Looking younger with zero skincare?

[ZforZebra]

I was in the line in a crowded restroom. At the sinks were a group of 3 women, all friends I presumed as they were chatting while washing their hands. One commented that the moisturizer the other had recommended was great and she was really seeing a difference in her skin. The third piped up that she “never used anything but soap and water and still looked ten years younger” than the other two. The thing is…she absolutely didn’t. She actually looked considerably older (assuming they were all the same age). I often see women on MN saying they look 10 years younger than women who have basic (cleanser, moisturizer, maybe SPF) skincare routines. In real life everyone I’ve seen who claims to only use water and soap does not look younger than their age, most look about their age or older. Has anyone seen someone in real life (not MN) who really does look 10+ years younger and uses no skincare products?

People mistake me for mid / late 20s and I'm 40. I tan easily so sunbathe a lot and have never used SPF. I use a face wash and moisturiser but usually just whatever is on offer. I have very oily skin so put that down to why I look so young and have no wrinkles at all. Looking young runs in my family so guessing some is genes.

"I’m mid-40s and certainly don’t look older than my age, no wrinkles, get the occasional spot! Could perhaps be taken as a bit younger "

If you genuinely have no wrinkles at all you'd look much younger than mid 40s, not just a bit younger. Unless sagging and jowls counter it I suppose.
I find it hard to believe that you can be that age and have no wrinkles at all.
The lady above with no forehead wrinkles at around 50, I would have just presumed had botox.

Is that me you are referring to? I have not had Botox. DH is 54 and has no forehead wrinkles either. We both have plenty of sagging though.

Agree it’s mainly genetic. From around mid forties onwards people start to age. All other things being equal, people are still preprogrammed genetically to age at different rates and to develop different signs of ageing.

98% genetics.

Plump Grandma 102, had amazing skin. She was a farmers wife so quite outdoorsy too. Soap, water, and cold cream. Real English rose, pale skin.

My DM, lots of sun (Italian). Basic skincare, no SPF. Now, she did have lots of sun spots, and keratosis, but her actual face was not lined.

I am a mix of both. Pale English, but underlying Mediterranean resilience for sun. I have a basic routine. Never really wash my face, just gets wet in the shower, no soap. I don't do anything before bed. In the morning I use a toner to clean, and slap some No7 moisturiser with SPF15 inc. I don't have lines, but do have the odd brown spot. My neck is terrible, but I know that is from sun as a teen in Italy, as I used to react really badly to anything creamy on my neck. So that is my age definer

My mother has always looked considerably younger than her age.
She has never used sunscreen. Maybe factor 15 on a summer holiday, but otherwise not. She has always just washed her face with warm water and slapped on some Pond’s cream afterwards.

She’s 75 now and people are often genuinely shocked when they find out and think she is late fifties. I remember when I was a kid people always commenting on how young my mum was, except she had me at 30, so she wasn’t a young mum!

I think it must be genes. Her mother was the same. People often mistook my Nan for my mum out and about as she really did not look anywhere near her age!

Unfortunately I think I’ve inherited my Dad’s genes .

But so far, in response to my original question it seems that generally women who truly use zero skincare (water and/or soap only) look at best about their age, otherwise older

This says to me, ‘I have totally bought into the marketing around skin care, spend a lot on skin care products and I am absolutely determined to believe I am not wasting my money’.

I think we have a sort of age blindness. So when we are young, we can spot a 16yr old vs an 18yr old vs a 20yr old, but the older people we are fuzzy on. 40-60 hard to tell apart. 70+ can figure that out. So I think a 20 something year old telling me OMG you don’t look old enough to have kids in their 20s (and I wasn’t a young mum), I think it’s just age blindness. 40 to 60 look the same to them. Old but not elderly.

But then as we get to middle age, the age blindness goes the other way. I cannot tell you how many times I will see kids wandering around at the Uni and wonder if a group of 15yr old Yr11s are visiting as a post-16 choices tour…when they’re actually all 20yr old 3rd year students…because the younger generation they all just look soooo young to me now!

