What makes someone look 20, 30 or 40? (I always get mistaken for younger.)

[roselune]

I'm 40 and really fed up of getting mistaken for younger, especially in a work context. I recently had someone ask if I was under 30. 🙁 I work in a profession (self-employed) where people are more likely to choose someone around their own age or older (because of life experience as well as work experience) so it's actually affecting me professionally.

I've read all the usual articles with tips from how to do your make up to what to wear but I think in my case it comes down to my facial features and I just can't change that. I already wear glasses, keep my make up quite natural, dress smart-casual as appropriate for my job, wear my hair up (and have an increasing amount of grey hairs that should make it obvious I'm not 25!). Looking at people my age on social media for example I can see how my face looks much younger though. I'm nearly the same age as Kate Middleton for example and even with her generally amazing skin and all the money she can spend on her looks no one would mistake her for being in her 20s because of her features.

What do you think is the difference between how most women look in their 20s, 30s and 40s? What makes you think "she's about 40" compared to thinking "she's in her late 20s". 🤔

I'm 46 and petite with a round face and was invited to join the over 60s tennis team so sadly it doesn't work for all of us.

I think soft/rounded face and features and shy or soft mannerisms can combine to give an appearance of youth. I use to be mistaken for younger but I think mainly because I'm quite shy so came across more passive than the average 30 something woman. Also, I'm quite short and was/am slim. Now I'm 43 and after DC2 my face is looking a bit shit and I've put on 1/2 stone so I don't get mistaken for younger any more.

I know @Usernamen hence my crazy face emoji! Love the one who thinks her face is unlined. Never go to Specsavers.

Look at this video with the ‘Boldglamour’ filter on, it is witchcraft!

For those wanting a photo of me, here you go. As you can see I have grey hair and use a walker but because I'm so teeny tiny people get confused.

Get one of those pink fold-up phone cases that hold all of your cards.

Not meaning to be rude but if you are 5ft tall and size 8-10 I wouldn’t think you were petite at all, I would expect you to be a size 4-6 or child size clothes.

Being petite is neither here nor there. Mary Berry is quite diddy but doesn’t look like a teenager. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Well just a few examples here, I am as I said, 37.

Asked if I was looking forward to starting secondary school when I was 16 and about to start college.
Got yelled at last year by a school bus driver to get on the bus with 'Your friends.'
Constantly referred to as the young girl or the young lady.
Told 'oh you can't have kids, you're too young. That's why I didn't ask if you had them'.
Asked out on a date by a 19 year old 5 years ago as he assumed I was his age.
Asked constantly 'So you live at home with parents or do you live alone?'
Constant more scenarios so clearly not me being deluded into just thinking I look young.

If I may answer on that poster’s behalf: yes, absolutely.

I have no doubt that people actually believe that they look like a teenager at 60, or a 25 year-old at 40, or whatever. They have an outdated image of what people typically look like at different ages. As PP said, no one thinks of Jennifer Aniston, Tess Daly, Cameron Diaz or Jennifer Lopez when they think of a fiftysomething woman. They think of adverts for cruises and retirement homes.

@catscade apologies I got you confused with the poster who is claiming to be nearly 60 but claims they look like a teenager.

5ft and size 10 is petite? 😐

I posted that about Jennifer Anniston and pre conceived ideas of what 50 plus looks like, I also said she doesn’t look 20 years younger and I’m pretty sure JA doesn’t either.

I agree. JA looks her age (and bloody good for it).

I can’t think of anyone who looks 20 years younger.

😬 your petite not delusional line is quite good for a tshirt, I concur with pp good one

Heart then oval, importantly with natural scaffolding of high cheekbones, are the 'best' face shapes for ageing more slowly. With a little more fat, and don't lose weight quickly if you're dieting, then better still.

Round face shape is one of the worst if not the worst for ageing quickly! Loose skin around the mid face section, and above your nasolabial folds, happens first usually, and jowls. There's nothing to hold it up.

How's your eyesight?

Excuse you. Mary's forever being collared by the school truancy officer when having a wander about town.

I saw a pensions advert the other day and this lady said she was 50.

I don’t want to shame the way anyone looks but I don’t think she looks like your average 50 year old woman. She looks much older. If this is what society think a 50 year old woman looks like than no wonder so many of us look young for our age.

I wouldn't be able to wear one though, I struggle to find t-shirts teeny tiny enough

Interesting question OP as I would say that when I was in my 30s I looked a lot younger than my years but that is definitely not the case any longer (late 50s now)

Noting @toucaninjapan's comment I am 32 and I get sometimes mistaken for a student in early twenties, only by the virtue of having a round face, childish features and a high voice.*

That probably described me in my early-mid 30s and I found it quite frustrating when people in the work environment took me for being years years younger as as I felt I wasn't taken seriously.

I still have the same face, features, voice and relatively unlined skin but I think what makes me look old now is my posture and the way I move. Also have saggy jaw and my teeth aren't good but I think if you were to look at me from a distance now you would think I was older than my chronological age rather than younger .

Better than yours evidently 🤣

That’s incredible!

It really works

You had me fooled @Caviarandgelatine well done!

Agree. The only person I’ve noticed recently who could definitely pass for significantly younger is Floella Benjamin. She shared this pic on her 70th and I thought she looked quite a lot younger!