Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

To ask how old you were when you first thought...

114 replies

MoanerLeaser · 09/10/2019 22:21

"....what the FUCK! Noooooooo! Please God nooooooo!" Upon noticing your face was older/lines/wrinkles?

Just wanting to feel like I'm not alone here in wrinkly solitude

OP posts:
WoahThereMama · 13/10/2019 09:21

Once i hit 40 and I notice a difference again now I’m 41. God knows what 42 will be like. Round the eyes is where I’m seeing the biggest difference.

Supersimkin2 · 13/10/2019 09:23
  1. Still not got wrinkles ages 51 but my jawline went south after I was very ill.
RingtheBells · 13/10/2019 10:41

A little bit in my 40s but nothing compared to the horror of the late 50s with jowls, turkey neck, etc etc

MissKittyBeaudelais · 13/10/2019 13:06

53/54.... up to that point I felt ok.

sheshootssheimplores · 13/10/2019 13:08

Post 35. Everything changes once you get past that age. Fuck knows why. I assume it’s hormones.

Gwenhwyfar · 13/10/2019 13:13

28 - soft wrinkles on my forehead and around the eyes.
Then in my 30, got 11s and nose-mouth lines. Now in early 40s my mouth seems totally straight rather than a bit 'up' and about to be dragged down, cheeks a bit jowly and the wrinkles mentioned above more obvious, eye wrinkles reaching down to the cheeks when I smile.

I look a bit younger than my age so I'm always surprised on MN when people say they didn't see any wrinkles until 30s or 40s when I got mine in my 20s.

I actually have a tub of retin-A (retiride) bought in Spain , but haven't started using it yet.
Can anyone explain how you use it (what before/after, how often, etc.)?

Gwenhwyfar · 13/10/2019 13:16

At 42 still haven't noticed a grey hair (on my head anyway!) but that could be because I'm always colouring my hair and don't see my real colour much.

Going grey later and less likely to go bald is more or less the only way ageing is easier on women and men I'd say. They have thicker skin so wrinkles don't look so bad on them.

Sockworkshop · 13/10/2019 13:20

I was 46
Had been rather boozy the night before and saw a pic of myself 😱
Gave up booze and I look better now at 51

TheVanguardSix · 13/10/2019 13:21

I mean, there's the normal reality that you look a bit different at 38 than you do at 32, but I still looked great.
It was absolutely during my pregnancy at 41 when the 'what the fuck? Lines on my lines I hadn't noticed before' lines crept in. Definitely 42+ my face rapidly looked more lived in. I am 47 now and have aged tremendously in the past 5 years. It's shocking!
I did have an 8 month virus when I was 43-44 and that just sucker-punched me.
I'm beginning to look healthier again, but the lines and the greys are here to stay.
I have to say, I don't have botox nor do I colour my hair because I just don't want to go down that relentless road of constantly patching an old innertube that keeps getting punctures. For the time being, I'm happy to just let my youth deflate and focus on looking healthy and keeping my skin tone and texture healthy but age-appropriate. Watch this space though because I have to admit, ageing absolutely sucks eggs and in a couple of more years, I may be like "Fuck this shit. Carve me up like a Christmas turkey and make me look good!"

MmmBlowholes · 13/10/2019 13:22

28...

RhinoskinhaveI · 13/10/2019 13:25

46

RhinoskinhaveI · 13/10/2019 13:26

I am nothing like an old inner tube that keeps getting punctures by the way
why would you want to compare yourself to something like that?

CowCat · 13/10/2019 21:13

Late forties- jowls. I actually have few wrinkles due to using SPF and all that.

Jjacobb · 13/10/2019 21:45

55 but I'd spent a couple of years dealing with cervical cancer. The menopause kind of just happened during that time without me noticing.
Once it was all over I looked in the mirror and realized how much I had aged
A couple of years of intensive home skin treatments has worked wonders but I'm still shocked at what the menopause and stress did to my face.

augustusglupe · 13/10/2019 21:50

39 was when I started with Botox and Fillers. I felt fantastic tbh through my 40s and early 50s. I’m 55 now and really starting to feel my age. I haven’t had any Botox etc for a few years. I fancy a face and neck lift for my 60th

LellyMcKelly · 13/10/2019 23:30

I’m 51, I’m going grombré, and I look fabulous. I don’t look 21 and I have a few wrinkles, but I like the way I look in a mirror. I’m adopting a Wise Woman approach to ageing, and don’t believe just in the idea that youthful appearance = beauty. I look well, healthy, happy, and loved.

TheVanguardSix · 14/10/2019 10:18

I am nothing like an old inner tube that keeps getting punctures by the way. why would you want to compare yourself to something like that?

Didn't say you were. To answer your question: Because after 8 months of a virus which nearly killed me, combined with being in my late 40s (sorry, but you don't bounce back at this age without help), I do look like that. And I also have a cynical sense of humour.

Daisyboobooboo · 14/10/2019 10:18

Delatron I think those of us saying mid 50s and 60s is because it's true. When you have been through natural menopause your body really changes as you start to lose muscle tone in your face and body. Oestrogen helped keep everything including your pelvic floor toned and lifted but post menopause it all really changes in a big way.

MissKittyBeaudelais · 14/10/2019 10:38

@Daisyboobooboo I agree. Up to menopause (now 57) I was ok. But now, I just look and feel tired. Aches and pains abundant and that takes its toll too. I’ve also developed a droopy eye. It makes me look sad even when I’m not.

Floisme · 14/10/2019 10:57

I'm 63 and look a lot older than I did five years ago: not that many wrinkles but face a lot rounder, jawline saggier, hair thinner, body less toned. I also go to more funerals than I used to. It's just part of life - makes you focus.

peachgreen · 14/10/2019 12:04

Post PND recovery, at 34. I stopped wanting to die every second of the day and when I looked in the mirror my face and eyes were somehow both puffy and sunken, I had brand new wrinkles, I had grey hairs everywhere and my entire body had slumped downwards. It was horrendous! A good skincare regime and improving my diet has helped a bit.

Mintjulia · 14/10/2019 12:14

46

lazylinguist · 14/10/2019 12:21

I think it's 99% genes. These miracle creams are all expensive bollocks. I'm 48 - no visible grey yet, no wrinkles. I drink coffee and alcohol, don't drink enough water, eat sugar and use cheapo moisturiser and no other skincare products. I have never smoked though - I think that does age you.

Daisyboobooboo · 14/10/2019 12:40

MissKittyBeaudelais yes yes . I didn't age much at all till a couple of years ago. 56. Now I am going to up the nutrition. I already eat well but have slipped a little over the last couple of years which hasn't helped. Going to up my veg and fruit intake again to 10 varieties a day. I don't eat dairy. Don't smoke or drink. I was aching so badly but I started treadmilling and the aches stopped. I'm eating more avocado nuts and seeds too which makes my skin glow. I've also been doing face exercise for a couple of years which has really helped keep my face lifted.

FreeStar · 14/10/2019 12:46

I'm 46 and just really started noticing earlier this year- my under eye area suddenly seems really dry and without lots of moisturiser it looks all crepey Sad