No wrinkles at 42?

[thetartantart]

I'm 42 and have what I think are quite a normal amount of lines and ageing for my age. Lines around eyes, eyes getting a bit baggy and saggy, some lining around mouth area and a crease between my brows. My skin texture is still nice except on my forehead. My hands are also wrinkley.

A friend of mine is also 42, no wrinkles at all. Her undereye area is better than mine was at 26. Her skin is thick, firm smooth and plump. Honestly she looks to be in her mid 20s. I've asked her about her skincare and she says she has used prescription retin a for 20 years now, sunscreen everyday most if her life also vitamin C serums for 17 years, even diying her own before you could easily buy them. She also has never smoked, sun bathed or drank alcohol.

Shes not had anything "done" and I'm very familiar with fillers and botox myself and they don't give you a result like that.

So my question is this, if I start following her regimen now whole we're all on lockdown and I can hide my flakey skin etc then emerge looking 28 in 3 months time or would I have to have started 20 years ago to have the results she has?

Sorry, but no, your friend is pretty much the example of prevention is better than cure (off tangent I'm curious if she's avoided sugar too).

Tretinoin can do a lot of miraculous things (in comparison to other skincare ingredients aside from sun protection) but it can't only do so much and it does it at a snails pace when it's repairing. You can only asses any results after six months and it'll probably take that much time to work up to a dose that's anti ageing (as in will reverse some minor photo damage). The reality is you will have had declining collagen production for quite some time from general ageing where your friend will have retained as much as possible with the Tret and Vit C combo. Simply put, it's difficult to regain what's been lost, potentially some can be restored but you won't get back completely what you have lost. You can have a look at YouTube for hot and flashy's tretinoin updates she's been doing it for years now and it very much proves it takes years to see improvement.

Don't let it discourage you, but be realistic what can be achieved, your skin but better that exudes health rather than your skin 15 years ago.

Also, since she's been on tretinoin for such a long time I suspect she has acne prone/oily skin and that also ages slower so it's an unfair comparison anyhow (and there's usually a genetics factor too).

What's her parents skin like? It's probably genetics.

My DH has skin like this. He doesn’t have a skincare regime. He does exercise daily though.

@botemp, shoot, I guess I knew that though. Interestingly she has a sweet tooth actually but her diet is generally really good, everything from scratch amd she's vegetarian.

@MonsteraCheeseplan. Her Dad does look young for his age but her mum has aged normally I'd say.

I’m almost 40 and have good skin and no wrinkles. I think in part it’s genes, I don’t wear foundation or similar (just blusher along with eye mascara) except on very rare occasions and I’ve never used specialist products. I wash my face with simple or soap (or sometimes hand wash) when I run out and use bog standard cream to moisturise, sometimes Johnson’s sometimes Vaseline brand and sometimes Boots own brands.

@mercedes. I agree genes are a big part of it. I also think people with dark colouring hair and eyes age better.

One thing though is that at nearly 40 skin can change very quickly, it did for me so don't take what you have for granted. The arse has fallen out my face over the past 2 years.

Hahah. This is true.

Start doing the prevention now, you have been warned!!

I agree with pp , it's mainly genes. I'm 60 and have no wrinkles. Never used anything besides Nivea cream. If you've already got some wrinkles I doubt that copying your friends regime will change anything, sorry.

It's genes I think. Both my Mum and Grandma have lovely clear complexions with few wrinkles. I am fifty and only have a few faint lines on my forehead otherwise my skin is smooth and firm.

Analysis of identical twins has found that environmental factors (smoking, sun exposure, stress) can play a more dominant role in aging than genetics," Gregory Bays Brown, a retired plastic surgeon - "In medical school, we learned that aging was about 75 percent genetic and the other 25 percent could be manipulated. These results reverse that thinking."
A second study, completed in 2008 by Procter & Gamble Beauty, showed that while genetics play a role in what kind of spots or wrinkles will appear as you age, how many you will have is greatly influenced by external factors. The final conclusion? Observing your parents tells you what kind of aging issues you are likely to have, but taking precautionary steps can help you sustain youthful skin and keep aging at bay.

