Are you wearing well?

[ShouldHaveListenedInBiology]

As in, ageing. I am 39, I’m lucky enough to have decent skin and as long as I moisturise well I feel like, facially, I’m doing ok. I use an Alpha H SPF 50 and that does wonders for me. But I took a selfie with a friend a few weeks back and my god - my neck looked like it belonged to a 90 year old woman. So I dug out some Dr Ceuticals neck and chest stuff and have been applying that religiously and I think I have seen some improvement. Tonight I was applying it and happened to glance in the mirror at my upper arm/armpit area and the crepiness has spread to there! Is this the beginning of the end? Am I destined to chase sagging wrinkly bits around my body with expensive unguents forever more? I lashed some Palmers Firming Cream on there. What next? Saggy earlobes? Elbows? And suddenly my toes have become wrinkled and sad looking 😭

Any other surprising age related disintegration I should be on the lookout for? And what do I DO about it?

Yes - diabetes is in my mother’s family as well, and they all seem to get it around my age.

I'm happy with how I look and I'm 50 in a couple of months. I can't ever imagine not giving a shit about how I look, it just takes a bit more effort.
If skin and teeth have been looked after that makes a big difference.
Plus most naturally pretty/beautiful/attractive people still have have their looks as they age imo.
Only on MN is the myth that every single teenager and early 20 year old are stunningly gorgeous and anyone daring to be older than that are hideous old hags.

I am 50 this year and I feel good. With me it’s just good genes. My mum and my gran both look years younger than their age.
I take care of my skin now but it was very oily and I still get a t zone shine. I didn’t need moisturiser until my 30’s and I washed my face with my shower gel in the shower until then. I am vegan and I stay active. Yoga and Pilates when possible. I think that helps too.

Oh I do drink though. I like going out and cocktails and a wee gin. Was a real party girl in my youth. I sometimes say I’m smoked, pickled and preserved.

I'm 49 next month, I'm a couple of stone overweight but I think my face is wearing well.

I religiously cleanse, tone and moisturise every night and morning, and never go to bed with make up left on. I swear by Liz Earle cleanse and polish to and Aldi Q10 moisturiser or Clinique when I can afford it!

I had a hysterectomy two years ago so I'm on HRT patches. I do feel I've gone to look dry and I'm surprised I've got any hair left as it falls out so much!

I've got a creepy neck but I'm not too bothered, abc someone in work though I was 35 a few weeks ago. Yeh right 😜

Crepey not creepy! 🤣

I'm mid 40s and people usually assume I'm 40 - 45. I have allowed my hair to go naturally grey and it's almost white now.
I've never smoked and drink very little alcohol. I carry a bit of weight (size 14/16) and am too fond of sugary rubbish.
My skin is largely unlined and I use sunblock daily and am definitely not a sun worshipper. I had a melanoma removed a couple of years ago despite this.
I walk miles daily and have a hugely active job which I think helps.
I strive for optimism in the face of disaster too!

😆😆😆 @RightKnockered.... yes, there’s a “big hit” in your 50’s but, you still care! A lot!

I got carded last December and last week I got called “mam”.

To post #2 - I am 53 and I care. A LOT!

Oh, goodness AuntyJackies - you and me both! :-)

Poverty, stress and luck .

I am 50. I look good for my age, I know this. My hair is long, expensively highlighted and looked after. Skin is good and moisturised. No Botox etc . teeth good, no fillings, straight and quite white.
Clothes, good - Hush, Boden etc.

Figure - sz 10.

I have the money, time, background, diet and lack of worry and stress to look good . I dont smoke but drink.

I'm 55 this year and think I'm ageing well.

Age is a privilege denied to many

Embrace what you are fortunate to have, fuck the finer details

Yes. Mostly.

I’m 50 but people usually put me at around 10 years younger. Its a massive struggle to maintain everything though and Ive always had a mature look rather than a girlish one which doesnt help.

