HELP! Suddenly I look really old.

[gramercy]

Caught sight of myself in a mirror this morning - and have to admit that I look like a very haggard Sandi Toksvig.

I've always looked young for my age, but now, in my mid-40s, I look ancient.

I am very pale with fair hair, and all of a sudden about a million lines and wrinkles have appeared. My face is also always going red which is really attractive (not!).

I see someone like Orla Brady from Mistresses who is 49 and I want to weep: I look nothing like that.

What can I do? Any make-up tips? I know I can't stop the march of time but would anything make me look less grim?

That may be beyond my technical capabilities, and against my priniples.

Can't I just describe how fab I look while you all fawn over me for a bit?

I am thinking of getting this for winter mode.newslicious.net/2010/07/freja-beha-erichsen-by-josh-olins-for.html think its quite youthful but not too trendy

My what beautiful hair you have.

You must be enjoying your early thirties.

Noddy, you are referring to the vogue cover and not the chick at the top aren't you!

yes I already look like the top pic!

Noddy, thats the hairstyle I have at the mo. I am growing my hair longer again (not scary long, but just past shoulders) and wanted to look ok in the interim. Its great because I can wear it straight, wavy or curl it up a bit.

Gramercy - after having my DS, my skin seemed to change overnight and redness appeared (and a brown pigmentation spot) and although I am only 35, I suddenly feel old. I do believe skin makes all the difference and whereas my skin used to be good, its not right any more. I have been using mineral make-up when I go out and if you get the right shade its great as it hides the redness, evens your skin tone and it isn't heavy too. I wasn't ever much of a foundation fan so this stuff is good. However, I must admit if anyone can recommend any creams that Gramercy & I can slap on that might help with anti-ageing/ redness/pigmentation that would be great thanks. Agree with the other posters, Orla Brady is stunning! Can I look like that please....

noddy that's how I looked in the before photo TBH. Not intentionally mind you - it's just how it ended up most days. Only frizzer, with grey roots.

Now I look like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.hollywood-celebrity-pictures.com/Celebrities/Zooey-Deschanel/Zooey-Deschanel-4.JPG&imgrefurl=www.hollywood-celebrity-pictures.com/Zooey-Deschanel-4-Picture.htm&usg=___v0YcN4yASOmIIiZUTBH63TLFGo=&h=768&w=1024&sz=86&hl=en&start=0&tbnid=JqVeLRkoo2fDxM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=156&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dzooey%2Bdeschanel%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4ACAW_enGB333GB334%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D528%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=713&vpy=255&dur=3775&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=114&ty=148&ei=B05mTPjRJs2X4gb_sJmZBA&oei=B05mTPjRJs2X4gb_sJmZBA&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:26,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this Oh yes I do.

And it's had the added advantage of covering my forrid wrinkles.

fruitstick I was referring to the chick at the top.

But the cover shot is more like mine now - though at the moment it is smooth dried.

Noddy I too have a similar hairstyle. I started to let my hair grow a bit longer a year or so ago and on me at least it makes me look younger (or maybe I am deluded!). If my hair is shorter than shoulder length it tends to look very mumsy, esp if it has layers in. Hard to explain really...

I am lucky in that my skin is good for my age - I put it down to genetics, slightly oily skin, not smoking & using a foundation that suits me!

I have the shape but it is too long atm and not enough fringe.I really like it.I am a fiend for moisturising and no smoking or direct sun.Lots of water and boots illuminating foundation is fab for summer.A nude lip liner is also v youthful if done lightly and worn with a clear gloss.A v light fake tan stops me looking haggard aswell and hair that is too 'done' looks ageing unless on a fashion shoot!

I have been drinking pints of water since I was 16 and although it does help, I still feel I look old. Its because of all these women on tv and in mags that have 'work' done and they look so young, it makes me feel I'm not good enough.

It's true - we've become so accustomed to seeing every celeb botoxed and hoiked up behind the ears, with hair thickening insertions so they have the tresses of a twnety year old, and then as if that were not enough, the photos we get to see are always airbrushed. What hope have we got if we have such unrealistic expections of ourselves? I'm all for scrubbing up as best we can, but there are limits!

Ooh FN I do like you're new hairstylee

Suits you, it really does

YOUR not you're (simply inexcusable)

I have IPL regularly after discovering that the most of celebrities have it all the time
I've had about 6 treatments and then dermal fillers around my mouth and I am really happy with the results

My friends say that I look 10 years younger!

IPL? what's that?

I'm back for more tips!

Yeah, IPL? Never heard of it.

Yesterday I slunk up to the YSL counter and asked about Touche Eclat. The make-up woman said I didn't need that product. I didn't think so - my face is so white it practically shines in the dark (apart from a bit of redness when I drink wine or see a ray of sun).

I like that hair-do. It seems more youthful than a lot of options. I am loathe to cut much hair off, but I think a fringe would be a good step.

Yes, what IS that? If slebs have it all the time then I want it.

Get your fair eyelashes dyed.

Use an AHA Salicylic or lactic acid to remove old layers of skin - Eucerin moisturisers are good and contain lactic acid and sunblock.

Use sunblock 50 SPF everyday. Eucerin is good.

Get some make up - use blusher and bronzer.

Rethink your hair.

You may have acne roseca, so see a dermatologist. S/He may recommend Eucerin or salicylic acid. Which BTW is good!!

Retinol A creme is good also - the dermatologist may recommend it.

Try and get enough sleep, drink a lot of water and cut down all your sugars and refined carbohydrate foods.

Take a good multivitamin / multi mineral such as Solgar Female multiple.

Gosh I sound bossy!!

No, you sound EXPERT. We are eating out of the palm of your hand.

I don't like the sound of 'Solgar female multiple' though. It puts me in mind of breeding sows.

FellatioNelson - cool name BTW

Hilariously, Solgar's multi vitamin and mineral tablet is pink, and the size of a horse tablet!
It would be cute indeed if it had a little black Landrace pattern on it.

I too have suddenly started to look positively crone-like :( (mid-40s)

the other day ds1 asked me what had happened to my eyelashes as they seemed to have disappeared (I've got fair skin and fair hair and completely colourless eyelashes now, sob)

at the same time, my eyebrows have started to resemble Dennis Healey's and I've even started to get hair growing on my upper lip - what's next? hairy ears???

my skin looks haggard, but I'm seriously allergic to salicylic acid so can't use anything like that (I once used a moisturiser with it in and ended up with chemical burns on my face)

I've had my hair in a chin-length bob for the last 5 five years and although it looked lovely and swishy at first, now I think I look positively matronly

is there any hope for those of advancing years, but limited budget?

basildonbond I've just ditched my all on length bob that I've had for a million years for the very same reason. I've grown it a bit longer and had a fringe cut in. (Have I mentioned my lovely new fringe yet, by the way? I think it has done the trick. It looks softer around my face, and more importantly thicker.