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Why do you think most people have younger looking skin these days than in the past?

186 replies

dianamoonyan · 05/10/2023 15:09

Looking at pictures of actresses and family from the 70's and 80s it is noticable that women (and men) often looked older than people of a similar age now. I am not talking about them having old fashioned hairstyles, hair dye or clothing but the actually quality of the skin and facial contours.

I know that today some women have botox or filler but most women and men do not, I don't and yet my skin at 47 is still pretty much as it was when I was younger (plump, no lines, sagging or discolouration) as is that of my husband and many of my friends and colleagues. I do think that looking your age is more than just what your skin is like but in this post I am referring strictly to skin ageing quality.

I am just wondering what people think the main reason for people actually looking younger or at least having much less aged skin is outside of cosmetic surgery or injections, which if anything I think are more popular in much younger people and seem to be pro-ageing on them. It doesn't seem popular at all in most women my age in real life.

Is it down to better diets, less pollution, people not smoking, use of SPF or other topical skincare, improvements and availability of HRT, better diets, less stress, less drinking, people having less children than in the past?

When I go back even further I do notice that my parents generation look younger than say their parents at the same age and this is again not just down to hair colouring or styles but how the skin actually looks, Obviously that generation saw 2 world wars and the stress must have been massive.

OP posts:
Thingamebobwotsit · 05/10/2023 19:32

Smoking. And the introduction of filters and digital pictures. Lines much more obvious on old fashioned film.

Hairstyles, clothes etc are also really dating. But products have improved enormously.

Dolly567 · 05/10/2023 19:40

Me reading this as I'm about to have all four wisdom teeth out at 31 Blush

dianamoonyan · 05/10/2023 19:47

Dolly567 · 05/10/2023 19:40

Me reading this as I'm about to have all four wisdom teeth out at 31 Blush

I think wisdom teeth are a bit different as they are at the back and if they are causing you pain then you should have them out.

OP posts:
Dolly567 · 05/10/2023 19:52

I hope so Sad

Petrine · 05/10/2023 20:04

dianamoonyan · 05/10/2023 19:26

My point is that I specifically notice their skin is better than in the past hair, dress etc aside.

You appear to be comparing photos taken years ago with living people of the present day.

There’s no true comparison.

When I was growing up we didn’t have sophisticated cameras with us all the time… perhaps an Instamatic. Unless you had professional photographs taken, the cameras most people had were nowhere near as sophisticated as even those on phones are today.

bryceQ · 05/10/2023 20:09

I think visible aging is caused by
Smoking
Sun damage
Alcohol
Stress
Dehydration
Poor diet

Lots of these we have better awareness of now.

I know its popular to say that all skincare is a fad and everyone knows tons of 80 year olds who don't have a single wrinkle after a lifetime of using tar soap....

But I think better skin hydration makes people look younger. I got my mum into skincare in her late 50s and now she's stopped wearing foundation and her skin is amazing.

dianamoonyan · 05/10/2023 20:17

Petrine · 05/10/2023 20:04

You appear to be comparing photos taken years ago with living people of the present day.

There’s no true comparison.

When I was growing up we didn’t have sophisticated cameras with us all the time… perhaps an Instamatic. Unless you had professional photographs taken, the cameras most people had were nowhere near as sophisticated as even those on phones are today.

Not so, most larger format film cameras are superior to most digital camera's, even 35mm film with a decent lens is superior to many phone cameras for example. My father was a professional photographer as am I with a degree in Fine Art Photography so I do know about this in some depth.

OP posts:
QuickDraining · 05/10/2023 20:22

Perhaps it's just being inside more. But TBH a couple of rough days and my skin can look terrible. People are up and down. I heard on the radio that cooked tomatoes are good for your skin. So perhaps something like that and better cooking oils.

mrsmingleton · 05/10/2023 20:24

As Eamon Holmes once said " you don't get wrinkles on a balloon " 😂Joking aside there is some truth in that.

As you are in Scotland @dianamoonyan then you will know that it is the adverse effects of weather other than sun which can badly affect skin. You are also talking about quite recently regarding sun care etc.

If you take my Grandmother eg who was born in 1905 into a fishing family they were malnourished as children. Plenty fish but not a lot of other things. She lived most of her life without the NHS or the benefit system and had a very hard life. Very little fruit and veg - my Mother remembered the first time she saw a banana. Canadian relatives used to send crates of apples to them.

As we would say they had " a hard paper round". When I return home I see the effect of poverty and years of deprivation in the faces there - a "clapped in jaw" due to poor diet ,loss of teeth and poverty and these are women and men the same age as me. Yes people drink and smoke which are terrible for the skin. Occupational health diseases also contribute to ageing. My Grandfather went down the mines at 14 - not a lot of daylight there.

Many women now use skin care whereas in the 70s you were lucky if it there was Nivea.

