In two months time I'm 45 - what should I be doing?!

[Izzabelly]

I have good skin and use the Dermalogica basics range with rosehip oil as a serum and use the Clunique sonic brush. Should I be using anything stronger on the very light lines between my eyes (had thought of Botox on these). Hair wise I am growing out bleached ends and using the odd nice and easy mid brown rinse (one packet no mixing) to hide a few greys but it's a bit of maintenance; I'm thinking of growing out all the colour and starting highlights on Virgin hair but I have long fair and it will take ages. But I want healthy hair so I guess no short cuts on this. I exercise a lot - spin/running weights and yoga but wondering if I should be doing something else.

Hermia - rubbish. If hair is in good condition then there's no reason a woman should chop it off the day she stops being 44!!

Izza - just carry on living your life.

Use facial sun block spf25+ 365 days of the year.

I'm curious Hermia, why would you avoid long hair after 45?

chop all your hair off??? wtf!!!
Some of us still suit having longer hair. I am 47 and have hair just beyond the shoulder. A ridiculous comment and be careful as there can be nothing more ageing than a short cut. Do what suits you!
I have continued on the way i have always done. If something is in fashion but i feel a bit young i find ways to tone it down.

Don't be mad Hermia !! A 45 year old woman is full of vitality and very much still beautiful and attractive! There is no law that says you 'must' cut your hair once a certain age and even if there was I'd be saying 70/75 minimum, not 45 !!!!!!

All I would say is (having turned 45 6 months ago, and probably not in such good nick as you) that nutrition starts to be more important post 40ish, imo. Agree with SPF too, but need to practice what I preach. Also the skin on backs of hands and neck seems to be thinning and ageing at an accelerated rate, all of a sudden.

enjoying life, that's what you should be doing.

I did debate the long hair thing, it's pne length with a fringe. I am going fpr some layers. I have to agree that long hair can look bad but only if it;s not looked after. Very long is too long. I get mine blunt cut every 12 weeks or less and do stuff with it thats funky but not silly. I hope...

It isn't a question of what one should be doing. Reaching a certain age doesn't mean you should or shouldn't do anything, other than do your damnedest to enjoy life and appreciate the fact that you got to that age. I consider myself really lucky to be 45 and fit and healthy!

PLanning a party and making sure you've got enough prosecco in!!!! you sound like you've got a pretty good handle on things so just go with it!

I am 49 and am never cutting mine

In fact, because older women do tend to cut their hair, women with short hair may be perceived as being older than women with longer hair.

I agree. I had a reunion not so long ago, all of us late-ish 40s. The most ageing feature (among the women) was short hair. Most would have looked a lot younger if their hair was longer.

When I turn 45 I will post a pic of my hairdo up - we can have a whole debate then. I think my biggest thing is going to be learning to relax an enjoy a glass of bubbly - that for me is going to be hard.

Relaxing with a glass of bubbly? You find that difficult?