Page 6 | Looking younger with zero skincare?

ZforZebra · 2023-04-01T07:23:08+00:00

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?

IsolatedWilderness · 02/04/2023 12:47

Maireas · 02/04/2023 12:44

@IsolatedWilderness . I coped with it very well too. My youngest is 27. Not my point, which was supposed to be lighthearted.

Fair. How do you think you'd find it now? I think I'm not cut out for broken nights anymore. If I had to cope I guess I'd just manage but I do think it would show now.

TheLostNights · 02/04/2023 12:47

@Maireas eh?
I said 17-20 is my perceived age so no, not school age but college aged yes. According to a lot of people. I absolutely hate it. It's incredibly embarrassing and I would do smyrhing to look nearer my age.

TheLostNights · 02/04/2023 12:48

anything

highfidelity · 02/04/2023 12:49

Cotswoldmama · 01/04/2023 20:55

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!

The thing is, the real shift in ageing happens during your 40s, particularly the latter part. Given your features, your face should hold up well*. However, don't underestimate how periemenopause and menopause can wreck havoc.

Our skincare regime is the same. The other great prevention are large sunglasses (all year round) which keep crows feet at bay - at 47, I still don't have any.

*I have similar looks/facial bone structure

IsolatedWilderness · 02/04/2023 12:51

TheLostNights · 02/04/2023 12:47

@Maireas eh?
I said 17-20 is my perceived age so no, not school age but college aged yes. According to a lot of people. I absolutely hate it. It's incredibly embarrassing and I would do smyrhing to look nearer my age.

Having been a mother at that perceived age you talk about, I know how judgemental people can be. I once opened the door and the caller asked, "Is your mother home?" It didn't bother me though. I knew how old I was and that I didn't fit the judgements they were making. Those who matter will know better.

Maireas · 02/04/2023 12:53

TheLostNights · 02/04/2023 12:47

@Maireas eh?
I said 17-20 is my perceived age so no, not school age but college aged yes. According to a lot of people. I absolutely hate it. It's incredibly embarrassing and I would do smyrhing to look nearer my age.

I think 37 is still young though. Enjoy it while you can!

MorrisZapp · 02/04/2023 13:00

SPF is a myth in my opinion. Literally no SPF obsessed beauty guru ever includes it in their make up videos and I'm unconvinced they actually use it. I don't, because it makes me want to claw my face off.

My mum looked a good ten years younger than her age for a very long time, even while being a smoker. She used any old 80s face cream and nothing else. She looks her age now in her mid seventies but given that she smoked, didn't use skincare, and only put SPF on once for a fortnight in Crete, she's a bit of a miracle.

Almost like the whole thing is luck!

WhereAreWeNow · 02/04/2023 13:02

I think everyone is different. If you're genetically blessed with good skin then you should be fine with water, flannel, and spf. I suffered from terrible acne for years and now have annoying 'problem skin' - too oily, enlarged pores, but also dry in places. Soap and water would make it worse. So I use cleansers and moisturisers that I know work for me.
I also agree with a PP who pointed out the impact of perimenopause and hormones. Peri has made me feel much older in quite a short space of time. I don't think any expensive creams are going to change that.

mybeautifuloak · 02/04/2023 13:09

People posting their pictures all look around their age. I think people have a mental image of what people look like at 40 or 50 .... based on what people a generation ago looked like at those ages. 50 year olds today are often like free

TheLostNights · 02/04/2023 13:13

I don't enjoy it at all. People are telling me I look like a child. Nothing to be happy about there.

Waydown · 02/04/2023 13:34

ElegantCow · 01/04/2023 17:28

@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.

I don't disagree, but I think skin is only one of the things people subconscious use to "judge" the age someone.

Someone could have flawless skin but if they're over weight (which will help with the wrinkles) and unable to walk far without puffing no one's going to think they seem young.

PortiaWithNoBreaks · 02/04/2023 13:39

I think people are generally not good at guessing the age of people and that’s why they say someone looks 10 years younger.

I don’t think they really mean 10 years but they mean good for your age or better than someone else they know of the same age or better than someone they know who is a few years older.

Hair colour, posture, clothing and weight all make a difference. Being slim is youthful; a pancake arse is a dead giveaway. Also HRT can make a massive difference to a woman’s skin and general well-being and therefore how she carries herself.

If you put a 27 year old next to a 17year old no way would anyone think they’re the same age.

BellaPiella · 02/04/2023 13:42

I agree people find it difficult to guess the exact age of someone, though you can usually place them within the right decade. I am 50 and I think look 50. People often tell me I look younger, but that’s because their idea of 50 is someone who looks older than me. I am petite and slim and fighting the pancake ass. My neck is catching up with me though!

