more professional outfit on those days.

I have 2 children under 9. A happy marriage and love holidays. Could definitely be doing with losing a few stone!

Forgot to add- very very rarely drink alcohol because it makes me feel appalling- assume it’s perimeno. Sort of grudgingly admire women in their 40s who can still enjoy a few drinks and not feel like they’re dying 😂

Late 40's
Lots of grey now, have a reunion I'll cover them up for but might just embrace them?
Lost 20+ kg this past year so happy with current weight.
Rarely wear make up always been the case.
Relaxed dress casual clothes most of the time.

I'm 42. I'm very fair with blue eyes and my hair is naturally blonde but greying now, so I actually dye it brown. The brown suits my pale skin though. I'm 5 ft 4 and a stone or two overweight but considering I have two kids, I don't look too bad. I'm in a busy professional job but on leave right now. I moisturise and cleanse daily but only wear a full face of make up if I'm going to an event which is rare. I wear leggings and nice jumpers and a nice coat in the winter. I like bags. My main concern is probably weight. My skin is pretty good. I do drink but don't smoke. I'm rarely in hot sun, so I think that has helped my skin to stay reasonably fresh looking. I think smoking and sun are terrible for the skin. I'm not very fit but between work and looking after the family, there is no time for gym or exercise.

I just turned 44 last week and I'm 5ft 8lb, 130lbs.
I quit drinking in May and do boxing training 4-5 x a week. Vape too much but want to quit.
I work FT in senior management at a law firm, have two boys and a husband.
I've dark hair that I mostly wear up due to the amount of hair washing I do, Al facially I look pretty decent for my age. Not opposed to Botox/juvederm but haven't topped up in ages.
Use retinol, moisturizer etc but shit at taking make up off.
Don't do my nails, have no interest in false lashes or mani/pedis unless it's for an event. I get a lot of massages and facials.
Clothes are a mix of jeans/tops/converse and smart/casual for the office with heels.
Body wise I'm in great shape but that's all the training.
Socialize regularly, love cooking, spend most evenings dropping kids to various football club training.
Life is easy, I have a brilliant work/life balance and long May it last. Planning for retirement in corporate by 55 with retraining into another area.

I’m 44. Working FT after quite a lot of PT work when my children were younger. They’re now 18 and 16 so we are through with childhood, a fact that I find shocking and bitter-sweet. Am kicking myself for not having another baby when it was still feasible.

Very happily married for 18 years. DH now talking about retiring in 6-7 years- not sure whether I feel anywhere near ready for this. Generally I’m feeling quite shocked at how quickly life seems to go from youth to age, that there’s a sort of pivot that happens in your early 40s which I only noticed in hindsight.

I’m not grey at all. Would like to lose some weight and focus less on appearance and more on functional fitness and how to give myself the best chance of remaining healthy and active. At the moment this is mainly taking the form of reading lots of books on the subject rather than doing anything about it 😂 I’ve also become quite focused on finances and make endless spreadsheets setting out how we’re going to finance our later years.

I'm just gonna sneak in on one point as I don't have much else to offer but I'd add a more hydrating step to your routine (morning and night). I'm sure your eye cream will have something hydrating in it but I'd get a pure hyaluronic serum like Hada Labo or The Ordinary in there instead. You don't necessarily need good eye cream if you're getting the right active ingredients in your serums. Also, Aquaphor is an absolute game changer, it's a bit like Vaseline but with better, beneficial ingredients. Add that under your eyes at the end of your night routine to seal in your products. It gives you more space (and budget) in your routine for better active ingredients that benefit your whole face. Just my top tip but if you're generally happy with the results your seeing then stick with what you know.

I’m mid/late 40s.

I have a job which I adore and pays well. I’m married happily enough. Have an adult Dc who still lives at home and is unemployed and a cause of stress due to that and her resulting anxiety (she’s got a great degree, just struggling to get her foot in the door in the industry).

