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Original poster

How can I make myself look older? (Pics included)

78 replies

Makemeover · 03/04/2019 13:48

Excuse the unflattering photo, im rubbish at selfies. I hate the way I look, people often think I'm 16 and I hate it, I'm fed up of being spoken down to and not taken seriously. What can I do to make myself look more my age? I'm 27. Will try and add another pic but it will only attach one atm.

How can I make myself look older? (Pics included)
OP posts:
Easilyflattered · 03/04/2019 21:43

I agree with the advice about hair you've been given.

You naturally have quite a wide eyed look which is pretty and associated with youth, one day you'll be glad I'm sure. Why do you want to look older, to be taken seriously in the workplace or....?

practicallyperfectmummy · 03/04/2019 21:48

Ahh your gorgeous!
A fringe cute in
HD brows or microblading
Ditch the eyeliner just use mascara.

ivykaty44 · 03/04/2019 21:53

The reason you look young is your eyes added to which your hair away from your face. These are characteristics of youth 😊

Hairstyle altered and you’ll still be as beautiful but not quite so young looking

ivykaty44 · 03/04/2019 22:00

It’s hard to tell what your hair is like with it swept back, but something like these two styles would make you look older

How can I make myself look older? (Pics included)
How can I make myself look older? (Pics included)
roundligament · 03/04/2019 22:07

Wear a bronzer or blush on your cheeks and lip stick
Wear hair down or have a parting on it

Ohyesiam · 03/04/2019 22:15

One of the teens I know wear lipstick during the day, lots have their hair back as you do.
I can understand wanting to be taken more seriously, but do appreciate your looks too. Lots of women would love to look as good as you.

runningtogetskinny · 03/04/2019 22:31

When I first went into my line of work the teenagers I worked with thought I was another resident - I was 26! I'm 51 now and kids still think I'm in my 30s - you look gorgeous, enjoy it you'll be grateful one day 😂. You can appear more mature in the workplace by being professional and knowledgeable, I quickly gained respect and promotion that way

FlumpyMummy · 03/04/2019 22:42

Fringe.

You are very pretty by the way!

Atalune · 03/04/2019 22:48

Your hair- leave it down, have a nice loose side plait.
Make-up, much less heavy eye and a little gloss or lip stain

SlimGin · 03/04/2019 22:55

Hi OP I'm similar to you - I'm 26 and get mistaken for 18 all the time. Everyone says we're lucky but I don't feel like it's a blessing in disguise as we have to work twice as hard to get taken seriously. Maybe when we're 40 it will pay off but there have been hundreds of situations where I wished I just looked my age and it sometimes gets me down.
The only advice I can give you is try a haircut like the long bob if it works for your hair type (doesn't for mine). Wear more mature clothes - I try not to wear jeans if I can help it and I usually wear some form of heels. I've swapped eyeliner for brown eyeshadow blended in to lighter brown on my lids. Also confidence helps to come across older than you are (or as your age in our case). I realised that it's a vicious circle of: people think I'm young so I don't contribute to conversation -> not contributing to conversation makes me seem young ->. Don't be afraid to tell people how old you are. Sometimes I drop it into conversation because as soon as people realise I'm 26 not 18 they view me in a whole different light.

Rystall · 03/04/2019 22:59

OMG, you’re beautiful. And those lips.... wow. Please, please don’t deliberately try to make yourself look older. I’m not sure if it’s at work or socially where you feel spoken down to, but gravitas comes with experience, confidence, a positive attitude, the way you project yourself etc. Nothing to do with a ‘grown up’ haircut! Can you work on some of those things? I wouldn’t change a single thing. Looking fresh & youthful is the Holy Grail in the beauty world.

Drogosnextwife · 03/04/2019 23:20

Try a little contouring, I always feel I look older when I do that. You would really suit a longer Bob with a fringe as others have said, or a side swept fringe.
Don't underline your eyes, you have lovely eyes, underlining them closes them.
If you can't be bothered with lipstick try some lip stain, I love them, adds a bit of colour but you don't really need to think about them smudging or wearing off as much.

Original poster
Makemeover · 03/04/2019 23:21

Thank you for all the kind replies, I don't have much self confidence (probably doesn't help seeming young) so was expecting much worse replies.

Yes it's work I want to be taken more seriously, I'm currently job hunting and I feel it's holding me back.

I do tend to live in wear jeans, I bought some nice trousers at Christmas but felt silly wearing them, maybe I will look for some more? In terms of tops I tend to wear blouses if I'm going out.

Do you think some earrings would help?

I'm having a hair restyled next friday, I have a 2 year old DD and I'm a single mum so haven't had it cut since she was born as I just find it hard to find the time to go so do think a new style will help.

I used to have a bob and loved it, do you think a bob with fringe would work?

I keep trying to add a hair down pic but it's not working.

OP posts:
Ninkaninus · 03/04/2019 23:23

A bob with a fringe would be perfect.

Original poster
Makemeover · 03/04/2019 23:23

Hair down pic (hopefully)

How can I make myself look older? (Pics included)
OP posts:
Pieceofpurplesky · 03/04/2019 23:45

You are naturally beautiful OP. It's not about looking older but looking more sophisticated. A hair cut with layers and a fringe combined with less eyeliner and more formal clothing would make you look totally different

TragicallyUnbeyachted · 03/04/2019 23:57

Oh, you're gorgeous!

I agree with others -- shift your makeup routine to tone down eyes and tone up lips, plus don't tie your hair back (I know you've got a consultation/haircut booked).

Get your eyes tested? If you DO happen to need glasses they could help make you look older.

itsbetterthanabox · 04/04/2019 00:01

Bob hair cut or long bob with gentle side fringe or soft full fringe.
No eyeliner on the bottom of the eye.
Wear Blusher and some lipstick and less foundation. Fill in your brows- maybe just get them tinted.
Earrings.

EnchantingRaven · 04/04/2019 00:02

Just wanted to add another voice of mentioning that you are gorgeous OP!

I agree with PP it’s the eyeliner, I was exactly the same - I’ve started to just wear it on my eyelids rather than the whole eye. Im almost 27 and get similar comments of looking young too.. I just love eyeliner! Blush I also added blusher, highlight and contour which helped.

I recently had some low highlights which has lightened my face up more as I have quite dark hair - maybe that could be an option for you too?

Either way I think you need to work on your self confidence, you are naturally very beautiful - you just need to believe it. Easier said than done but it’s true! Flowers

DocusDiplo · 04/04/2019 00:06

Are those guns???

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/04/2019 00:08

A fringe, you need a heavy fringe and less eyeliner on the bottom, or just concentrate it to the outer edges.

You'll be grateful to look younger when you're olderGrin

TooTrueToBeGood · 04/04/2019 08:25

Are those guns???

What a bizarre question. Of course they are, so what? They look like early 20th century to possibly WWII vintage so militaria rather than viable modern weaponry. Given how openly they are displayed, if in the UK they will be deactivated as well so not capable of being fired. Wherever she is, they are obviously legal as nobody would mount illegally held firearms on full display in their living room.

SaltSpoon · 04/04/2019 08:37

Not so much eye make-up (it looms teenager-y) and no ponytail (same). Problem solved!

SaltSpoon · 04/04/2019 08:39

Why have you got guns? Are you some sort of rightwing nut?

FrozenMargarita17 · 04/04/2019 08:40

You are actually stunning!! I would love to look like you. I am a haggard, fat 30 year old