Oh FFS. I think the only alternatives are a facelift or a balaclava

[CharlottesComplicatedWeb]

I know ageing is inevitable. I know I’m old (born 62) and yes, I probably ought to do something worthwhile to take my mind off it but...

I’ve recently tried to lose weight and get fitter. Have lost 20lbs and feel good. Clothes fit better and can run further. All good. Today, we met up in a socially distanced way, to walk around a country park. It was dry but very windy. We took photos and shared them on our phones. Thinking I feel so much better than pre-Covid catastrophe, I was bloody shocked at how old and utterly knackered I look. My jawline as gone. My face looks tired. I had way too much mascara on so that I’d look awake (not sleeping well as have a painful protruding spinal disc at L5 and T12 together with a dh who snores and a cat who wakes me at 5am to go out 🙄). Even so, I wasn’t prepared for what I look like.

I know I ought not to care. My nan looked older than me at 45 but hey, life was tough then. Is it stress of modern life? Too many diets?

Is it acceptable to wear a hajib if I am not of the Muslim Faith. Either that or I need to invest in a good surgeon.

Anyone have any idea of good creams that work on tired ladies pushing 60? Ought I just to go makeup free and suck it up? God knows.

@ohee are there any free links?

@Benjispruce2

Oh and camera raised, chin up, open mouth smile. Used to assist a photographer.

Someone told me that just before I was a bridesmaid (I was only in my 20s!). The results were slightly alarming

@Ohee... thanks. Wondering whether my Rio will do it?

As and when hands on make up advice is allowed i would definitely recommend getting a make-over at a counter and ask for an up to date daily look. (I’m a fan of Bobbi Brown, who i think so this really well). I think we can get stuck in a rut make up wise and it becomes very ageing. I sit on a committee with someone with distractingly dated eyeliner (think Lady Di) who I just want to attack with some micellar water and then show her how to do tight-lining. It’s not the only solution (I’m 56 and also shyly peeping at Botox websites) but its something that’s easily overlooked.

Ha ha @StCharlotte it works when you’re bearing 50!

Nearing

Well I'm nearing 60 now (Oh God!), so I might try it again now - fingers crossed

Was it a bad phone? I look really awful on mine, especially selfie. It properly picks up lines on my forehead. But pics my DH takes using an actual camera/my friend’s phone I don’t look half so bad... so don’t be too hard on yourself! The weight loss is great, keep it off!

@Benjispruce2 here are some I found on the DM: www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3541459/amp/Smoker-53-ditches-anti-ageing-creams-favour-DIY-facelift.html and www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3128619/amp/Forget-Botox-Pull-funny-faces-beat-wrinkles-s-natural-way-years-bay.html. That second link has an exercise dubbed Les Dawson - it was my game changer, improved jowls after a month. @Op I, too, have the Rio, and Nuface, and I think they help. but they won’t build muscle as much as manual exercises do. Try that Les Dawson one (there’s a free video of it on Eva’s site too I think) but she doesn’t call it the same thing. I Found a free description of the exercise on the net so wasn’t even sure I was doing it right. But I did it for a month, about 20 repetitions, several times a day. Then I had a eureka moment. And I’d wasted money on RF and fillers and Omnilux over the years that had cost hundreds - but nothing as good as this - and it was free!

Ah thanks @ohee I will give it a go!

Hmmm... wondering whether iPhones are just to brutal for anyone over 18 😂

I tell you what I rooted out this morning, and I know, it’s a no-no for mature skin but, I was gifted a bottle of Estée Lauder Doublewear earlier in the year. My sister had it, hated it and gave it to me. Because it wasn’t a shade I’d normally wear, I put it in a drawer and left it there. But... I’ve got a tiny bit of it on today and it’s lovely. I’d usually wear a foundation much warmer than my skin tone because I’m so pale I think I look like death warmed up. However, this Nude Ivory shade is spot on. Yes, I need blusher but, it actually “lightens” my complexion, if that makes sense and I’ve forgone eyeliner, just a bit of mascara. It looks better I think, in the “less is more” way posters upthread have suggested.

Methinks it’s time to embrace a more “realistic” me. Instead of trying to look a totally different colour iykwim just so I look awake and well.

Photos are a shocker!

Some days I think I don't look so bad but if I have a photo taken I always get a jolt.

