Apparently I look 10 years older than I am...

[tenyearsolder]

Tonight at work I was mistaken for being 50, I am just short of 40. To say I am gutted is a major understatement. I am aware that I look very tired and have not looked after myself particularly well over the years but 50? Come on...

By way of an excuse, I have suffered a major bereavement, prolonged stress, health problems (including lupus which has hammered my skin)and live an outdoorsy lifestyle. I know I can't expect to be Lily Cole after all of the above but I was once reasonably attractive and am so sad to think that people think I'm so much older than I actually am.

Any tips on how to regain some of my youthful glow very kindly recieved.

P.S. I'm not averse to more serious interventions if you think they'd help...

duckyfuzz i have that cleanser and it hasn't suited my skin at all - how can i send my 2/3 full tube to you [weird stalker emoticon] sorry...just hate waste, is all

PS OP - a great cream recommended on here a few weeks back is by Skin Doctors and is called 'Gamme Hydroxy Resurfacing Cream' (or some such unwieldy name) - it kind of dissolves the top layers of your skin, gently and gradually, and makes your skin smoother and more even-toned - you can get it from amazon for £25 and I'd say it's worth the money.

sorry - 'GammA'

Another thing to bear in mind considering your lifestyle is that if you are riding and outside rain and shine, if you're not wearing sunglasses (I know, you may feel like a nob wearing sunglasses horse riding) you will often be scrunching up your eyes, either against the light or the rain. Both of which will have an aging effect on the skin around your eyes, not to mention your actual eyes themselves.

Some fantastic tips here.

I have had a course of microdermabrasion for acne scarring in the past, was amazed when it actually worked as am generally sceptical about facials. (You know, they put some stuff on, they take it off again, what does it actually do?!)

So I try to have a Crystal Clear every so often, but it's expensive, so in the interim I use a microdermabrasion-style exfoliant 2 or 3 times a week. Would really recommend this one from Boots - cheap, last forever, and even comes with an SPF15 moisturiser so you can't forget to protect your skin afterwards :).

I'd deffo recommend getting a consultation with a Bobbi Brown girl. They usually choose super flattering shades for you.

I've never had a problem phoning and booking a make over (I use House of Frasers in Glasgow) - they are always super keen to help though maybe not on a Saturday unless really early.

Clothes really do age some people - so have a look through some mags and see what stuff is 'trendy' for the 35-45 age range.

I saw some really lovely stuff in Isabella Oliver recently.

I am 35 and look like i'm 45 , isn't there any natural ways to look younger , the idea of eating avocado on everything is gross , all though i'm not opposed to putting on my skin , but seems like just a waste of food and money. the one thing I do know that works for perking up the tatas naturally I've tried myself but can't use it too often if you have a large bosom to start because this increases size as well , but it's a tbs of aloe-vera gel (from the plant) , a tbs of cucumber juice(grated with skin on and sifted through cheese cloth and a tbs of turmeric , painted on all over and around the breast with a blush brush til dry then washing off with lukewarm water!(You can literally watch it lift the breast(don't see why couldn't use that same recipe on the face except i'm worried about it's capabilities to increase size)

wouldn't want my face to end up looking swollen.

ZOMBIE thread!!