Waydown · 02/04/2023 13:43

Missmillymollymandy · 02/04/2023 11:37

Definitely agree with Nuns looking babyfaced.
Probably don’t drink, smoke or sun bathe. I also wonder about the institutionalised life they lead. If they are happy then they are spared a lot of the day to day stress we encounter on the outside.
I think stressful life events are hugely aging. I think we don’t age in a linear trajectory but rather age in sudden bursts in response to stressful life events and health conditions.

I'm afraid no children and no husband probably helps too. A colleague turns 40 this month and she is someone where you're surprised. I don't know what her routine is but she very natural and pale, so I'd guess avoids the sun. Also no kids!

Waydown · 02/04/2023 13:47

It's interesting where I work definitely the teachers, middle class, relatively affluent, educated look much younger (better?) than similar aged TAs or kitchen staff, except those lower paid staff who have high earning husbands. So althiugh teachers have the stressful job, I suspect "life stress" and disadvantage has greater impact.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 02/04/2023 13:50

DM looks at least 10 years younger. She uses premium brand skin care products. She also has not fully embraced the grey as is the current trend. She doesn't drink very much or go in the sun and my grandma and aunts also look you for their age. So is it genetic, lifestyle or the premium brand skincare who knows 🤷‍♀️

MrsMullerBecameABaby · 02/04/2023 14:03

Hardly anyone (I want to say nobody, but there's an exception for everything) caucasian looks ten years younger than they are, especially close up and without makeup...

Those who think they do are usually kidding themselves (and are often the types who manipulate others into guessing their age and have cognitive dissonance about the fact that everyone knocks ten years off when guessing someone's age unless they're trying to upset the person...)

PortiaWithNoBreaks · 02/04/2023 14:09

Waydown · 02/04/2023 13:47

It's interesting where I work definitely the teachers, middle class, relatively affluent, educated look much younger (better?) than similar aged TAs or kitchen staff, except those lower paid staff who have high earning husbands. So althiugh teachers have the stressful job, I suspect "life stress" and disadvantage has greater impact.

Yes definitely, I’ve noticed this too. I also think accompanying that is knowledge and access (perceived) to that knowledge whether it be the benefits of certain products, active ingredients and so on. There are really good skincare brands out there like Cerave that aren’t expensive but have good credentials.

adriftabroad · 02/04/2023 14:20

mybeautifuloak · 02/04/2023 13:09

People posting their pictures all look around their age. I think people have a mental image of what people look like at 40 or 50 .... based on what people a generation ago looked like at those ages. 50 year olds today are often like free

I really wanted to post this too.I agree totally.

Maireas · 02/04/2023 15:25

PortiaWithNoBreaks · 02/04/2023 13:39

I think people are generally not good at guessing the age of people and that’s why they say someone looks 10 years younger.

I don’t think they really mean 10 years but they mean good for your age or better than someone else they know of the same age or better than someone they know who is a few years older.

Hair colour, posture, clothing and weight all make a difference. Being slim is youthful; a pancake arse is a dead giveaway. Also HRT can make a massive difference to a woman’s skin and general well-being and therefore how she carries herself.

If you put a 27 year old next to a 17year old no way would anyone think they’re the same age.

Absolutely! Nobody of that age will be mistaken for a student.

Maireas · 02/04/2023 15:27

@MrsMullerBecameABaby - very true. Especially the oddly specific age guesses, as if someone was put on the spot and said a random age.

CambsAlways · 02/04/2023 15:41

I’m told I look a lot younger than I am, I think it’s not only genetics( I use soap and water) I’m mid sixties! But how you dress. Your hairstyle , how you look after yourself. How much sleep you have! How much stress in your life. Your attitude, loads of different factors! Or sometimes the luck of the draw

Cotswoldmama · 02/04/2023 16:00

@highighfidelity that's good to know! I'm never without sunglasses either!

MidnightMeltdown · 02/04/2023 16:21

Usernamen · 01/04/2023 09:00

90% of S&B say they look 10 years younger. But I think it’s because of an outdated view of what someone in their 40s or 50s actually looks like, rather than a straight lie (I hope!)

This. And a number of that 90% seem to be on this thread! You only have to look at the number of posters rushing to nominate themselves! 🤣🤣

Waydown · 02/04/2023 16:27

I think some makes a difference too. People oddly assume your young if you're small.

SiL was being asked "is your mum in?" At her own home well into her 30s. She did look young, but not that young, except that she's 5 ft nothing and small with it.