Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Anyone in their 50s and decided against Botox, fillers or anything but face cream?

317 replies

Tabbouleh · 12/08/2022 08:09

I just wondered, prompted by the many recent threads. And not because you can't afford it either. I can afford them but have decided to age naturally for various reasons.

Feeling a little lonely though!

OP posts:
Hbh17 · 12/08/2022 22:20

Don't even use face cream, moisturiser etc - just water in the shower. I expect that I do look my age but - so what? That's OK. Excessive Botox or procedures don't make people look younger anyway but, even if they did, why should we have to conceal our age??

youkiddingme · 12/08/2022 22:25

Don't use face cream either. Just soap and water.
I much prefer the natural look on people and find someone who has aged naturally much more beautiful than any amount of fake.

DramaAlpaca · 12/08/2022 22:34

I'm late 50s, haven't had anything done and have no intention of doing so.

TokyoTen · 12/08/2022 22:39

I'm 57 and I've never had anything done. Just use plain unscented soap.and water. The only thing I use is dove deodorant a d occasionally unscented aveeno cream.

krill · 12/08/2022 23:02

All ended up with terrible sagging and facelifts.
This is what I dont understand?

That's not because of the botox. The sagging will happen anyway and is down to face shape/bone structure, weight and other factors.

Majority of threads with jowls, sagging, and other signs of ageing, don't involve botox.

milkyaqua · 12/08/2022 23:21

That's not because of the botox. The sagging will happen anyway and is down to face shape/bone structure, weight and other factors.

Majority of threads with jowls, sagging, and other signs of ageing, don't involve botox.

Botox plays a role in this "sagging". As does rapid/extreme weightloss, and bone structure, some genetics and skin types, and smoking, alcohol, excessive sugar intake, and sun damage. But most of what has apparently "sagged" is muscle tissue. I cannot help noticing that many women of middle age have what I would term "misery face" at a certain point, which they elect to "fix" not by improving their mental attitude and lifestyle, but by these procedures.

I do think Botox is a gateway drug. You are entering a world where these procedures are normalised, and you are focusing on a displeasing feature which then, care of your excessive focus or the side-effects of your previous "tweak" leads to you noticing another area of concern.

As I wrote in another Botox thread:

It is odd, as Botox freezes the muscles of the face, and so expressions aren't made or made as fully. But the Botoxed muscles atrophy over time, and then everything sags. This is attributed to "loss of fat pads", and "ageing", and then fillers are "needed". Then the fillers migrate and things start to look a little puffy and strange... It's a look. Many like this look. But it isn't youthful.

krill · 12/08/2022 23:32

Botox plays a role in this "sagging".

Not when the majority of threads worried about sagging don't involve botox users. In fact I haven't seen one where it has been cited as the cause.

It can contribute to sagging, but that's usually absolutely years of use involved.

milkyaqua · 12/08/2022 23:37

In fact I haven't seen one where it has been cited as the cause.

Well, it won't be cited as the cause by people who remain oblivious to the fact that muscles are involved! What is lifted in a facelift, etc? The skin and underlying muscle tissue. What is frozen by Botox? The underlying muscle tissue.

RaininSummer · 12/08/2022 23:40

I haven't had anything done and no plans to.Am 59 now. Don't scare the horses too badly and like being low maintenance.

krill · 12/08/2022 23:40

Not when the majority of threads worried about sagging don't involve botox users.*

Original poster
Tabbouleh · 13/08/2022 05:54

I cannot help noticing that many women of middle age have what I would term "misery face" at a certain point, which they elect to "fix" not by improving their mental attitude and lifestyle, but by these procedures.

I definitely have misery face! To be fair, our lives have been a bit miserable for the last few years with DD's illness. I try to eat well, exercise, and I don't drink any more. Not sure if any of that has made a difference.

OP posts:
milkyaqua · 13/08/2022 06:07

I definitely have misery face!

Me, too. But I am here to tell you, it can recover! I am always surprised when mine comes good. But it has been a hard few years here, also. I am too lazy somehow for the official facial exercises, but smiling at home helps mine.

Mybeautifulfriend22 · 13/08/2022 06:12

I’m not your target poster but I’m approaching my mid forties. I’m lucky genetically as I’ve always looked younger and my skin is holding out for now. The chin/jaw area is annoying though.As well as my chest area which holds sleep lines for hours…..

At the moment I’ve no plans I’m using things like retinol,vit c, and others as part of my skin care. SPF on my face and so on…. I’m planning to continue this maybe bringing in some of the more expensive treatments available rather than injectables. But I’d never say never.

I see a lot of younger women without make up and it just looks so obvious when they’ve had Botox and fillers ( more so the fillers tbh) I know a handful who are more my age who have Botox who look great but you can still tell in most of them.