Genuinely OP, I am old enough to see the difference in how people age, and unless people have wrecked their skin with excessive sun exposure or drinking etc, the main differences in how people age are due to genetics.

Also, where people develop lines is due to how expressive their faces are. Some people have naturally inexpressive faces so develop few lines.

How your lower face drops/ loses volume is genetic. And that is really ageing.

I agree it is genetics but also privilege. You can see that people who have struggled with poverty and/or chronic illness/ stress age a lot faster than those who have lived in a bubble of financial security, good health and low stress.

Has anyone seen someone in real life (not MN) who really does look 10+ years younger and uses no skincare products?

Nuns. Most bewildered beauty columnists put it down to minimal sun exposure, but I'm not sure - they often spend a lot of time gardening, farming, etc. Could just be the regulated, healthy & meditative lifestyle?

Genetics, smoking, alcohol, sun exposure.

anything else is marginal gains.

people who have struggled with poverty and/or chronic illness/ stress age a lot faster

Really true! Doesn't matter how many potions & processes you use, your body will decide if it needs to divert resources from skin maintenance.

I think it's this, totally. Nowadays women stay active and fitter for longer, so our perception is outmoded. I've seen quite a few women in their 70s look good, sprightly and still attractive.

"10 years younger" is so subjective as to be meaningless.

Interesting.
This is me this morning with wet hair and no makeup.

I try and get as much natural daylight as possible on bare skin without burning and have never washed my face with anything beyond getting it accidentally wet in the shower unless it's physically muddy.

I wouldn't say I look younger than I am at 54 but I'm not unhappy with the quality of my skin either.

And I certainly don't believe products would have helped make any appreciable difference.

Most people who "look" young don't bare up to scrutiny. There's a short period in your 30s when good skin might be the thing that makes a difference, but after that a youthful appearance is much more about clothes/styling and health and fitness.

If you move young, people will assume you are.

Unless you smoke, in which case you will always look older.

Yes! There's a photo of my Dad's mother which was taken when she was 43, she looks at least 60 by today's standards.

My In laws were old people in their 50s, wanting their slippers and an early night, complaining that they couldn't do what they used to, couldn't walk anywhere. Me and several 50 plus friends were out dancing last night and up for parkrun this morning.

I wouldn't make any great claims about looking younger than I am, but I am youthful in comparison.

Can someone please explain ‘moving’ young? Is this just good posture? I’m early thirties and everyone I know moves about the same… will that start to change with age?

@GarlicGrace it's not having to deal with men's bullshit clearly

Lots of water

Lots of heavy moisturiser

Good genes

That's your lot

It's definitely genetic. My DH is in his 50s now but could pass for 40. His mum was the same - died in her 70s but didn't have a single grey hair

Credible theory!

Yes, once you get into your 50s there's a huge difference between people who keep fit, active and strong and those who don't. They walk slower, groan when they get out of a chair, dance less energetically sometimes stoop a bit, just generally go about things a bit more.gingerly.

I'm a member of a running club and I also cycle. My friends in their 50s are nothing like the 50yos I work with.

I think it's the sun and smoking. If your skin is darker you can tolerate the sun more so you don't have to be as religious with SPF as fair skin. Then you're living in a country that's not very sunny and cloudy most year so even without anything your sun exposure is much less than what your skin tone is built to handle.
Sun worshippers tend to be white and darker skinned people (Asia for example) seem to be more aware of avoiding the sun and sun protection. Asian women tend not to drink (or not much) or smoke as much as white women. When I'm estimating a white woman's age I knock 5 to 10 years off because they tend to get wrinkles the quickest. I think wrinkles are charming, it's the bloody sagging that I hate.
When I'm guessing an Asian or Black woman's age I mentally add 10-15 years because they genetically and lifestyle choices tend to be skin saving so they don't wrinkle as quickly as white people.
These days phones filter photos automatically I think the best way to really tell if someone has good skin is in natural light, close up in real life.