Suddenly feel like I’ve aged quickly..

[flia42]

I know no one will have any answers to this but I guess venting helps! I’m 42 by the way!

I’ve been one of those people that always gets comments like ‘how do you never age’ ‘you look amazing for your age’ etc. I still get rarely ID’d..yet lately I feel so run down and aged.
My neck is thinning, it’s panicking me something chronic. I’ve always had a fairly heathy diet, exercise enough, not overweight. Every time I look in the mirror I hate it.
I’ve not long had my hair cut, I felt it was long and stringy aging me, no ones really said they like it..I don’t really so that’s knocked me.
Wrinkles and feeling dizzy are just making me pretty naff!!!
Please tell me I’m not alone..

Unfortunately I think 42 is that age when everything appears to fail overnight.
I can remember a woman I worked with announcing it one day, and the other women all nodding along and agreeing. I was about 39 at the time...sailed through my 40th...then realised at 42 I needed to moisturise my neck and buy reading glasses, and that elasticated waists were actually very comfortable.

I turn 42 in a couple of weeks and I feel the same way. I have upped my skincare regime and started using a Foreo Bear, which has made a difference.

I am also losing weight, which is well overdue, but unfortunately whilst that flatters my body it doesn’t necessarily flatter my face. I feel like I have to choose between a decent arse or a decent face.

Check that you haven't got stuck in a rut with clothes/ makeup/ hairstyle or hair colour. Actually a new hair colour can be a real confidence boost. Im 53 now and actually feel happier with the way I look now compared to 3 or 4 years ago.
You cant reverse aging, the wrinkles and saggy skin will happen, but you can make sure you present yourself well and make the most of your good points.

Have you thought of taking some supplements? Vitamin B supercomplex is good for tiredness, combating hormonal headaches & a bonus for me is that after 6 months my hair felt thicker & bouncier. Your hair will have benefitted from having a good cut. It will grow again!

The dizziness would be worth mentioning to your gp. Can you get in for a check up? High/low blood pressure can cause dizziness, as can anaemia. It's also possible you are heading for perimenopause. Red clover is a good supplement to take for that.

Look at changing your moisturiser & treat yourself to a nice body lotion. I recently discovered L'Occitane, love a lot of their products, but more specifically the Immortelle Reset Serum. I am still using the bottle I bought mid June, so although it's more expensive than my normal night time moisturiser, it lasts for ages. It has made a difference to my skin. It's not the "omg you've had a facelift!" effect, more like the relaxed glow/smoothing effect from when you've been on holiday or been sleeping really well. And the fine lines have definitely blurred and become less visible.

Thank you all it’s nice to hear I’m not alone! I mean I know I’m not but it’s hard to feel like it’s only you. Most of my friends are either older or younger!
I’ll look at the vitamins, I started taking cod liver oil, but c and a vit b complex, the dizziness came on after that but I have googled and seems it can’t be a cause?
Hair I’ll get used to, it grows as you say!
Moisturiser I’ll look into..thank you!

Yes! Omg. I'm 43 and the last year I'm really feeling it. Photos of me at 40 are a complete different person. I thought I was going mad

I'm only 35 and I can relate!! I suddenly look all pale and old and washed out and just not as shiny as before I guess. I had my third kid last year and am chronically exhausted. That's my excuse at least 😉

A bit younger than you. All the stress of this lockdown, and prior to that emotional stress from a life changing event, has aged me quite dramatically. Jouls developing, grey hairs, eyelids drooping, etc

Things I've recently to help retain some youthfulness:

*changed dressing style.
*New hairstyle.
*More spf expensive moisturiser.
*New make up look/routine.
*Dramatically cut back on alcohol (especially wine).
*Earlier bedtime/more sleep = fresher face.
*Eating more healthy eats.

Need to do more really and keep changing things up to feel and look perked up.

Exactly all of this, also not long turned 42! Had my kids at 37 and 39 so I think I was too busy to notice at first by bloody hell I do now the kids are a bit older. Never done as much exercise in my life but constantly feel crap and frumpy, hate all clothes and my hair is stringy too.