AuntieJoyce · 13/08/2022 06:26

@milkyaqua You’re going to have to help me out here as I am completely failing to see how a few injections into a forehead are creating jowls on the lower half of someone’s face

myalternatename · 13/08/2022 06:47

55 and I have no idea whether I can afford Botox or not as I have no idea how much it is, I have zero interest. I use concealer under my eyes and that's the only concession I've made to getting older, lol

ArcticSkewer · 13/08/2022 06:53

Chakraleaf · 12/08/2022 08:38

I won't do it. It just looks like a 50yr old that's had botox....so it doesn't make you actually look younger

I'm aging as nature intended (maybe some nivea)

Was just thinking this the other day. It really doesn't make you look younger, just smoother.

Often also makes you look a bit odd but presumably if you pay more that doesn't happen?

I'm not bothering paying money to look less creased but the same age. What's the point of that?

milkyaqua · 13/08/2022 06:57

AuntieJoyce · 13/08/2022 06:26

@milkyaqua You’re going to have to help me out here as I am completely failing to see how a few injections into a forehead are creating jowls on the lower half of someone’s face

People have Botox in many places other than the forehead. Paralysing or limiting the movement of the muscles of the face may create a pleasant aesthetic for some if they like a very blank immobile canvas, but it is the muscles that are holding the structure and shape of the face up. It's not rocket science!

Wallywobbles · 13/08/2022 07:02

Yup early 50s. Very anti. My face is the result of my life and I'm ok with that.

UseOfWeapons · 13/08/2022 07:06

I’m 56, not had anything done, and definitely won’t be doing anything in the future.
I have a colleague who is 43, has had everything done, and she is adamant that when she gets to 50, she’ll have a full body, and face lift. She was a good looking young woman, who still looks very young, but her fixed expression, and puffy lips and cheeks make her look ‘wrong’. Makes me sad, but she’s not sad at all, she just doesn’t want to look old, which is up to her. Shame she feel like this, to me.
I don’t have the money for all this stuff, but even if I did, I wouldn’t spend it on something that needs a lot of maintenance, and won’t stop me from aging long term. I’m happy in my skin and prefer people who have expressive faces, and expressions I can read!

Snoredoeurve · 13/08/2022 07:13

milkyaqua · 12/08/2022 23:21

That's not because of the botox. The sagging will happen anyway and is down to face shape/bone structure, weight and other factors.

Majority of threads with jowls, sagging, and other signs of ageing, don't involve botox.

Botox plays a role in this "sagging". As does rapid/extreme weightloss, and bone structure, some genetics and skin types, and smoking, alcohol, excessive sugar intake, and sun damage. But most of what has apparently "sagged" is muscle tissue. I cannot help noticing that many women of middle age have what I would term "misery face" at a certain point, which they elect to "fix" not by improving their mental attitude and lifestyle, but by these procedures.

I do think Botox is a gateway drug. You are entering a world where these procedures are normalised, and you are focusing on a displeasing feature which then, care of your excessive focus or the side-effects of your previous "tweak" leads to you noticing another area of concern.

As I wrote in another Botox thread:

It is odd, as Botox freezes the muscles of the face, and so expressions aren't made or made as fully. But the Botoxed muscles atrophy over time, and then everything sags. This is attributed to "loss of fat pads", and "ageing", and then fillers are "needed". Then the fillers migrate and things start to look a little puffy and strange... It's a look. Many like this look. But it isn't youthful.

Agree with this.
Its not normal ageing or sagging but an extreme face drop.
Its like the face has zero structure anymore.
My DGranny and DM didnt get this.
Wrinkles and some softening but not that extremeloss of structure.
Then guess what?
More fillers,prohfilo( spelling) threads inserted .
Not for me thanks

FusionChefGeoff · 13/08/2022 07:14

Until it becomes the norm for men to also feel the need to inject their face, I will be choosing not to.

I think it gives a terrible message to younger girls and serves to reinforce the patriarchy's idea that your value is based on your looks.

Not for me thanks.

LunaTheCat · 13/08/2022 07:59

Aged 57 and have been using sunscreen on my face since my early 20’s and am sure that makes a difference.
I could afford a go but over 10 to 20 yrs it’s a huge amount of money! What happens when you stop? Does everything collapse?
Women are an unregulated trial, making lots money for drug companies and some doctors.
I have avoided Botox and fillers as I was worried about the message it sends to myself -I want to embrace ageing! It is a privilege denied to many.

legosunqueen · 13/08/2022 08:19

I'm 54, moisturise but that's it. I've been lucky that I haven't got many wrinkles, not even 11s, but there are some fine lines by my eyes & I have the dreaded marionette jowls developing...I had oily skin all my life until recently which I think helped ref wrinkles.

I realised recently that new trends such as retinol have passed me by, but it may be too late for that anyway?

Not bothered about Botox, never going to look 20 or even 30 again!

mosex · 13/08/2022 08:21

I use aveeno moisturiser. Nothing else. Same for about 15 years. I'm 45

mosex · 13/08/2022 08:23

It's always very obvious when people have it so it just makes them look shallow and vain to me