Why do some of us age faster then others?

[calvert77]

I and many of my female friends, sister and sisters in law are all now in our mid 30's to early 40's and what I notice is the variation in how we are all changing and aging some much better than others. I think I scrub up ok with a fair bit of work and make up but things are a bit grim with more than a few wrinkles and sun spots (is this normal at 38?) I have a younger sister who has worse lines than me although still has a lovely pre baby body. I also have a sister in law of 41 who looks like an eternal graduate student, I swear she is prettier now than she was in her 20's not even the faintest hint of fine lines under her eyes (she never wears make up) and perhaps just one or two gray hairs just to prove she doesn't dye her hair. I think I would be about 40% gray if I stopped dying my hair and have had to for about 10 years.

Why do we all age so diffrently and isn't it unfair!

Defo genes.

My nan is 83 and looks in her early 70. People are staggerd when she tells them her real age. She is really active too.

I'm 36 (just) and get asked for id to buy alcohol.

I moisturise like a mo fo too.

The new Lancôme creme is ace !

I'm almost 45 and would strongly agree that people who carry less fat naturally on their faces age much quicker. I have several friends with model figures but who look older than they are.thank God I'm a bit chubby

Agree also about oily skin aging better - my T zone is still an oil slick but I have almost no wrinkles.

My skin is great but echo what pp said about when you hit 50 everything heads south. I resemble a blood hound with smooth skin. The only problem I am finding is everyone thinks I am miserable

Genetics and lifestyle. My hair went grey early (thanks dad), but my oily skin isn't yet wrinkly (thanks mum). No smoking or tanning helps when you're talking about decades of potential damage.

luck mainly

it is interesting as when you get past 35 you do start noticing how people are aging

if you see someone you haven't seen for a while, you can't help but notice
i saw one of my brothers friends a while ago, bumped into him, well i went on a few dates with him when i was about 19
he used to be sooo good looking, he was a boring big headed twat but he was good looking
lol
then when i bumped into him i though ohhhh not aged well have you
he was balding, middle aged spread coming on ad glasses and so not hot anymore

I remember, when my mother was visiting a few years ago, she met three of my friends. All male, and all, obviously, a fair bit older than me.

A - she thought was 50 ish
B - she reckoned about 40
c - nearer her age, so about 70

In actual fact there's less than a year's difference between the three of them, with B the youngest, and B the oldest.

Just goes to show what a difference genes and life can make!

I agree that a lot is down to genes.
My mum will be 72 this year and people usually think she's at least a decade younger - she has some wrinkles, sure, but I often see people in their 50s with as many. Her hair is only about 10% grey. Her mother looked younger too. We all have/had a slightly chubby face even when slim otherwise, with combination skin.

I'm 32 and usually get told I look much younger. I have had a fairly healthy lifestyle over the years, though, although did spend a lot of time in the sun as a child. But no smoking, very little drinking and no sunbathing now as an adult. Stressful job but usually get enough sleep. My skin care regime is cleansing and moisturising once a day, and wearing make up.

Thanks folks!

Alcohol plays it part. Heavy drinkers age very quickly.

I think being too fat is aging but their is a happy medium between too fat and too thin. The issue is some people just cannot bear to carry and excess weight at all I remember seeing that Katie Hopkins diet show and she is very thin and the men commenting on her appearance at her behest honestly said she was haggard looking and not attractive, her face did improve a bit when she gained weight and she even acknowledged this fact but I got the impression she just needs to feel thin to feel in control.

I can't believe she is only 2 years older than me she looks at least a decade older.

It's mostly genetics. Even if you smoke and drink good genes will see you through.
My v intelligent genetics graduate niece explained the specifics of it all to me but it was a bit over my head
Apart from genes, using sunblock and good skincare ie use of AHA/bha and retin a/retinol and staying a steady weight ( I read somewhere staying as close to 9st as possible) will definitely help

Sun
Smoking
Booze
Poor diet
A hard life

And sorry but I think a full face can be just as ageing as a very thin one. Whenever I put on weight it shows first in my face. It may plump out the wrinkles but the sagginess ages me even more.