My sleep is bad, I have health problems, on medication and so on. Lost a lot of weight over the last few years too.

Depressing but there it is.

Op never wear darker than skin colour foundation. Add warmth with blusher or a touch of bronzer if you must. I’m off this week and so tried a face workout this morning. Felt it gave me a glow even after 15 mins so going to try to keep it up. I also only use powder on my eyelids now, to prevent eyeshadow creasing and I find it keeps my complexion more dewy and less ageing than a matt look that settles into lines.

I swear by Doublewear - bloody love the stuff

@vidalbaboon 😂 great name! Weight loss, beyond a certain age, is tough on the face, I think. However, I’ve got to keep it off for health reasons. My 2x slipped discs are just about bearable and I can turn over in bad without it waking me up all the time and don’t need strategically placed pillows to support my back. I was starting to feel O L D.

@VampireVicki... I’m pretty amazed by it tbh. No concealer needed under eyes, my blusher stayed out (it usually wore off quite quickly). And, you only need the tiniest bit.

@Benjispruce2... I’m always trying to look healthier. I think we’re so used to seeing people with a “tan” in November, that we forget, that’s NOT normal. I feel I’ve been pale and interesting today and actually, it’s nothing like as much hard work as the amount of makeup I’d need to wear. I think I’ve been in a rut now for a while and of course, the counters are all closed 😐

Blusher stayed put

great name! Weight loss, beyond a certain age, is tough on the face, I think. However, I’ve got to keep it off for health reasons. My 2x slipped discs are just about bearable and I can turn over in bad without it waking me up all the time and don’t need strategically placed pillows to support my back. I was starting to feel O L D.

Thanks your name is cool too!

yes it is hard having all those health problems I really feel for you - that sounds awful 🌺

my particular issue is a lung disease and losing some weight really helped me because my body has lost weight to carry around

Well done @vidalbaboon! And in these times, you need to everything you can to promote lung health. Stay safe, out there. It’s all so scary.

Oh don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of daily tanner but darker foundation on pale skin just looks odd against your neck and hands etc. I’ve pulled my back today and now in agony! Feeling really old as can’t stand up straight.

If it helps OP I am not of Islamic faith but have always worn a hijab out, I like the anonymity and comfort of it out when doing the shopping and running errands.

I am 60 and have always looked after my skin, even my neck isn’t bad.

I don’t have any wrinkles, but that could be because my face looks like a hand washed jumper being held up from the sink.

Not a crease but the bottom dragged down.

I shocked myself the other day seeing myself at the self service counter tv screen. I looked about 35 -40 in my mask.

Mask off later I look in the mirror and I looked 70s because of my jowls. I feel my face is slowly slipping off my skull.

Did look at face lift before and after pics and couldn’t find anyone as bad as mine so am watching this thread with interest.

I think you can try to maintain but ultimately surgery is the only answer

I have never smoked. I have always worn factor 50 big sunglasses and wide brimmed hats and I don’t drink. I used to run but haven’t for 20 years

@Rainbowbagel... that’s interesting. I’m fine with wearing my mask. I’m ok with the anonymity too. Just as well, as we’re stuck with this situation for the foreseeable.

@Oliversmumsarmy... it’s not good, is it? And so annoying when you feel you’ve done the right things. I guess genetics play a huge part. Keep your chin up (so to speak).

@Benjispruce2... take it easy then. I think constant pain and the medication that goes with it is ageing. My hip pain is relentless but I’m nowhere near needing a replacement. Yet.

I walked round with a slipped disc for 7 years. The pain was unbearable and I certainly couldn’t sleep with the pain.

When I look at photos now of before the slipper disc and just a few months later I look back in shock of how I changed from someone who didn’t look great but passable to looking frumpy grumpy and fat middle aged woman

@Ohee

OP I’m about your age so I sympathise. Face exercises really work - on so many levels. In the same way the only natural way to get rid of bingo wings is exercise. They don’t just lift your face to lessen jowls and create muscle that plump flat cheeks, they also help to thicken thin fragile skin. And they are free (or very little initial outlay), and you don’t need any equipment. I’ve posted before with links to what I use. Honestly I saw a huge difference after a month doing just the one very simple exercise. (I now do many others). They are not a chore as when you see the results you want to keep doing them. And they are not really the same as Microcurrent, as they build muscle rather than just tone it. What have you got to lose?

Which exercises please? 😀