When did you start to look "older"?

[GingerbreadGingerbread]

I have always been semi confident with my looks, eg. Feel confident when I've done my hair and make up for a night out but still plenty of things if change if I could! However I still always felt as though I could look nice if I put the effort in.

Recently though I've noted I have to try harder to look good and even then nothing looks how it used to. I haven't gained or lost weight, I think I'm just losing that "bloom" of youth. I work in a young ish industry where people dress stylishly and follow trends well into their 50s so I think that's tricked me into thinking I still look young, as I dress in the same style of clothes I wore in my early 20s. However I'm starting to think there's no way back for me now. I'm 30 by the way.

I started to look older about one month into parenthood. This was a couple of months ago, I'm 30 and at times this year I've looked 50, no joke. I've therefore decided sleep is the key to looking young. Pity there's nothing to be done. Botox later.

I'm in my late 50's and I'm sure sleep is a major factor in looking old. Looking at old pics, I looked at my oldest was when my children were up all night and also when I worked night shifts. Now my kids have all flown the nest and I work regular hours I'm constantly being told I don't look my age.

Same here sulee. Im mid 50s and like the way I look now more than I did when I was younger.

I think "device face" has made a difference to me. For years I used a computer for up to a hour or so, per day. Catching up on email, googling and I was "face up and forward, looking at the screen. Now, it's iPad. I'm in a perpetual state of "chin down" in the evenings. Mucking about on my iPad, googling a load of rubbish and Mumsnetting

It sure hasn't helped my jowls!

I really think it's all to do with children as pps have said. After dc1 I was only 26 but aged very quickly, then looked younger at around 29 until I had dc2 at 30!! I am now recovering and really taking care of myself and look better than I did at 25 in my (very humble and modest) opinion.

between eye Botox also helps immensely

Stress plays a huge part too. Ongoing stress which is never resolved. I need to develope more of a "bollocks to it!" attitude.

Im shocked at those who are saying 30's.thats very young. Id give anything to be in my 30's!.im mid 40's and i think i look fairly good. Im pretty much the same weigjt as ive always been,save about 1/2 stone(but thats drinking too much). Very active. Eat well mostly.
Wear make up and take care of myself. Think i have a young image.
I dont look young and ive certainly aged past few years. Id say even since 40. But id say i look good for my age.
I looked the best in my early to mid 30's. Certainly better than my 20's. Think that may be a fashion style thing though.
Oh and i have started having botoc oast couple of yrs. It definitely helps..i think if i had earlier nights and drank less id shave a few years off.

Do you know, I am in my late 50s and I never even give this sort of comment a moment's thought - why are so many women obsessed with their looks?

I have a busy, fulfilling life, lot of friends, loads of interests & hobbies, a nice (ish) job ......... I don't judge people on what they look like and I hope they don't judge me either.

This thread makes really sad reading, those of you who have daughters, what sort of message are you giving them?

I'm as obsessed with my looks and with clothes as I ever was But I'm not obsessed with looking younger. In fact I think it's absolutely pointless and a complete waste of life.

I still really enjoy clothes and playing with my appearance but my aim is to look my age and look good.

I feel invisible now I'm 40, the younger pretty girls catch people's eyes men and women, it does feel that society has no use for you over a certain age, that might just be my current mood though after another unsuccessful first date lol

I am going to be 40 very soon and am happy about that. I'm sure that I probably look 40 too and I don't mind that. Why would I want to look younger, less experienced, and ultimately like the person I was 10 years ago? I don't. I want to look like me as I am now, at almost 40.

I didn't notice any visable signs of ageing untill I was about 42 or 43 ( honestly ) but it's downhill all the way from around 46.
I hate the ageing process. I want 'me' back.

It's hard adjusting to invisibility it but it can can actually be quite good fun. I'm a much more adventurous dresser now because I reckon no-ones looking so I may as well just please myself.

I spend quite a lot of time with actually old people - 10, 20, 30, 40 years older than my 54, and feel positively youthful!

Seriously, though, everyone feels that the inner, real them is not the same as the outside - I don't know how many old men and women I've heard say 'I still feel twenty inside even if I can't do things I used to do then'. But I was talking to an absolutely beautiful woman of 94 yesterday - vitality and interest in life shone out of her, and though I was holding her hand (knobbly with arthritis and spotted with age) to support her as she walked, it was she who was doing me the favour because to be with her was so revitalising. And she was a pretty good dresser as well.

I don't want to see all the years in front of me as 'downhill all the way'. I'm more adventurous and confident now in the way I dress and it's very freeing not to have to give a toss what the young think of me. And I've never been one of those women who turn heads in the street anyway, so no loss there.