I do everything from naintaining my figure through diet (size 10/12) could do with losing about 10lbs really. I do the 30 day shred and other HIT, plus Pilates. I take hrt and supplements. I spend a fortune at the hairdressers and beauty / skin salon and I have a big clothing budget too.

I know I must seem vain to others but Ive tried ageing naturally and not caring and it just left me depressed.

I agree about the looks falling off a cliff in early 40s and yes, you’ll still care at 50+ trust me.

You dont need to spend a fortune though.

Nivea soft - best face cream ever in my humble.

I buy good clothes but often second hand on fb or ebay. I do my own eyebrows, hair is long so needs a cheap trim and I am VERY lucky in that I have no greys so have balayage once a year rather than needing highlights which knackers your hair.

Self gradual tan.

As a teen and in my early twenties I thought I was really ugly and hated the way I looked. I finally became happier in myself in my thirties and realised I was actually ok and looked young for my age. Then I hit 40 last year and suddenly I've put on weight and am noticing more and more wrinkles and lines.

I'm now trying to get fit, cut down my alcohol intake and upped the water and starting to use proper skincare. I'd like to reduce or slow any further deterioration. I'm not worried about looking young, i'd just like to look like a good 40 something!

Also interested in all of the comments on the menopause as I've been on Prostap injections for 4 years now. Wondering if that forced menopause is having an impact on my skin and weight as well as the impact on my hormones.

@Namechanger....I agree. I’ve never been good in the sun. Always needed antihistamines and goats yoghurt for my skin otherwise came out in huge wheels and itchy rashes. So, my skin is relatively unlined. But, the stress of money difficulties when my ExH left (met someone else) and having to care for our disabled child (now17) has aged me rapidly, I think. Or, it could be the vices that I’ve used to help me through....🍷🍫

I’m nearly 56. The last two years, my body has become unexposable (I know that’s not a word). So, Face is good. Hair still longish, very thick and shiney .... and the body’s gone. I still cycle and walk, every day because I don’t feel right if I’m just sitting about and generally life is good.

I still care but hey, I’ve REACHED my 56th year. Some people don’t.

Mrsharrison you look fantastic for 55.

I smoke and I love the sun. I'm 45 and I'm happy. I think stress and drinking is far worse. I don't drink. I do make a bit more effort with diet. I have recently started to be more disciplined with skincare but I find it tedious. The results have been good though. I like looking healthy, and I've discovered that the time spent on skincare is offset by not spending time trying to conceal defects with make up.

Maybe it's just me, but when I was younger make up made me look older. And now I'm older make up makes me look older!

Oh, and middle aged spread or rather, menopausal body changes have made a huge difference to me. I used to imagine in my 30’s and 40’s that it was myth and legend that “it’s so much harder to stay in shape, after the menopause”. I’d think “just try harder, woman!” Now, I know that I do as much (or slightly) more exercise daily than I did before menopause and yet....it just creeps on. The weight and the general untoned “look” of my body. It really is a thing. For me, at least.

I like that expression “untoned look” Auntiejackie its very apt. Annoys me when I do put in the effort to do parkrun and lift some weights but my body looks like it mostly lifts kitkats and cappuccinos.

Thank you mini the minx. I wanted to make the point that some of us don't stop caring in our 50s.

My mum still cares about her appearance at 84 but accepts that she is elderly and tires more easily. However, her hair is beautifully cut and her skin carefully moistured, she eats well, has a small dog for exercise although she would prefer to shift a few kg.

Overall, the women in my family have tended to wear well, but nobody is going to ask me for ID any more. I would also agree with the poster who reckoned that most middle-aged and older men look far more unkempt than their female counterparts.

I think I might doing pretty well for 45. I did start using Estée Lauder toner, moisturiser, eye cream etc in my early 20s which has helped massively.

I also think a really good cut and hair colour helps too. An old nana (as my dc say) haircut will age you.