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If you're in your 60s or 70s and still look good, what advice would you give younger women?

122 replies

Ilikepalindromes · 18/12/2021 16:46

Do you have one tip or product you would recommend?

OP posts:
Juniper68 · 19/12/2021 23:54

I keep meaning to try astral ever since I read the goddess Lumley uses it. I adore her.

LookslovelyinSpringtime · 19/12/2021 23:57

@tunbridge

My mother is 68 but is frequently mistaken for my sister, which is mortifying for me, but always puts a spring in her step.

I think it’s a combination of good genes (I resemble my father so not holding out much hope there), good luck, and iron discipline.

She’s never smoked, never drank alcohol, and barely has any salt or sugar. No sunbathing (although she doesn’t do sunscreen either) and no caffeine. Daily weight bearing exercise - she gardens obsessively. She’s a size 12 so not skinny, but has excellent posture.

She swears by minimal make-up, which she removes with baby oil and a damp flannel. That’s literally her entire skincare regime other than washing with soap when in the shower. She does have an expensive hairdresser she sees frequently, and her hair is dyed.

A few things that have definitely aged me, but which she has dodged:

She has never plucked her eyebrows so they’re full and natural.

She’s never worked shifts or long hours or suffered any big work stress.

She’s always had an excellent diet because she’s a really great cook.

She’s always had great health and Bupa healthcare.

She’s never worried about her children’s welfare - we never gave her a moment’s trouble!

No worries about money.

Stress, lack of sleep and worry are disastrous . I think sugar is also really terrible. Alcohol is full of sugar. Something lots of people overlook.
JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 20/12/2021 00:16

Wear a well fitting bra, tits round your waist makes you look older, fatter, scruffier and makes your clothes look shit.

Westfacing · 20/12/2021 00:16

I'm 67.

Keep your weight down
Look after your teeth and feet
Walk whenever possible
Eve Lom cleanser
Basic moisturiser for face and body
Not too much make-up

StartupRepair · 20/12/2021 00:20

Laugh a lot. Get outside when you can. Stay engaged and willing to learn and accept change. Build up strength with weight training.

ESGdance · 20/12/2021 01:14

Invest in a good colourist and hairdresser.

“Young” glossy hair can be achieved with quality products (olaplex etc) and having the right shade for skin tone is critical - also a natural contemporary flattering cut.

My mother always did this whereas her sisters home dyed with a too dark monoblock colour and aging cut or dated bob.

It’s interesting that no one is saying all of the
complex prescription layer and layers of skin treatments I read about on hear or all the Botox / fillers. Unless that age group missed out on that?

didyouscoredarling · 20/12/2021 01:27

@Joystir59

Don't smoke or drink or wear make up. Stay active, normal weight, don't do sunbeds, don't tan yourself to leather in the sun, eat lots of fruit and veg. Look after your inner child!
How miserable
Anystarinthesky · 20/12/2021 01:45

My MIL said never wear beige or have matching his and her jackets!

Time40 · 20/12/2021 01:47

How is looking after your inner child "miserable"? I think that's a really good tip!

tzarine · 20/12/2021 02:03

smile
resting bitch face ages you
fuck overpriced skincare
sunscreen
hydrate
workout - ballet, pilates, yoga

ShippingNews · 20/12/2021 02:07

I'm 63, have got good skin , and I'm sure it's genes. Both my parents had really good skins into their late 80's. I've always used Nivea , but my mother never used anything on her face at all and she still kept a lovely complexion.

alexdgr8 · 20/12/2021 02:18

never sunbathe.
always use sunscreen, min 15spf in winter, 30 rest of year.
don't smoke. don't drink alcohol, or fizzy drinks.
don't dye your hair, or use hairdryers.
try to avoid sugar.

BasiliskStare · 20/12/2021 02:22

@user1471453601 - that made me laugh - my mother who is 83 had her cataracts done 5 or so years ago - & afterwards said to my father - why have you let me go out looking like this. She could not see what she looked like. I have to say she dresses better than me now.

FinallyFluid · 20/12/2021 02:42

Teeth See a good dentist every six months and hygienist every three.

