Starting to look old... help!

[jumperooo]

I'm 38 with a 17 month old baby. I used to look young for my age but today I took a photo of myself, wearing make up, and I look like I'm wearing nothing. I look tired around the eyes and a bit.. old! Tis depressing. First world problem of course.

What can I do to perk my face up??

Bless you, we've all been there. Okay [hoists up sleeves], this is what you've got to do to be back in the land of the living:

Buy an affordable antI ageing cream (Savers do ones under 5),
Wear sunblock on top of your daily creamed face,
Use a gentle oil based cleanser both mornings and evenings,
Use a creamy shampoo and avoid shampooing daily,
Use a creamy conditioner in generous amounts and add a hair mask to your monthly routine,
Avoid dying your hair lighter than it should be,

Finally, drink lots of water and cut back on coffee.
Hth

Thanks. Am doing some of that already. I think I need an eye cream. Do they even work?!

Only eye cream I have ever had work is an Anew one from Avon which was split in two parts in the pot-one for lid and one for under eye.Is honestly the only on that ever made a difference

I will also add to the excellent advice above that you should eat more protein. This will help you retain muscle and reduce wrinkles and sagging. Eggs are good for this as well as fish etc.

Take cod liver oil daily.

Have a good night's sleep.

Eat lots of virgin olive oil and salad.

Totally second what nollag suggests for food. Very true.

Great advice all of the above. Sounds like you look tired rather than old.

Like previous posters I advocate eating more protein and good fats and drinking lots of water, some supplements and rest (easier said than done with a toddler)
I can't advise re under-eye night creams as I find I can't use them overnight because they make me sort of retain liquid under my eyes resulting in eye bags. For day I use Ureadin under eye gel cream and I like it and find it helps. I get this from the chemist and also use and like the Garnier under eye rollon.

What helps me the most is facial excercise but I'm twenty years older than you so obviously at a totally different stage of life, although I do wish I'd started looking after my skin when I was your age and started excercising my facial muscles long before I did.

Something I have noticed is that it's not neccessarily the wrinkles which make people look older but rather the loss of muscle in the face. I'm not explaining this well but I notice people who have no wrinkles but look their age because their face is sliding down. Cheeks look flat, nasolabial lines (from nose to mouth) and worse the marionette lines from mouth to chin plus jowls.Others although their skin is more wrinkled don't look as old because everything is still in it's place.
Of course all this does not apply to you that's why I say you may be looking tired rather than old

numberseven please tell me your facial exercise regime. I have all the lines you mention in your post. I need help!

Does it have to be water or can I drink lots of peppermint tea to get the fluids?

I look old so I think I know the answer.

I want those facial excersises too. I'm starting to look (gulp) saggy round the jaw.

Please, please share your facial exercises :)

TripTrap - the Avon Anew eye cream is on offer in the current campaign (£12). I just ordered some - the only thing I do buy from Avon - as, like you, I find it best of all I've tried.

Ooh,thanks Optimist will take a look!

The facial excercises I do are Ageless if you Dare. I am reluctant to tell people about them because they encourage pulling and handling the skin and I think most people will be horrified by this as we keep being told to avoid all this and handle our skin with 'kid gloves'

In my previous post I didn't dare mention that what works best for me for under eye bags is to handle the area as who'd listen to that advice?

There are lots of other facial exercise regimes that others swear by and I'd advise to look around before purchasing one as some will appeal to you and others not so much.
Ageless is very easy to do and even if you skip doing it for a while it's no big deal.
I started with Eva Fraser's method and think it's great but when I found Ageless knew that was the one for me. Soooo uncomplicated.

Louise Anette (developer of Ageless )does not market her method very well but for me it's the best. I do advise you to try this or other facial training as no matter which one you decide on it will help. Best to opt for a not too complicated method as it will be easier to stick with.
The method I use does nothing for the forehead but for other areas it does work, mostly eye area,mouth and general lift. I'm convinced about this or would not recomend.
Let me know any questions you have

I notice people who have no wrinkles but look their age because their face is sliding down.

Oh numberseven that did make me laugh - you have just described my face

How about the dreaded crepe-neck??? Has anyone discovered any good neck cream?

I use Eva Frasers Original face exercises. If you do them, really do them then they can lift and re shape the face the same as getting a face lift and fillers does.

Almonds, avocado & salmon omega 3s or is it 6's? definitely make my skin look plumper.

I think most creams and lotions and potions are useless.

Only few things work: REN glycolactic face mask smoothes skin beautifully, use twice a week.

Any old moisturiser, and fresh air and exercise!

Which AvonAnew?

Marking place for when I can get on the pc to look at the exercises.

Is there a link for Ageless if you Dare exercises or do you have to buy a book/DVD?

I am a similar age to seven and was noticing the inevitable ageing process creeping up on me, but the last few months I seem to have looked a lot 'fresher'.

Two things I've changed - I've stopped using eye creams altogether as they didn't seem to be doing anything, but I've also started using the Una Brennan neroli serum night and morning, which seems to work really well for me.

Secondly, I've been eating half an avocado every day, and making sure I get at least my 5 a day. I've always eaten fairly healthily, but I really do think it's important to have the healthy fats from avocado, seeds and nuts.

Oh, and jumperoo I've realised my face 'lifts' and looks so much better when I SMILE! If you're feeling exhausted and run ragged by your toddler you might not feel like grinning into the camera, but it really does make a difference. Yes, it might accentuate the crows feet, but it eliminates the jowls, so it's a choice really!

O yes Chab...smile, its in instant facelift!