I feel like at 27 I am already past my "beauty prime"

[Ondasp]

This is obviously lighthearted. Hopefully I have a long and fantastic life ahead of me and this is so very shallow.

But. I feel like I am already past my prime beauty wise.

I am only 27, and yet my face lost that youthful and feminine vibe already. My features are too sharp and I have really dark eye circles even if I get plenty of sleep. My hair is kind of... lifeless. My body is still decent but I am starting to have a lot more cellulite than I used to. I think I should start exercising seriously if I wantto keep a good shape up. Because I work in an office, most days my stile is quite sober and, well.. boring I guess.

Only a handful of years ago I was young and attractive. I felt young and attractive. Only now I realize perhaps that was my "prime" time, and I am already past it

Anyone else feels the same?

Hopefully you'll find your pizazz again soon

Is this you OP?

I get called "Madam" alot but I thought it was just a polite way to address a female (Not Madam as in Brothel Keeper, just not Miss or Mrs)

When I walk past the people selling Sky etc, the sharp suited salesmen always seem to be targetting younger women "Hello, Miss " type greeting.
I'm invisible so it seems.
Maybe there is an up side to Middle Aged Bitchy Resting Face. I don't get bombarded

Though I got an email from a life insurance company headed "What if you died tomorrow"?
Thanks for that Random Insurance Company I've Never Heard Of , I'll try not to .

I'm 29, I've spent the last 7 years being a single parent, working hard not doing much for myself, staying in front of the TV in the evening as I can't go out with DD. Not having a lot of money I didn't really invest in clothes and I was sorely getting out of shape as I wasn't exercising. I have a 'young' face and still get IDd occasionally but I certainly didn't feel like it as life was so monotonous.

I decided in January to address all of the above before I turn 30 in September, overhauled my diet and started exercising lost 2 stone and 3 dress sizes down to a 10, slowly changed and adapted my wardrobe out of the mummy rut I was in, started going out and doing stuff that I enjoyed cinema with friends etc instead of just going to DDs favourite films and I look better and feel younger again.

70isaLimitNotaTarget

On a thread about age, can we agree that your name should be the opposite?

"Three score years and ten" should be a target but not a limit - more would be better thanks very much, and I don't mind if I am wrinkly at that point.

(Did you see Esther Rantzen on First Dates last night?)

OP I probably felt how you do at 27, oddly I'm 34 now and feel much more confident in my looks. I think there is a period of adjustment when you move from young and effortlessly gorgeous into a slightly more, ahem, mature and cultivated beauty. You're only a wee pup yet. But yes do some exercise. 47 year old you will thank you.

op

you are being a twat

Wait until you hit forty, and have to hold things you want to read an arms length in front of you.

Don't complain, go and do something about it. Have your hair cut/ coloured. Improve your skincare and wear flattering make up. Choose more exciting clothes than you already have.

Perhaps you go out lots and drink and smoke. This will catch up with you, and your face and body take longer to recover as you get older.

I think I went through these thoughts at about your age, now 5 years later I have a small baby and I've REALLY realised what it is to lose your looks and really gain weight. I absolutely despair when I look in the mirror or try to wear anything that isn't an elasticated sack, whereas my husband just seems to be getting better, more distinguished looking as he ages, despite also having an infant

My advice to you OP, keep trim and healthy with exercise and good food, use sunscreen, use more expensive/better makeup if you've stuck with your student favourites to date, buy a few nice bits and bobs (something like a smart new blazer and good leather boots can make you feel a million dollars) smile easily, and enjoy the last few years of your 20's.

Feminine vibes, FFS.
What the what are feminine vibes?

Oh, OP, your post did make me laugh. I rembered nearing thirty and thinking I had to dress down and get my hair cut short. I've never been obsessed with my appearance and rarely wore makeup, so I've no idea what I was thinking.

However, I've been through an awful lot the last few years and haven't been near the hairdresser for months, after a shit haircut, so my hair had grown longer than usual. I was walking through a large store with my youngest when approached by one of the makeup people. I decided I was going to make a change. I bought the full makeup used on me the makeup person was practically skipping to the till

Yesterday I went to a ridiculously expensive good hairdresser and got a great cut, while still keeping some length, and completely new colour. I am 48 and will never be young again, but dam it, I look better than I have for years. It's not your age, it's your attitude and maybe you should have a think about changing your makeup, as a fresh look may be all you need. The Beaty of getting older, is that you have a better idea of what suits you, rather than that youthful desperation to look 'sexy' or worrying if you're wearing the latest fashion has the horrors remembering the giant perms of the 80s

specialsubject Helen Mirren has had loads of surgery but just been lucky that her's has worked out for her.

OP, women (and men) can feel like this at any age...

It usuallymeans you need to change something in your life.

Not your clothes or make-up, but maybe your job? Country? Boyfriend? Find new things to love (activities).

At 27 I got my tefl, emigrated for 5 years, got married, found a new hobby (painting) , new job, lost some friends, found new ones, and just threw everything up in the air (apart fromDP). Cannot remember how I felt about my looks then.

are you happy with your life in general? There is a whole world out there and you can be who you want to be. Or at least try. (The trying thing is scary but fun, not everything works!)

Go and Discover new things

Thank you all for your comments! Of course I know I am still young, it is just that I feel the difference with before. As much as obviously looking beautiful is not the most important thing in life, I did not expect to feel this way at this (relatively young) age.

As many pp have mentioned, I am starting to feel how important it is to eat better and have a good lifestyle in general. If I don't get enough sleep or if I get drunk it takes me at least 2/3 days now to stop feeling like crap.

Unfortunately I think I have a type of face that won't age very well. I have very strong/ sharp features that looked intruiging and nice when I was younger, but now look severe and haggard. It is not matter of lifestyle, it truly is my face!

Strong features can be an asset when you're 50/60+ and your face is disappearing. They won't make you look younger but they can make you look more interesting.

The problem is that we can't separate 'looking young' from 'looking good'.

Has mirren had the nip and tuck? Oh well - far better job than poor Fisher who is unrecognisable!

Trills my NN is about motorway speed limits
My NC for this thread should be *ToInfinityAndBeyond

I truly believe that lack of confidence ages you.
When you lack confidence you tend to take less risk with clothing,,hair ,makeup.
I definitely look feel better than I ever did in my early twenties.
In fact I look at photos of me in my twenties and I am shocked by how frumpy I look.
With age came confidence .