Nothing helpful from me just that you are not alone

Yes to considering new make-up colours, especially with eye make-up. Black eyeliner and mascara can start to look too harsh, brown or grey can look more flattering I think.

You’re definitely not alone. I found that there were periods of years when nothing much changed and then I aged almost overnight. Sadly, I’ve just undergone one of those overnight transformations and am finding coming to terms with it pretty difficult.

I understand op. I feel like I've aged so much in the last year. I've bought new products for my newly dry hair and started looking after my skin better. I dont mind wearing glasses for reading , but I'm aware it's another sign of age. It all sucks
and is difficult to get used to.

Be kind to yourself and buy some new clothes to replace the stuff you'll inevitably feel uncomfortable wearing now.

I turned 42 a couple of months ago and felt exactly the same. I looked tired, lines appearing on face and generally looked my age. I have however found an amazing fake tan for my face and i look so much better with a tan. My makeup wasnt sitting right on my face. I dont hardly need any now with having a tan. Also the first one i've found that doesnt give me spots! I still feel knackered but look it so much now.

@Chilli08
Ooh which fake tan for the face please?

I am 42 and it feels like the last year has taken its toll. I lost my dad towards the end of last year, have had much more stress and sadness in a very short space of time than I've had in the last few decades. Add to this not having to look smart for the office etc and I feel a bit lost. I'm determined to sort myself out though and feel better again. Good luck OP. X

I was 51 when I went to bed looking great for my age and woke up with a face and neck that said "fuck that shit, I'm going south as of today". I still can't come to terms with it.m

Yep.

@mewkins im sorry to hear about your dad i cant imagine the sadness and stress. @JMAngle1 Its the st tropez self tan purity bronzing water face mist. I was abit wary as a spray but it is so natural. I just wash face as normal in the evening and every other night spray a few pumps always make sure you wipe eyelids with tissue after. It is abit pricey but a bottle lasts me 3-4 months and boots do it on offer a lot. It doesnt smell that awful fake tan smell either. I was looking washed out and tired and it does make a big difference.

You're not alone. I made it to 47 still looking younger than my age, then age I look rapidly caught up with and overtook my real age. I had assumed it was because of the menopause.

Yes 42 for me too! I developed number 11s and even though my skin is probably the best it’s ever been after a lifetime fighting acne, I just look older. I catch sight of myself in car windows and it’s not pretty. I am getting marionette lines and lines around my lips and tear troughs.

I’m leaning into it a bit in that I think long hair is more youthful, but mine looks better (not younger) shorter. Your goalposts have to move as you hone in on 50. You’re still looking for good for age, but it’s an older age.

But you just need way more maintenance and the slightly depressing thing is it’s only downhill from here. Of course we should love ourselves for more than how we look and eventually we all have to accept that (and plenty of people don’t make 42) but it can be hard going!

Peri menopause doesn’t help, as oestrogen drops off. No cream can sort that out.

Add me to this list. Lockdown, bereavement, adult children returning home 'to save money', etc. These are not times conducive to punitive diets.

Tell you what's actually worked for me: liquid marine collagen from Amazon. It might be snake oil (shark oil?) but my hair's thickened up and my nails aren't breaking so much. It's a small consolation for my wobbly tum and emerging jowls. I've also started the HRT conversation with my GP.

I'm with you all...I'm 39 and my lovely 7yo son said 'mummy, you have four chins'

Marvellous!

I am 43 and feel and look a lot better with a tan and some cream blusher and fluffy eyebrows.

Maybe you just need to change your styling so it is more luminous for the face and for clothes I generally find wearing good expensive clothes also works well for me. I wouldn’t have the budget for what I wear now when I was younger - but hey, anything looked great then no matter where it came from. Now it’s a different story and I buy less but I buy better.

yes agree you have to lean in.

I think I have found it hard to accept really, but am getting better now I've learned not to prioritise or emphasie how I look. I grew up in the era of 'male gaze' and saw myself in those terms. now I concentrate on my career, family, and doing things I enjoy.

ooh but i do use a spray face tan from ambre solaire which is ace.

Drunk Elephant Sunshine Drops have made a big difference to my skin. I mix them with Glossier Futuredew.