If you could go back in time....

[oldbeforem]

I'm 32, few greys but I really am starting to feel like I've lost my sparkle, already!

I'm dreading looking and feeling older. I was with my Mum this weekend and she said she wished she'd made an effort to stay slim when she was my age as it's so much harder to get in shape at her age.

If you could go back, what do you wished you'd done or taken more care of in your 30's? Or what have you done that you feel has made a difference?

Following along - I'm 33 and feel the same OP. The youthful "glow" is gone

I truly feel my face has aged 5-10 years in the last three (although that's probably more to do with having my two DC in that time!) would like to prevent things getting rapidly worse though so watching with interest.

I'm 48 and I would say looking back, I wish I'd known to ditch the face wipes earlier. I got myself a decent skincare regime when I was about 39/40 (when I had my first DC) and have never looked back. I also ditched alcohol (well, the odd glass on hols but that's it) as it has a huge impact on your skin.

That old chestnut about making sure to look after your neck and hands so they match your face.

Wearing my glasses more to prevent squinting/frowning and number 11 lines.

That less is more in skincare and make up regimes.

In 20 years time you will wish you looked like what you're complaining about now!

I wish I'd kept on top of my weight. But I'm very glad I stopped drinking a couple of years ago, and I'm absolutely sure I look fresher for it. I'm also glad I was careful in the sun. Wish I'd started flossing my teeth sooner.

Following. I’m also early 30s and currently feeling flumpy and frumpy after my second baby.
If I could go back to being 17, I would wear hot pants every day of the year! It’s funny the things we don’t appreciate at the time.

@janejeffer is right. I look back on photos taken in my twenties and wonder why i didn't see my good points back then. Appreciate the positives now so you're not kicking yourself in 20 years for missing them.

I totally agree with janejeffer be thankful for the now. And yes follow others advice about skincare, avoid too much sun, excess alcohol etc but ageing is what it is.

I'd have worn all my favourite clothes instead of saving them for best.
I would not have used Sun-in.
And then everything JaneJeffer and the others said.

I'm your age and I'm liking it so far, but keeping my weight is harder now than it was in my 20s. For me, it was the third baby that did it. But I don't mind!

I wish I'd been strict about using an eye cream with SPF.
I'm in my 40s now and still don't, unless on a sunny holiday. My excuse is that I can't find one that doesn't pill/blob. Anyone got any tips?

Parps I use Bioderma's photoderm max 50+ aquafluide all over my face including around the eyes (it's for sensitive skin so it's fine, I find) after my other skincare. I ignore eye creams/face creams/foundations with spf in them as you'd need to slap it on really thickly to be effective!

Thanks, Sagradafamiliar (I like your username!)
Do you mean you use it for everyday use, not just as sunscreen when on holiday/in the sun? It is marketed as sunscreen as far as I can see. Also, do you use the non-tinted version?

I wish I'd stayed at 10 stone like I was at 27 instead of going up to 14 stone then my weights been 11 - 13 stone ever since.

I'm now just under 13 stone & 43.
I'm determined to loose the weight for good this time wish me luck!!

@Sagradafamiliar do you think it's babies rather than age that's made it harder?

My teeth! I wish I'd stuck to a hygienist/check-up schedule in my 30s, as then I wouldn't have had receding gums, ingrained stains, a crown and a gap now, in my 40s. :(

I absolutely agree, keep your weight down. It only gets harder, plus your skin won't shrink back as well if you lose loads when you're older.
Lift weights, having muscle mass makes a massive difference.

Not a skincare thing but I wish I got my eyebrows tattooed on sooner. I have spent so much time over all those years drawing them on every morning.

I had a really frumpy period in my 30s (we call it the Bob years). No regrets, but if I had my time again, I wouldn't have cut my hair into a bob and worn white stuff/fat face clothing.

I kind of lost myself in either being pregnant/caring for babies or working full time.

Not as much as I like your username, IntermittentParps!
Yes I use it religiously every day, the clear version on top of skincare but under makeup.

Oldbeforem for me I think so, or it could just be a coincidence and part of ageing. I used to find keeping my weight or dropping a bit so easy, but after the third child at 30, different story.

Thanks, Sagradafamiliar, on both counts Here's my username's origins; I can't claim credit for it. popbitch.com/emails/bestial-snorts-and-intermittent-parps/
(I prevaricated for quite some time between this and 'ViolentSymphonyOfSnores'…)

Haha! I love that, parps. I'll keep them in mind if I namechange. I'm trying to cut down on my effing and jeffing, 'I couldn't give a rattling hoot' has a satisfying ring to it.

I couldn't give a rattling hoot

Things I wish I'd done -

Kept up with regular exercise routine - I've lost a lot of muscle tone and harder to get back over 50

Every time I've lost weight I wish I'd made more effort and kept it off - again harder to lose over 50

Started better dental hygiene earlier - so using the little dental brushes twice per day, taken advice on best way to brush teeth ; in fact I'd like to go back to my twenties and not constantly suck mints to take smoke off my breath.

I think the dental one is most important as it's possible to start healthy eating and exercise at any age but I'll never get back the teeth I've lost

I’m 35 and have just given up caffeine - tea, coffee, the lot. Swapped for herbal drinks and water. In the space of a few weeks I’ve lost that sallow, lined look that I assumed was a result of having 2DC under 6 and general ageing. I don’t think I’m going to go back to drinking it now (it gives me palpitations too)

Better diet
More exercise
SUN CREAM!

Eh - I had a good time - what can I say!