What you can do:
Avoid/reduce stress and the sun (exposure)
Use sunscreen
Eat well and exercise
Don't smoke
Have a good skin regime (start using a face oil if you don't currently use one)
Supplement - I'd recommend evening primrose oil, starflower oil and zinc
Increase the amount of good bacteria in your body
Don't use face scrubs or very hot water
Support the skin barrier - don't be too harsh with your skin

It's all in the genes I believe. For example, I'm 47 and I haven't got a single grey hair and my hair is almost black ( Irish heritage) people often disbelieve me when I say it's not coloured. It's also in really good condition despite using supermarket shampoo. What I'm trying to say is that none if this is down to anything I use or anything I do. It's just genes and I suspect your friends skin might be down to the same thing.

High spf sunscreen at all times, ethnicity and genetics

I"m 49 and don't really have wrinkles, I have quite oily skin and a decent skincare regime whilst my sister has had them for years, is younger, drier skin, more outdoorsy

It's called genetics. Simple as that

People in their 30s saying 'I don't have wrinkles'. Who the hell has wrinkles in their 30s?

Who the hell has wrinkles in their 30s?
Most people seem to have wrinkles in their thirties, especially those with Celtic heritage.

Princess Eugenie is 28 in this photo.
Kate and Meghan are both in their 30s.

Gawd Kate looks so old. Sheesh

I don't think it's only genes, although genes do play a part. I'm similar to your friend in that I have used sunscreen every day of the year since my 20s, keep out of the sun, no alcohol/smoking, reasonably good diet, and have had a very effective skincare regime in place for years (tretinoin etc). I am the oldest of my siblings and definitely don't look it. I'm approaching 40 and people still think I'm in my early 30's and that my younger siblings are older than me.

my mother is 60 and is virtually wrinkle free. she does nothing, no sunscreen no skincare beyond a bit of Olay. she is an elegant french lady and she's a vegetarian! i've got a wrinklier forehead than her and I'm 33 😩

"Who the hell has wrinkles in their 30s?
Most people seem to have wrinkles in their thirties, especially those with Celtic heritage.

Princess Eugenie is 28 in this photo.
Kate and Meghan are both in their 30s."

Yes, totally normal to have wrinkles in your late twenties.
For me it started with laughter lines/crows feet and a few forehead wrinkles then in my 30s had 11s/brow lines and lines from nose to lips and the lips also narrowed.
Now, in early 40s, I still have the same lines, but they're more pronounced, harder to hide with makeup.
Before anyone thinks I'm unlucky, I'm told I look slightly younger than my age so my experience should be about average.

I'm nearly 43 now and did have a moment a few months ago when I realised the wrinkles around my eyes now extend down my cheeks. I don't know if I had one of those moments where you suddenly age or if it was just down to having new glasses!

I just asked my 10 year old to smile. She has tiny wrinkles round her eyes when she smiles comparable to Eugene's. They aren't age related wrinkles.

The genetic difference between Kate and Meghan is clear in the photo, with paler skin Kate has more skin damage and her body weight is pretty low whereas Meghan is a bit higher up the healthy range. But I wonder if Meghan has had something done to her forehead because it is very clear of any wrinkles.

But as a PP said environmental factors have a big effect. Do you smoke, drink to excess, go on beach holidays or use sunbeds, have you had large weight fluctuations? What is your diet like, do you drink plenty water and do you exercise regularly?

It always makes me laugh when people say, I'm 42 and have no wrinkles and get mistaken for being in my 30s. Boy oh boy, do you have a big surprise coming your way! I honestly thought I'd escaped ageing. I thought I was different. Thought I'd bucked the trend, that I'd been spared, was different to everyone else. I looked fucking fantastic in my early to mid 40s. Looked in my 30s, was hot as fuck, not a wrinkle or sag in sight. 46 it started, 47 it accelerated and at 48, boom, all bets were off. Age is a great leveller. It'll get you in the end and it's a tsunami coming atcha! Plus, it's not wrinkles that age you.....it's the sag. Jowls and the melted welly cheeks. Just you all wait, you smug 42 year olds 😆

Barkingfuckingdogs so true!

Barkingfuckingdogs, mines a similar story.

I always looked young and thought I always would. Come 50, bam, old age appeared It is so depressing. I'm not that lined, but the sag is horrendous. I look in the mirror less and less these days.

If anyone finds a miracle, please let me know. Ta.