The hard life one isn't always true (and is usually down to coping with fags and booze). It's also a bit of a pita if you look young and people think you've had a lazy time in life.

I think you do get a small proportion of people with truly exceptional genes, and these are the ones who can do literally fuck all and still look incredible. And obviously those on the other end of the scale, who can try absolutely everything, but nothing will work.

However, for the vast majority of people I think it's more like 50% genes and 50% lifestyle.

I know lots of people who would say that they absolutely do not sunbathe, but would think nothing of gardening for two hours outside with no sun cream, or sitting in the park all afternoon with friends. It's like they only consider intentional sun exposure to count.

I think the other massive factors are smoking/being around smokers, how much you drink, your overall diet, and how much sleep you get.

In other countries people grow up with a really strong message to take care of their skin from a young age (I guess in part because there's way more sun), whereas in the UK it's more like do what you want and then panic in your mid twenties/thirties.

It's also a bit of a pita if you look young and people think you've had a lazy time in life.

Sorry, what I meant was that a comfortable lifestyle is a big factor (in my opinion). I think improved healthcare, contraception, housing, diet etc are a big reason why many of us look younger than our parents/grandparents did at the same age. (Although improved diet may be going into reverse.)

IME lifestyle makes a big difference.

When I was a heavy smoker/drinker/drug user people thought I was ten years older than my actual age. Five years later and drink/drugs/fags free and people were guessing ten years younger than my actual age (I had moved to a different part of the country so not the same people comparing me before and after).

My mum used to say it is best to get fat as you get old to smooth out the wrinkles

I do like taking care of my face skin - but I firmly believe that it's genetics, not smoking, not drinking too much, a good diet that matter.

And I'd rather be slim than fat tbh even if it's at the expense of my face - I think it looks youthful and energetic to be slim when you're in advanced years. Dressing well is easier. I think letting yourself grow fat as you get older makes you look older, more pronouncedly than does the occasional wrinkle which big sunglasses and good makeup can hide anyway

My friend who is 39 looks very young for her age early 20's maybe and I do get a bit jealous at times but she has had a very quiet life. Never really worked a full time job, no stress, no booze, no fags, strict vegetarian diet with good protein, living in the country away from pollution, loads of sunscreen, no night clubbing and promiscuity (those where the days!). I couldn't have lived her life I did it all and it shows on my face and she is perfectly happy with her quiet life. Would I go back and change my ways so I could look young at 40? I don't think so, would be nice to have both though!

Also in my opinion botox, filler etc might smooth out lines etc but it doesn't make you look younger. It is an aura too, if you have lived, partied and worked it will just be in your eyes.

I think sleep is a big one also agree with the oily skin.

Mossland, loved your post and about it showing in your eyes.
I'm in my early forties and whilst I've got away lightly it does show. Every so often now when I look in the mirror I grin and think 'yes, but I've lived'. Sali huges said that'eye glint was youthful' the type of women that looked like she still had sex and could tell a dirty joke. I'm working on that :)

I have Asperger Syndrome, am overweight and still get asked for ID in shops. Hmm (thinks), that's one advantage I guess as well as the darn silly obsessions.

I am almost 42 I have no lines or wrinkles at all and am slim. I have a longish narrow face and am frequently told i look much younger than my actual age. I disagree that a full face looks younger. The younger looking women I know are all slim. Fuller faces tend to go with plumper figures which look more middle aged. My parents have always looked youthful and I think it's entirely genetic. I hated looking so young when I was actually young and my mum said you'll be glad when you're 40 and of course she was right.

You do know that having a round face is not the same as having a 'full' or 'plump' face, right?

Thanks for telling us how fabulous you are, though.