Do you think people visibly age more between 40-50 than between other decades?

[LaurieFairyonthetreeEatsCake]

Inspired by another thread I'm wondering what people think?

I think it's quite hard to be precise about age below 40 but once someone gets towards 50 you can definitely say they're over 40 - maybe

I look older than I did 15 years ago but not radically so - with highlighter and soft lighting I could still just about pass for 25 ish

I'm 43 and feel like I've aged 6 years in the past 3.

What I hate most is the fact that my face is conveying a false impression about how I'm feeling - my sagging brow makes me look like I'm frowning or cross, when I'm not. I keep catching sight of myself and being horrified. Botox is calling.

until about 8 years ago, I used to get all the leaflets about student gigs on my way into work :o no longer :(

Fringes are good.
I've got a really round face shape so I don't really suit a fringe but I'm planning on getting one soon to hide my cross frowny forehead.

I'm 44, and have aged more quickly in the last 4 years than I did in the whole of my thirties. It depresses the hell out of me. My forehead is still uncreased but I have the most godawful eye wrinkles and suddenly, out of nowhere, frown lines. And I'm starting to get the cats bum mouth thing - no amount of bloody Boots Protect Serum Bollocks is going to sort that.

Up to about 40 it's fairly easy to look glam on a night out. Now I find I just don't look good no matter how hard I try and so hard to know how to dress.

Nikos, thanks for that

I am going out to celebrate my birthday tomorrow night

I agree with you all. Sad all round.

BTW, Happy Birthday, AF.

thanks cristina

I would rather be a year older (and have my health) than dead

ya get me ?

Yes, ageing is good. Let's work with it :)

I didn't have any wrinkles till about 45 - and only an odd grey hair. Now fast approaching 50 (will have to name change any minute) and there is a noticeable clump of grey and te neck is going saggy. I don't care, though - most people seem really shocked when I say how old I am!

:o
You're trying hard but really, nah. You could wrap it in tinsel and chocolate and dip it in condensed milk but ageing still really wouldn't seem that appealing. Did I mention the nipple hairs? Better than dead, though, I'll grant you that.

Happy Birthday, AF :).

cheers hassled

You get to the point at around 50 where you stop being an old looking young woman and become a deliciously lovely young looking older woman

The thing is though that it doesnt seem to have been gradual (or was I just ignoring the signs?) - it seems overnight!!

Higgle - ha that sounds good

I reckon speed of ageing is pretty much all down to genes. Look at the lovely Gillian McKeith for evidence that just watching your diet doesn't do the trick.

I think the thing that's aged me more than anything is the saggy neck which made an appearance around age 42. At the moment though my trusty arse is holding all other wrinkles at bay, bless it...

I fear so.

At the end of the day, when a 29yr old moans at me that they're getting old - i laugh,

When i say it to my 63yr old friend - she laughs!..

Happy birthday AF! It's my birthday too - and you'll be pleased to hear I'm older than you (49) so probably look about 20 years older than you!

I think it depends on a lot of things. I aged the most during a time of immense stress. I very surprised looks from people when I tell them how old I am because I look much the same now as I did in my early 40s.
I think women lose confidence in how to dress and either give up and play safe or try and revisit the type of clothes they wore many years before.
Hormones flying around can make your weight and your mood fluctuate and we start trying to find clothes that don't look bad instead of changing our style and dressing to look great.
I also envy those who can buy from shops like warehouse and next etc but I realized about 10 years ago that certain fabrics, cuts and shapes make me look ridiculous. I need structure and a decent amount of tailoring or I look skanky and ridiculous. My sister can wear anything but I just can't .
I think some women are like me and think they are the problem when actually they need different cuts and beter fabrics.

It also doesn't help when you come on here and find bollocks threads about how you should cut your hair or wear on your feet at 40 plus

Oh God I just said to my DH this morning - I have aged this past year. He didn't disagree but said "remember you have lost weight as well" - I didn't press any further

My forehead has always been my wrinkley area and I have always looked younger than my years up till now because I don't have laughter lines round my mouth. But NOW I can see sagging and I actually have the start of a wattle (that might be from the weight loss) I have just turned 44.

My hairs getting thinner too

But Hey I'm alive and am just going to make sure I scrub up in other areas (eating well, trying to keep healthy etc.)

Pagwatch, that was a very optimistic post for me. I think you're right about putting your best foot forward. Thank you. (While there's life...)

Many happy returns AF

I'm 30 soon and I think I've aged in the past 2 years. But my hopeful theory is this: I've got 2 small kids and don't sleep at night. So when I'm in my mid thirties all the other women my age who haven't got kids yet (who still look fab) will have their ageing added on later, in other words they'll catch up with me