Zhampagne · 05/10/2023 20:30

I think OP’s ‘most people’ must relate to a certain level of privilege. I work in deprived communities and there are still many people who are prematurely aged by poverty, even if they don’t drink, smoke, or take drugs.

dianamoonyan · 06/10/2023 00:39

@Zhampagne That's a fair point, money for good food, skincare and a much less stressful life amongst my family and social circle for sure.

OP posts:
dianamoonyan · 06/10/2023 00:44

"As you are in Scotland @dianamoonyanthen you will know that it is the adverse effects of weather other than sun which can badly affect skin. You are also talking about quite recently regarding sun care etc."

@mrsmingleton Yeah I think this is true but it is all easily mitigable i.e. protecting your skin in harsh weather, using a humidifier (which I do for my airways). DSIL once was baffled when I put aquaphor over my face for a night-time walk with her in winter but I like to protect my skin against harsh weather too. Everything else you say is true as well, big changes to our lifestyles in modern times.

OP posts:
Petrine · 06/10/2023 19:21

dianamoonyan · 05/10/2023 20:17

Not so, most larger format film cameras are superior to most digital camera's, even 35mm film with a decent lens is superior to many phone cameras for example. My father was a professional photographer as am I with a degree in Fine Art Photography so I do know about this in some depth.

Of course there were professional photographers.

My point is that in the 1970's most people didn't walk around with cameras on a daily basis - at best an Instamatic. Today everyone has a camera on their phone at least. Add to this editing suites, etc, etc. As you know, it is easy now to produce very enhanced photos with very little knowledge. I had an SLR camera and still have that type of camera today... however, I use it less and less as it is so easy to take good photos with my phone.

Anyway, back to the original subject. People's skin was good in the 1970's... I know because I was there.

NotSoDishyNow · 06/10/2023 19:27

Teeth and smoking.

dudsville · 06/10/2023 21:10

I agree with all the comments about sun damage and smoking, fillers etc., but also make up is so much cleverer. And the trend for dewy skin that we've had going on for so long now is a youthful look compared to powered matt looks. Natural looks (still often heavily created) are popular and look more youthful than glam or whatever the word is for the air hostess or make up counter assistant look.

dianamoonyan · 06/10/2023 22:09

@Petrine I suppose my point is that my direct observation from my own "primary source" material from my fathers old work and personal prints is that people's skin in general looks older, at a younger age. I know not everyone has access to that but looking at old prints from weddings I thought the women were much older but my fathers notes suggest they were all 20 somethings, you even see it with actress headshots of the time, more lines due to smoking I think. I think good quality photographs are better evidence than memory, that goes for mine too!

OP posts:
dianamoonyan · 06/10/2023 22:11

dudsville · 06/10/2023 21:10

I agree with all the comments about sun damage and smoking, fillers etc., but also make up is so much cleverer. And the trend for dewy skin that we've had going on for so long now is a youthful look compared to powered matt looks. Natural looks (still often heavily created) are popular and look more youthful than glam or whatever the word is for the air hostess or make up counter assistant look.

Perhaps that is true, I don't really wear make up myself but yes the formulations are very nice now.

OP posts:
Standandwait · 06/10/2023 23:46

People weigh more so less wrinkled.

Angrymum22 · 07/10/2023 00:16

SPF and less people working outside. Smoking to a degree but also the clean air act reduced pollution for everyone along with safer working environments ( air quality) I remember, as a child , in the early 70s the pea suppers we used to get where you couldn’t see more than a couple of feet in front of you. Most of the country was heated by coal fires as well.
Cigarette smoke was only part of the problem, it causes temporary lowering of oxygen to tissues. I’m certain that poor air quality historically caused the same damage to everyone whether they smoked or not.

fetchacloth · 07/10/2023 00:22

EsmeShelby · 05/10/2023 15:24

Smoking.

I agree 💯

Finlesswonder · 07/10/2023 00:29

I don't think it's smoking at all, I know quite a few smokers with very youthful skin.

I think it's quality skincare and believe it or not generally less stressful lives. Although "back in the day" is touted as having been "simpler", I think times gone by were actually much more stressful in terms of consequences and choices. A financially and emotionally hard life shows on your face.

The upper classes in tines gone by drank and smoked their heads off and looked youthful. It's about ease

Toefingers · 07/10/2023 00:42

People do replace their perfectly healthy teeth during their 20s today…. They’re called Turkey teeth (veneers). Very TOWIE

Penguin34 · 07/10/2023 00:52

Skincare and spf.
Everywoman I know used spf on their face every day, not just in the summer.
I wear 50 all year round. Someone thought I was 31/32 today and I'm 40

Penguin34 · 07/10/2023 00:52

And better makeup and lighting

MrsMorrisey · 07/10/2023 01:11

Filters and photoshop.