For heaven’s sake....I’m old!

[MissKittyBeaudelais]

Ok. So all of a sudden, I look old. My eye sight is going so, I thought I was doing ok. When I leave the house in the morning I think I look ok. However, I’ve recently had a few impromptu photos taken outside, in broad daylight and Jesus...I look terrible.

I’m 57 so, I KNOW it’s only a matter of time but even so, my usual facebases are looking heavy and showing wrinkles I didn’t know I’d earned.

I’ve got Chanel Les Beiges and Laura Mercier Oil Free TM. So, do I just except it’s OVER and start to disappear from public life OR... is there anything I’m missing?

Op, you’re beautiful and your skin is lovely. Your ‘friend’ sounds an arsehole, no way are you fat.

To be honest without going down the surgery route there isn’t much that can be done about mild sagging and wrinkling. I haven’t seen many surgeries that have done a good job, most look like they’ve been ‘pulled’ back. You’re 57 and this is a normal process of ageing and you’re ageing beautifully. If you have the cash, maybe see a dermatologist and see what tricks they have. I don’t blame you for steering away from Botox.

I would maybe steer away from foundation and try a good tinted moistuiser such as Laura Mercier or ByTerry, use less of the cream blusher. Go light on any face powder. Dye eyelashes instead of mascara. I think losing a few inches off your hair will drag your face down less.

But honestly, you look great.

Hi OP, I also think you look great. But if you are worried about gravity’s toll, have you thought of face exercises? I got desperate in my mid to late 40s as nothing seemed to stop the onslaught of jowls. I finally tried face exercises after all sorts of things like fillers and lasers, not thinking they could possibly work - but they helped the jowls within about 6 weeks. They lifted everything- not face lift quality but good enough for me! People who say they don’t work either don’t know what they are talking about or have a vested interest in people not discovering how good they are. After all they are free and the only ‘tool’ you need is your hands.

Ohee is right. I was just going to say, I'm the same age as you OP and have been doing face exercise for 5 years and it is definitely holding things up better. I do them daily.

Ohee it's odd that people don't do face exercises and it isn't common knowledge. If you exercise the body to time muscles and make them taut then it follows that doing face exercises tightens the muscles in face and neck and tightens them which pulls them up. It's similar to having a face lift only you don't need to cut to tighten things.

iheartNiles face exercises work so well for face sagging.

One more thing, no face cream can lift a face. You have to work the face muscles to do that. I just use oils in my face, no foundation, primer etc. Just mascara, but of brown eyeshadow and concealer on purple bits of eyes. Love a bit of warm gold rose lipstick or a gold red.

I agree Milly, it is odd that more people don’t do face exercises. But there is a lot of negative stuff written about them by so called experts, I guess it’s no surprise. My wake up call was when i saw a plastic surgeon on tv talking about facelifts and tightening the muscles to lift the skin. I suddenly realised that muscles actually are important! I will never be without them now. I just wish I had started doing them a bit sooner, to prevent the sag in the first place.

Ohee eva Fraser who started the whole thing in the late 80s didn't start till she was in her 60s and her face is amazingly toned.

That’s true, Milliy! 😀

@Ohee...facial exercises. Never thought of it so will look at YouTube. Are you brave enough to show a pic of your taught jawline? 😉

@Milliy, some good advice there, thanks.

@Floisme....my eye doesn’t obstruct my vision so, no reason for NHS cash being forced out. What it does do is feel heavy like I want to keep stretching my eye, in an eyebrows lifted surprised fashion because I can feel it drooping. Bloody thing! It’s not sudden, it’s been coming on a while and that eye has always been slightly smaller since I was a kid.

Thanks for the hair comments. I think you’re right. I think it’s making my face longer. A few inches off would be good. And yes, I have posted before. Like many women, I go through phases or feeling shite (and now shite and “mature”) so yes, I’ve posted asking for help before.

@IheartNiles, you’re Mum sounds wonderful. I don’t use powder as such. Gave that up some time ago. I think because I’m so pale and it’s the fashion to be tanned, I overdo bronzer and certainly blush. Otherwise, I really feel dead. Maybe I need to try just being pale.

@OldGrinch😊 That’s exactly what I do. I get up and do my face and think “that’s better”. Then, a few hours later I see myself and just think “Christ! I’ve been walking about like that!” 😂

@Floisme
....how did you find your “problem”?

You look fabulous OP, you are aging beautifully - I agree that if you have always been gorgeous then aging can be harder to deal with.

Could someone recommend what facial exercises to do please? It does make sense that we should be able to tone our facial muscles as with the rest of our bodies.

I like Judith Williams "Magic Makeup" - 1 colour which changes with the user. Gives a nice finish - not totally matt. Blend with a brush, but have used my fingers before and it's gone in just as well.

On the shorts topic, I have knee-length walking trousers from Decathlon. Meant for action, so have different fabrics in different places, which mean sweat is wicked away from the crotch / inner thigh, they look mainly cotton, are comfy and a lot cheaper than most high street shops.

I am two years older. I was feeling ok until one day I was in the hairdressers having a cut. It was sunny (not very hot like now) but looking in the mirror was a mistake! Thanks to a fat face I have no wrinkles, just a few lines around the eyes but Christ! I looked haggard that day! I am fairly happy with the state of my face skin. I can do without make up if I have to (just don't want to!), but the chest and dec needs more tender loving care than it has been used to!

LifeInAHampsterWheel I started with Eva Fraser (she started doing books in the 80s) but there are people on You Tube and Instagram who can show you.

Thank you I'll have a look on YouTube

You are attractive.

If I were you I’d go hair slightly shorter and blonder.

But more colour to your face with a subtle fake tan in your moisturiser or for an airbrushed look use a liquid bronzer.

I’m 53 and I love Utan skin idol, it gives a beautiful smooth finish to the skin.

As for eyes you need to apply eye make up differently. Go just above the socket line with a darker shade and a light shade on the lid. Also lining the top of your eyelashes helps make the eye stand out from the hooded lid. That’s what I do.

Overall I think you look lovely but a bit washed out, I don’t mean a perma tanned look but adding warmth to your face brings freshness and less tired.

You remind me a bit of a pretty actress but I can’t put my finger on it at the moment!

Yes definitely go shorter and blonder. Blond around the face throws light on the face and somehow lines are less noticeable. Any dark hair around the face throws shadows and makes lines etc much more noticeable.

Elizabeth Montgomery! That’s who you remind me of. Obviously when she was the equivalent age to you

op...I think you look beautiful and elegant. I hate to see women botoxed and fillered to buggery . You put me in mind of a younger Virginia Mckenna with beautiful bones

I think you're a cracker.

I also think you're over thinking it. If you like the Laura Mercier, buy the illuminating one rather than the oil free.

I swear by the illuminating one. Makes me look like I've had a good night's sleep, even though I rarely have.

@ElspethFlashman I might see if I can get a sample of the Illumination version. @Gatekeeper...I can’t do Botox for allergy reasons. Also, I’m a coward! @Mylily shorter and blonder then 😊

@LifeInAHamsterWheel, I’ve never been pretty but got good bone structure from my dad’s side of the family 😊

Wondering, with the hair, maybe a fringe? To a) cover the lines and b) to disguise my very long forehead? Found this of a mature lady, with fringe.

Don’t have a fringe! I have a fringe but I don’t think it would suit you. Make sure you are wearing sunglasses all year round. I do and it’s really protected me from getting lines around my eyes.