To think I look better at 35 than 25?

[Alvinn]

Or am I just delusional and in denial?

No not at all. I definitely did.

No, lots of people grow into their looks and have a better sense of style as they get older.

Some women definitely look better as they age. I looked my best in my 40's...I also felt more confident and outgoing ... and wish I still looked that good.

Enjoy it when you feel you are in your prime, cos it doesn't last.

Well, we can't know. Maybe! I look better at 48 than at any other age because I lost loads of weight (Mounjaro) and now have cheekbones and whatnot. I can see people double-taking at me, like "Was she always pretty?". Is it something like that? Or have you got better at hair / makeup / knowing what clothes look best? Some people do look better in their thirties, for sure. I had acne until I was over 30 so it was a relief when that went.

That’s depressing

I’m 45 and look the best I ever have!

No it's not, looks change as we age, I still love the way I look, I just know I don't look like I did in my 40's.

I was still living at home at 25, money was my own and everyone said I looked 18.

At 35 I had two kids under 3, had awful gynae issues and was severely iron deficiency. I looked knackered.

All depends what is going on in our lives.

I looked and felt great at 40. Now 52 and sadly can not say the same.

Oh so you felt your prime was 40’s?

I looked better at 35 than 25 and was still attractive at 45 but at almost 54 I look like shit.
it was good while it lasted.

Lots of people do, more money, less partying etc.

Looks wise, definitely.
Life wise, nope, every decade has it's highs and lows.

No one could say without pictures. I looked best 20-30. I looked good again for a short period of time when I was 35 and on maternity leave, I think the extra weight on my face helped. My looks declined again when I went back to work.

I look better now in my early 50s than I ever have. Definitely older, but fitter, stronger, more stylish and confident.

I looked at my best in my late twenties and early thirties. My cheek bones were more defined, but the gauntness that I have now in my face hadn't really started.

I looked fantastic around 30-36 then I had another child, went through perimenopause and looked terrible for a decade. Then I got fit again and at late 50s I’m not lying when I say apart from my 30s I’ve never looked better

I am sure you don't.
Most people can enhance their looks (if they want to), hair, make-up, self care,improved diet etc

It's very common. If you enjoy the feeling, start making efforts to keep that way as much as you can.

Of course, you can't do anything about aging in itself, but you can take care of yourself, keep fit and healthy, make sure your body is toned, and invest in enough beauty treatment to keep your best.
I don't mean surgery or injections,(unless you want them, nothing wrong with them) but hair cut, teeth whitening, enough hydratation for your skin...

The main difference is that you can be lazy in your 20s, you can't in your 50s onwards but it's an enjoyable process. I spend the same amount in my hair as I did in my early 20s, but now it's not crazy colours and style, it's for colours that actually suits me best

I think I look better now in my 30's than I did in my 20's or late teens. I'm fitter, my skin is good, no longer covered in acne and I've worked out what to do with my hair. I'm also well aware there is an internet full of men just dying to tell me and any other woman with an ounce of confidence past 30 that she's a post wall hag.

I thought this was going to include photos.

Don't!

Bored and jealous posters will "hilariously" tell the OP she looks 70
and someone else will tell her she looks too skinny (or too fat)

Photos never go well on this forum😂

I’m 52 and think I look better now than my 40’s, I’m slimmer, fitter and more confident and people quite often comment on my looks, which is a quite nice ego boost I guess

I look better at 40 than I did at 30. Fitter and more toned, more time now kids are adults and a teen to pursue my own hobbies (mostly exercise related, they also come with me to some of them), more money to spend on nice clothes.

I think I looked better than ever in my mid-late 30s. I had more money, more time, and went for more regular hair and beauty appointments.

I cut my long hair into a shorter although long bob, got layers/long side fringe, lost weight and was far fitter.
Bought an entire new wardrobe and would choose my outfits the night before.

Aged rapidly at 40 or so, so lost the glow of youth, but I can still look good (though it takes a lot of effort).