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?

@Waydown definitely sporty people age better in terms of health and they look more spritely but in terms of skin they tend to wrinkle and sag more in the face or any body area exposed to the sun that coach potatoes. Low body fat can also make their face sunken in and gaunt. Outdoor or extreme sports from a skin point of view don't help, however as sports is so so good for you overall I would gladly accept the trade off!
Possibly the best thing is to do pilates, barre or something indoors that stretches you for posture and flexibility. Swimming is also good as is yoga for that good graceful posture.

@BansheeofInisherin I was just going to say you have great skin and I was also going to guess that it's oily and then I saw your post about your acne. I can tell by the tone of your skin that's it's oily, which was a curse when you were young but a lovely blessing now!

I do know some people who claim to only use soap and water who have great skin but they also stay out of the sun, have a great diet, exercise, don’t smoke or drink much alcohol, minimal stress etc. I think if you tick all those boxes you’re probably going to look great anyway.

I disagree about very sporty people looking older - yes they might have thinner faces and more sun-aged skin but I think their overall vitality and ease of movement makes them look years younger than they are regardless of facial skin quality. I can think of a few ladies in their 60s (a couple are marathon runners, the others cyclists) who have amazing vibrancy and youthfulness and come across as decades younger - but without having a necessarily youthful face. It’s not all about skin condition & wrinkles.

Another one who reckons it's mainly genes. My mam has never used anything but soap and water and oil of ulay, never used foundation and she looks 10 years younger if not more. She always keeps out the sun too tho.

10 years younger than who, though? Specific people in the age group? Some will look great, others not so much. Meaningless.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns I’ve been told I look 10-15 years younger. I’m 51.

With the best will in the world, I very much doubt you look 36.

I think in that photograph at least you do look younger. If you'd said 36 I'd not have been surprised. You are smiling, which gives everything a lift, so may look older straight faced (I'm 53 and a smile knocks years off me) and you have excellent teeth and loads of hair which are very youthful. I'd be surprised if many people thought you looked 54 based on that picture.

Someone at 90 could realistically look 10 - 15 years younger than they are. Someone at 50 is very unlikely to look 35-40. IRS not impossible but the only person I have ever seen who passed for late 30s at 50 was east Asian. Even then once she started speaking you could see something about her was not as young as she looked.

I've always looked a bit younger but I'm only 38 so can't imagine looking old yet anyway. I've only recently started using spf moisturiser as had very oily skin. I think it's mostly down to genetics and face shape. Obviously smoking ages you. Even with good skin you'd look a couple of years younger at best. It's a bit deluded to think you can look a decade younger.

I wouldn’t say I look 10 years younger but people assume I’m younger than I am and I get a lot of people commenting on my skin. It’s definitely genetic, my grandmother had amazing skin into her 90s. I only use SPF on holiday (I know), take make up off with a baby wipe then wash my face in plain warm water. I moisturise when I remember with Cetaphil which is under £5. I do drink a lot of water. I don’t own foundation as my skin looks better without it and have never smoked. My diet could definitely be improved.

I agree with this. I know I aged a bit when my mum died, I can see it when I look back over pics of myself. So stress definitely plays a part. As long as you get enough sleep, water, moisturise and use spf your skin (plus good genes do help) most people look pretty good. Anything else, like tret, added into a routine is bonus.

@5128gap too kind!
Probably should confess good teeth are very natural veneers and hair growth has gone insane since I started nutritional supplements summer 2020 for long covid.

Wondering if the revolting collagen gel stuff helps.

This is my dads forehead at 73. I'll take those genes

May I ask what supplements you take besides the collagen?

Since 2020 I've cycled through pretty much everything either correcting deficiencies or trialing stuff.

Currently high dose Vitamin D, C and a B complex.

Omega 3's and 6's
Iodine
Collagen
And Joint mix with boron.

I think probably my early Copper/manganese/selenium/boron/potassium/B12 phase was the most helpful for hair growth.

Blood test tomorrow to see what to try next. Ughhh

Thanks @stayathomegardener
I take a few of those already, but not the ones you say helped with hair. I shall be hitting H&B tomorrow!🙂

Lol, point proven op by this thread... most people here think they look younger, which I doubt. I do think that our idea of ageing and what it looks like has changed, and life generally being less hard/harsh.

I have a religious skincare routine and until about 37 I did look a bit younger. Then I had a child and most certainly look my age now, albeit with good skin.

@Pigtailsandall summed up my thoughts (and my situation) perfectly 😬

I'm late 30s but have always been 'baby faced'. I hated it when younger, especially as I had my kids' early 20s, so I was patronised along as people assumed I was a teen well up to my late 20s. I was asked ID up until about 5 years ago, bearing in mind it's now Think25. I get told I look early 30 at a push now.

But my mum was the same, so it's clearly genes. I'm not trying to kid myself in thinking i look younger because my life would have been better when I 'was' younger to have looked more my age to be taken seriously. It's only now that I have age/confidence on my side to question the rude comments when people look at me as though I shouldn't possibly have a 16 year old.

I think it's a bit of everything. Genetics in the most part. My dad's family all look so young and I think I'm blessed with their genes. My sister looks older than me but lives in a hot climate so obviously has more exposure to the sun but maybe takes after my mum's side of the family. I also do everything I possible can to look after my skin. I started properly taking care of my skin at about 23 I think when the TV show testing anti aging skin was on and boots protect and perfect came out as the only product that actually did anything at the time. So I used that for years, then retinol etc and now I used skin+me for the tret and I've been using that for 3 years now. Also ofcourse SPF of a minimum of SPF 30 everyday.
I find skin+me expensive but worth it, if anyone wants a free trial just p&p here's my code and it'll save me a tenner of my next month!

www.skinandme.com/?promocode=LAURENS5YP3

This is a close up of my skin I'm 39, which is relatively young still but I'm thinking prevention is better than cure!

It's just lucky genetics. I come from a young looking family- cousins all look much younger than their age too. A few really look after their skin a couple don't but the biggest factor is exercise and a healthy diet. The ones who exercise a lot and are slim look much better.

Let’s be honest if someone told you they were 40 you wouldn’t say ‘oh you look 50’ even if it was true.
I’ve acted surprised when people have told me their age as if I thought they were much younger. It’s just one of those things you say along with ‘no your bum doesn’t look big in that’ 😄

I am one of those people who use no skincare products at all. I wash my face with water in the shower. I am 40 and do sometimes have people tell me they assume I’m quite a bit younger, but I think that in reality I look a similar age to my friends. I’m not at all convinced I’d look younger/better if I was to use skin care products and I don’t really have the time!

People always tell me I look younger - I don't actually believe them, that's just what people say to be nice.

I do it all the time - what 50?! No way!! I would have said 40 tops.

I don't know why I lie to people it's just a reflex. I would feel rude saying, ah yea, 50, looks about right.

The doctor who did my fillers (beginnings of jowls at 55) said you're usually one of two things but not both - a sagger or a wrinkler. I have very few lines and clear skin that gets me taken for years younger. I don't use SPF, only use foundation for a night out and wash my face with soap. I do like a good Caudalie moisturiser and serum though.