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?

Not really.

Nope, never. They always look their age or older. Only people I know who look younger than their ID states are those with decent skincare routine, possibly some injections here and there (I don't mean only botox, but regular facials) and usually don't work because they're financially comfortable so have relatively stress free life, decent amount of sleep, good diet etc. It always makes me laugh how half of mumsnet claims they look 10 years younger. I bet they don't.

Oh not just 10 years, @xogossipgirlxo - these threads always bring out claimants of 20 or even 30 years. It's very strange.

People either get it or they don't @IsolatedWilderness.
People who don't look particularly young can't see past their own experiences of the occasional polite flattering guess at their age, and assume this is what you mean when you say people think you look younger.
They haven't experienced the frequent errors made by others that you describe. Being slightly patronised by people your own age who don't know you. Being told by same age people to 'wait till you get to my age'. The genuine shock (and speedy retreat, which is the real giveaway they didn't realise!) of young men when they're told. The difference between it being occasional and in a complimentary way, and it happening over and over in most settings where age is relevant; medical, percieved work experience, assumed relationships with family members.
I'm young passing, but one of those that close scrutiny gives away, and I've had some of the above. I know a few women like yourself though, and know their experiences are entirely different.

I agree with the PP who said that people have a pre-conceived idea of what a certain age looks like and respond accordingly. My mother dresses well, lives independently, walks for miles and - although she has facial lines - has good posture, is the same weight as she was at 21 and is regularly mistaken for being 15 years younger. She is 93.

I'm 53 and tend to think I look it. It's standard for people to say that you cannot possibly be that age ...

It's weird accumulation of miracles here 😂

I personally have no problem with people believing they look 30 years younger, if it gives them confidence and makes them feel good about themselves.

My earlier comment which people have been agreeing with was just pointing out how peculiar it is that so many of the lucky* people who believe they look decades younger are on S&B.

*I say ‘lucky’ because you get the same benefits to self-esteem believing you look decades younger whether or not you actually do

It is indeed incredible! 😂Very amusing too.

I am really lazy with my skin but often get compliments on it. It's naturally quite dry and I put moisturiser on it with SPF 30 in the moisturiser in the morning every day, even if I haven't washed it at all. Same in the evening. I do generally have a shower in the morning and sometimes a bath at night as well, and will use a face wash then, but if I skip that I will always moisturise and the moisturiser has SPF 30 I think. Sometimes I use it as a cleanser as well, like a cold cream. And I will sometimes apply some more during other times of the day. I do have good genetics as regards skin as well though.

I say ‘lucky’ because you get the same benefits to self-esteem believing you look decades younger whether or not you actually do

This is so true. As per my previous comment near the start of the thread, I envy the delusion.

I mean of course you do get the odd outlier who looks a LOT younger but most people just don't. I remember a fb post "I'm old but look younger" and loads of my friends from all walks of life had posted on it. Every single one of them looks their age but seems to truly believe they don't.

I think we have a certain body image and a way of presenting ourselves in the mirror which reinforces our beliefs about our looks. Occasionally we catch a glimpse of ourselves unprepared, and then it’s a different story.

Interesting thread. Most skincare does nothing. I started to notice I was looking older than my years in my late 30s. I have tried loads of different products and most have made zero difference. Drinking water, eating well and wearing a high SPF are the most important things you can do. I do now use tret but without the other steps I think you're just throwing money away.

Apparently we look more attractive to ourselves than the reality is. I guess it's some kind of coping mechanism for the brain?

Oh god, don't tell me that! I think I look like sloth from the Goonies due to having a very unsymmetrical face. I also have a very unfortunate lumpy nose. I always hoped the opposite was true and we all found ourselves hideous!

Surely most women dont think of themselves as attractive.Judging by the increasing trend for women to get Botox in their 20s and 30s.

That's very sad. I will never get any procedures done because I want to look natural.

I mean I don't have any data to support my hypothesis. Just wild conjecture.

If it's true, I find it sad. I wish women would love themselves for who they are and what they are capable of without all this emphasis on looks.

I don't know how far they had to go to find a large enough group of women that considered themselves more attractive than they were to repesent a robust study. Also how was 'the reality' defined in a study of something so subjective? Sounds like nonsense to me, given the billions made by industries that wouldn't exist if women weren't overly critical of their looks.

"People either get it or they don't @IsolatedWilderness."

Oh no, I do believe that some people genuinely look much younger than their age.

"Apparently we look more attractive to ourselves than the reality is. I guess it's some kind of coping mechanism for the brain?"

I don't look at myself straight in the mirror. I just look at any part I need to look at to apply makeup or whatever so I suppose there might be a few people like me.

"Also how was 'the reality' defined in a study of something so subjective?"

Just ask 1000 people or so.

You do also hear of people being shocked by a photo of themselves, which would seem to back up the assertion that we don't see ourselves properly in the mirror.

Then, like me, you're someone who gets it. I don't look ten years younger myself, but I don't delude myself that just because age hasn't been particularly kind to me all women are in the same boat and we all look the same.

Only the one I shagged.

No, of course they didn't, because they weren't quite that rude. But they probably had a secret note in their registers saying 'looks like a 12 yr old' (I used to do this as a teacher).