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!

Mostly genetics. A bit due to SPF habit (or lack thereof).

Moon a round face is to do with your skull. The bones don't grow longer when you diet. I've been seriously underweight and still had a moon face ... actually your idea is a bit dangerous as I would convince myself my face was fat. I could also convince others.

Oh and they do look youthful. Maybe not fashionably model like and youthful - but the roundness and big eyes reminds people of babies/kids subconsciously! It does mean you get taken for a mug at first sometimes... people also register it as innocence again your bones don't change when like me you're a cynical bitch!

My mother has lived in a hot country all her life but always wears make-up and has very oily skin - she still gets the odd spot in her 70s. She is 74 and is the envy of everyone but I remember the stress of spots at 40. These days she slathers herself in Bio-Oil and keeps out the sun. My skin is much drier and I will look like an old prune despite, no smoking or sun tanning. However I plan to go on HRT the second I need it as I can see that really helps.

Lol squizita

I have a long face and nice cheekbones, but if I'm not smiling I have real bitchy-resting-face.

Bad teeth are really ageing. Id rather spend money on the dentist than miracle creams. I take good care of my skin and it's good genetically but I smoked and drank like a maniac til I was 30 and it does show up later.

I'm a bit chubby at the moment but I look young at mid 40s. The hard exercisers / food controlled people of my age, I envy their figures and fitness but not their faces. I guess they can use Botox.

genes, telomeres, diet, drinking, smoking, sun worshipping, stress, illness

i think the best we can hope for is to age gracefully ):

I don't agree that fat= looking younger.
It depends more on your face shape. Some women have long skinny faces and nose-mouth creases even when they are quite young.
Some people think I am 20 years younger than I am and I am under 8 st but still have 23% fat.

Fatness is generally ageing and rolls of fat on the neck is ageing.

How does Yasmin Le Bon manage to look frozen in time without looking like she's had her face surgically frozen?

I saw these pictures of her recently and thought she looked closer to 35 than 50.

she looks the same as plenty of 50 yr olds who have taken care of themselves- she doesn't look especially different to ordinary women I know, same age. she may well have had careful use of fillers or botox, and she is wearing very youthful clothes and a youthful hairstyle.

Some of us have botox

Id put Yasmin at 45 at least, she doesn't look 35 at all. My friend who is 40 and has a round baby face (she's no bigger than size 8) looks about 20. She's also v petite and has thick glossy hair which helps no doubt.

I have serous Resting Bitch Face

Oh well never mind Yasmin, I think you look a glowing 35 even if the harder to impress ladies of S&B disagree!

Simon on the other hand....................

To answer the OP question:
-genes- nowt you can do about those
-diet- you can do a lot. Sugar is a huge no-no,- destroys collagen. Ditto booze and fags, and sun.
-skin care- helps as long as you use sun block every day all year.

• having a youthful mindset, always being curious, never thinking you are old or too old for anything

-keeping up to date with hairstyles, make up etc. -being happy

Yasmin does look incredibly youthful. If she's had work done, its bloody good stuff because she doesn't look frozen or weird at all. She looks fit and active and very happy.

Apatite1, I'm on the Resting Bitch Face bench with you

Very good points pinkfrocks. Sugar really is the enemy if you want to avoid jowls and sagging and all that. And completely agree about never thinking you're 'too old' - if you fancy wearing / trying something new, then do it. As Sali Hughes says, you will be dead for an extremely long time so if you want the hot pink fuchsia lipstick, go for it!

YY ... I always cringe inwardly at the "now I'm 30 I must wear Boden" threads that pop up here. Now I'm not saying wear a Forever 21 crop top to collect your pension but often people dress and cut their hair 'to an age' or status. A style that's ever so slightly edgy OR very classic (nice jeans, white tshirt, great bag) will tend people toward the youngest you can look iyswim.
Ditto dull 'cover the grey' dye. My hair is dyed to look dyed - red and brown. I'm mid/late 30s. It doesn't automatically look like I'm hiding grey. Other friends let their grey show but focus on cut and condition.

My mum causes premature frump "the per una effect". She's 60+ and still avoids it like the plague (via Uniqlo, Wallis and Monsoon plus the best jeans and trousers ... and a hairdresser she's followed from 1 salon to another).

It is odd- some women seem to gravitate towards certain brands at certain ages as if it's a given. It's style- death to think you have to go into CC or older brands at a certain age.

Skin care, diet, grooming and not too short hair all help IMO.

squizita - exactly! Its sad when people get hung up on what they 'should' be doing just because they're a particular age. Per Una clothes would make anyone look about 90. My MIL wasn't even 60 when I first met her, but looked positively ancient because she went for a shampoo and set every week (still does, 10 years on!) and bought clothes in the Classic Collection at M&S (ditto) And then she frets about looking loads older than other women of her age. It horrifies me but obviously I keep schtum!

Boden baffles the hell out of me.

I was musing on this thread earlier in the GP waiting room. A woman came in and beamed at me and my baby. She was probably in her seventies, thin as a rake, beautiful posture and a huge even teethed smile, shoulder length grey hair. Wearing cropped jeans and a loose grey tshirt. She looked like a retired ballerina.

I conclude that she has aged gracefully, and that physical fitness is the most attractive thing. She didn't look young exactly but she looked radiant and attractive. Wrinkles and grey hair were way less important than her figure, posture, smile, good genetics and aura of health, happiness and a certain sassiness.

I've just hit 30 and have really started noticing this with my peers recently. It's a mix of genetics, sun exposure, smoking, partying, stress.. Some still look 18 and some have bad crows feet and leathery skin already! It seems to be the ones who worship the sun/tans that are the worst affected. I worked abroad last year and met a lot of people from New Zealand, they seem to age very badly due to exposure of the sun.. It's not particularly roasting there but the sun is very strong.
I saw Sarah Harding on celeb masterchef the other day, hardly recognised her! She has aged badly and she is only 33 I think. She blames it on all the late nights partying and taking drugs. I know I look and feel shit with a hangover so it probably does have a negative effect if it's all the time!

Forgot to add.. Living in a hot country for a year, lack of sleep from my first baby and losing my dad all in the space of 12 months have all contributed to my new forehead lines.. I think the lack of sleep has done the worst of it!

I've always looked younger than my age, till recently when I suddenly started looking my age.

So I've now lost a bit of weight, about a dress size, and taken really good care of my skin thanks to recent MN posts and unbelievably I look younger than my age again. Well I look far better than I did a couple of months ago that's for sure. So I feel lighter brighter and happier for it, even if life does keep inspiring on throwing me curve balls. At least I no longer have to squint at my reflection in the mirror

*insisting

Yes I saw Sarah Harding on Masterchef, she does look as though she's been caning it for at least a decade and then trying to fix it with cosmetic procedures.

It's all about balance isn't it? I'm happy to pick up a few wrinkles if it means I've had some fun along the way!