Tits* Good bras.

Toes Expensive boots and experiment with colour on your feet, you can then get away with fairly run of the mill Matalan/Primark clothes.

My neighbour said to me last week you always look so polished.

I have had two primary cancer in five years and with the first one I lost five and a half stone, I have kept this off, but I am a bit wrinkled around the mouth, my forehead is wrinkle free and that is down to Aveeno, occasionally Nivea and the occasional pot of Clarins.

I have had a hard life medically, two above mentioned cancers,which came with chemo and radio, heart failure post partum, however even we were broke we were not as broke as some people on here, so have been lucky. , I have always had a cleaner, dog walker, ironing lady,

*(not a word I am fond of but myself and my Best Friend use it as a short hand.)

FinallyFluid · 20/12/2021 02:46

DH and I do drink alcohol, but we cook from scratch, we don't have takeaways and about once a month we will have a ready meal from M&S as a treat.

So a lot of it is luck and some of it is down to an easy life from a household point of view.

I retired from a stressful job last year (57) and it has to be said that the lack of stress shows in my face this year.

Malibuismysecrethome · 20/12/2021 09:00

I would always recommend someone does just one class of yoga or Pilates a week every week. Regular spa pedicures to look after your feet.

Double cleansing of your face, neck and décolletage. Look after your teeth. Ditto hair.

Take supplements. HRT. What others have said on here.

didyouscoredarling · 20/12/2021 09:05

@alexdgr8

never sunbathe. always use sunscreen, min 15spf in winter, 30 rest of year. don't smoke. don't drink alcohol, or fizzy drinks. don't dye your hair, or use hairdryers. try to avoid sugar.
Don't breathe Grin
UntilBubleSings · 20/12/2021 09:06

I meet hundreds of people every day. The older ones who look good are the ones that look natural and dress well, covering the bits of their bodies that don't look so good anymore. EG upper arms

IamGusFring · 20/12/2021 09:34

@ESGdance

Invest in a good colourist and hairdresser.

“Young” glossy hair can be achieved with quality products (olaplex etc) and having the right shade for skin tone is critical - also a natural contemporary flattering cut.

My mother always did this whereas her sisters home dyed with a too dark monoblock colour and aging cut or dated bob.

It’s interesting that no one is saying all of the
complex prescription layer and layers of skin treatments I read about on hear or all the Botox / fillers. Unless that age group missed out on that?

No "that age group" didn't miss out on that although maybe so if later 70s...😂 I am 66 and get my Botox every 6 months but it's not my number one tip which is as already said - no smoking or excessive drinking . The bad news for some though is genetics which is at the root of it all. Other things - great hair , a nod to modern trends style wise , an active positive mind ,walking/ feel good exercise , decent bra , good makeup , sex ( nothing like it for your skin) and a smile.
IamGusFring · 20/12/2021 09:34

Oh yes and teeth - look after your teeth .

Juniper68 · 20/12/2021 10:04

I forgot about sex IamGusFring nothing like it to get circulation to your face BlushGrin

frugalkitty · 20/12/2021 11:14

My mum would say to keep moving, even in her 80s I can't persuade her to use the chair lift we had for my Dad, she insists if she starts getting lazy it will be a slippery slope. My Dad was the same in his battle against Parkinson's, he firmly believed that as long as he could move or do certain things himself (like getting out of the armchair instead of having one that lifts you) he should.

tunbridge · 20/12/2021 12:11

@LookslovelyinSpringtime This is the luck thing, isn’t it? I have been unlucky with my health and that of my child and that prolonged stress is written all over my face. I had no control over that, but am trying to use more constructive stress relief than biscuits and booze!

tunbridge · 20/12/2021 12:16

Another observation (which my mother doesn’t benefit from, but I do, as does my MIL) is being interested in fashion. We don’t follow trends but do keep an eye on what’s new, and resist wearing ‘classics’.

I also recommend having younger friends and gay men friends to keep a sense of mischief.

Knittingnanny · 20/12/2021 14:06

If you have a hobby like knitting, playing the piano, dancing etc, keep it going. Good for the brain as well as physical fitness