I go to the gym quite a bit. Couple of spin classes, a Pilates class and 3 hours of weights a week. Then cycling with friends at the weekends. Have some great friends who I meet one evening a week for drinks (non alcoholic) and then lunch after cycling.

don’t bother with skincare much. No wrinkles and thanks to a connective tissue disorder look quite a bit younger. But also a lot of joint pain due to the same issue. Quite a bit of grey which I dye.

42, main bug bear is being around 1.5/2 stone overweight, piled on at the start of covid when we suddenly went from being office based (and me easily doing 10-15k steps a day) to fully remote, can't seem to shift it, despite eating well (most of the time) and trying to exercise - I say 'trying' as it's difficult to find the time with a 40 hour week job and primary school aged DC. Looks wise I can deffo see a change in my face - suddenly gone very lined around my eyes, one of my friends went for Botox recently and looks fab so I think I'll be doing the same soon. I feel like my hair has gone to shit though, always been fine and a bit lank but over the past year it's just gone ten times worse - even if I wash and blow dry properly it just looks flat and rubbish.

Relationship is meh, 10 years together I often wonder if we'd be together if there were no DC, I doubt it if I'm being honest. Feel largely invisible most of the time & constantly resent him leaving most of the parenting to me. DC are happy and settled though, so I guess like many people I feel we just need to get on with it. No rows or anything like that, we get on okay. Money wise we are okay, comfortable enough which we both work hard to be, but still need to be careful especially with the cost of living now. DC don't go without but aren't spoiled etc.

Reading that back I've realised I've painted a pretty miserable picture but I feel quite happy within myself, nice family / friends (that I don't see often enough but when we do it's great) DC happy and bring me lots of joy (when they aren't being 'challenging' )

Mid 40's here too.

Perhaps a stone or so overweight but I think I carry it well (well proportioned). I see a personal trainer twice a week and jog/open water swim now and again. Walk at least 1.5 miles most days.

Eat fairly healthily but could be better with snacks! Like a couple of glasses of wine at the weekend (would like more but it doesn't like me so much these days).

Mid length dark hair which I have balayaged a couple of times a year to lift it. No greys yet. Have had botox a couple of times but only when I can afford it.

Recently started HRT for peri symptoms, separated 6 years ago, divorced 1 year ago, been with partner 4 years and he recently moved in with me and my two teenagers. Work full time from home. Don't physically see friends as much as I'd like as we are all so busy. Both parents approaching 80 but in good health. Own my home but had to re-mortgage on divorce until I'm 65.

I’m 42 with 4 young Dc. Married 20+ years, been tough last the last 5 but getting back on track and happier in my marriage. Not at work currently, been a sahm and now just starting the final year of my degree with a view to getting into teaching or something different next year when I graduate.

Have a skincare routine, a few wrinkles round the eyes but not too bad, but I don’t pay much attention tbh & vit c serum has done wonders. Hair is long, very curly & thick with a few greys that I don’t colour but very healthy and regularly complimented on.

I used to exercise regularly but lost my way after Dc 4 a few years ago, just getting into c25k, gym, and strength training as I miss my fitness. I walk & cycle a lot but am 4+ stone overweight which I am starting to shift with lower carb. Wardrobe needs an overhaul and I spend it in hoodies, trainers & jeans. Financially I’m the Worst off I’ve ever been, Covid crippled us and I’ve been studying so will improve next year. Had a big change in friendships, lost touch with most and not on the same page as most with different interests. Preferring my own company and my dogs. I don’t feel 42, and excited about my future as it feel like it’s just getting started or though I worry for my kids.

44
5ft7
11 stone
50% grey, so dye my hair blonde which I think ages me.
Wear glasses.
My face has gotten thinner over the last few years which ages me but also gives me a better jawline and cheekbones.

WFH and live in jeans or leggings.

Children are teenagers and content with no concerns right now.

I m happily single, recently giddily dating again, but realise that comes with certain dissatisfactions too.

Overall happy, find life can get boring and small, and I find other bored peers to be somewhat intrusive and judgmental at times.

Have also had a BIG change regarding friendships and feel my outlook on how to treat others differs vastly from some of my previous friends. Happy to distance myself from people who rely on toxic coping mechanisms.

Forming new friendships but cautious about friends groups that don't necessarily support positive lifestyles.