Whats your secret if you regularly get told you look younger than your age

[AnandaKonda]

I think it is largely genetics .. do things like sun screen, water, diet, yoga etc really help?

I'm 63 and, in the dusk with the light behind me, I might sometimes pass for 59.
Big fucking deal.

I do think I look pretty good sometimes but no-one ever says that. (Correction - my husband does but nobody else.) What they always tell me instead is that I don't look my age. It's just become the default compliment for women over 45 and it's a nonsense.

I certainly don't take it seriously from anyone trying to put me at my ease, sell me stuff or generally butter me up. The only people I think are being sincere are the very young who are just surprised that someone my age still has their own teeth.

Exactly Flois, I don't see 'you don't look your age' as a compliment, it's a platitude said to older women. Older woman are beautiful as younger women are, it's a different beauty, more powerful I think because it's not reliant on society's perception.

I don't want to be told I look younger. I don't take it as a compliment.

Yes, genetics! I’m quite lucky in that both sides of the family have good skin. I recently embraced the ‘poor woman’s botox’ and got a fringe And I think I look healthier for not drinking (stopped just shy of 18 months ago). Until my early 40s I had a massive chubby face and double chin, then lost weight, looked tired and ten years older for a while then had CACI facials for a while, which did seem to tighten things up.

Botox

Botox, really?

And Benny, I don't believe that dyeing your hair makes you look younger. It just makes you look like you've dyed your hair.

Never wore make up ever except occasionally lipstick 55 not a wrinkle or crows foot in sight went out with my 32 year old son last week and people thought we were a couple.. Hes good looking im not

True

Avoiding the sun
Not smoking

Genes! Sorry probably not what you want to hear.

My gran on my mothers side (that's where the youthful looks are) was very into taking care of herself and had a "regime" but her mother and my mother did nothing more than wash with soap and water and look just as good. My mum has the most amazing soft smooth skin and always has. When I was getting married, bro finishing police training and sis leaving school she mentioned this to a colleague and colleague genuinely assumed she'd had me/us very young for all that to be possible, perhaps even underage! She actually had us quite "late" for her family being mid 20's (catholic family previous generations all married and mothers much younger), but I also think it's the bone structure and features that make us look younger.

My skin isn't the best due to mh issues, but prior to that I've often been mistaken for being much younger than I am, I was still getting not only ID'd but automatically given child fares on public transport until my early 30's.

When pregnant with dd (late 20's) I had some odd/nasty comments made by strangers when I was heavily pregnant and not wearing my wedding ring (fingers were swollen it ended up on necklace).

Dd is almost 19 and TALL and still gets taken for 14/15 max she is finding it frustrating just now but will enjoy it more as she ages.

On the downside the same genes also seem to come (in our family at least) with apple shaped figure and a real struggle to keep weight down. Which aside from the looks aspect also makes us more prone to developing diabetes even in those family members that have managed to maintain a healthy weight and diet.

I happen to think even type 2 diabetes isn't solely down to poor behaviour based on that experience, else everyone that's overweight with a sweet tooth would get it.

Genetics & oily skin.. may cause a few spots here & there but also helps with wrinkles!

I don't care whether or not I look my age, it's just that some people comment that I don't look as though I am in my 60s. And they are not being polite, I don't move in those sort of circles .
Maybe the fact that I don't care actually helps, I wouldn't dream of dyeing my grey hair or getting it 'styled', I don't dress in trendy clothes, never go to a beautician ... But I think having a positive outlook and enjoying life, getting out about & involved in things maybe gives the impression that I am younger than I am.

ILikeyourHairyHands

Dyeing your hair - as in not having a home box dye, but a good quality one by an expert, makes all the difference. And going a bit lighter with age. My natural hair is almost black, but I am almost 50% grey and it's hideously patchy - grey at temples and front, blackish all over the back. I have it dyed a dark ash blond with variations, which suits my skin tone.

The other important thing is not smoking! My 46-year-old friend who smokes is SO wrinkly, especially around her lips and cheeks. She hates it.

Definitely being fat. Keeps the wrinkles at bay for longer.

See that's another reason I think mainly genes - mum, gran and great gran all heavy smokers most of their lives and barely a wrinkle between them!

Ahh, I've smoked for 30 years.

I also think that 'our' generation of middle aged women have never looked better or had a better attitude. It's not youth. It's definitely not botox. You can spot it a mile off.

I remember my mother at 40. She looked absolutely ancient. She dressed appallingly and just was also very sour, never exercised, didn't care, like many people back then.

Me at the same age is incomparable. I look good for my age, she did not.

I am 49 and look 'in my forties' where? I don't know, I don't care. I want to be healthy and happy and most of all not embarrass DD.

I also get loads of IDs and 'I can't believe your age' it fools me NOT ONE JOT, I mean that. I look my age, good for my age, but my age.

So, there's no formula. I eat an excellent diet, not faddy, but I cook and eat a huge variety of food, very little processed. I've always kept out of the sun.

But I smoke, 30-odd fags a day, and I like drinking, and I've taken my share of drugs in my youth.

So there's no formula, no great answer. It is what it is. And what it is, is a comfort, a happiness with oneself. A joy to be you. That's the answer. That's the key to undestand that other people's perception is not what matters.

What matters really is a deep understanding of yourself. A deep enjoyment of who you are. An utter disregard of what others may think.

Just enjoy being you.

And yes Billie, I agree completely with what you say.

I have no fucking idea what someone my age looks like. I vaguely assume many of my friends are about my age (and landmark birthdays are the only clue for colleagues etc) and they all look quite different. Occasionally I realise I’ve got it wrong, in whatever direction.

I think @BillieEilish has hit the nail on the head, with the “attitude”. I’m 49. I’m reasonably fit, and although not high maintenance at all, reasonably well presented. My DC are 8 and 11.

When my grandmother was 50. she declared herself to be an old lady, refused to look after children, drive or cook from scratch any more! She and my grandfather went on a cruise, then decided that they were no longer travelling more than an hour from home. They lived another 25-30 years, but with a very operative “old person” approach to life.

Mostly genetics . I look young for my age
My mother is her late sixties and looks much younger. She doesn’t have any wrinkles.

I exercise daily
I ensure that I have enough sleep and rest
I take a multi vitamins

I am mid 50s and have always been told I look much younger than my age - whole adult life. There was a period when I was told I was looking younger each time some saw me ! Currently told I look early 40s max.

Vegetarian my whole adult life and slim (this seems to be relevant).
Drink a lot of water.
Genes - definitely take after my dad (a lot) and mum (a bit) on the looking younger thing - no gray at all, young skin etc.
I don’t wear makeup.
I have however smoked, drunk quite regularly (and a lot in younger days), had more sun than could have, have an extremely pressured job, a bust social life. Have recently lost both parents and haven’t slept well for a few years. Think these last two are starting to make me age a little more quickly.

Genes, only wearing make up very occasionally, applying eye cream since teens. Oddly I think people's voices can make them appear younger than they are.

I used to work in a chemist and there was an 82 year old regular customer who looked at least 20 years younger (no kidding!!!). She said the secret was Astral cream applied every night and not to neglect the neck, chest and hands when moisturising.