My face has changed and I feel sad

[SpongeBlobSquareFace]

I turned 54 a few days ago and felt really good. Of course I need to put down the Christmas chocs like everyone else but I'm in reasonable shape and everyone always said I look young for my age. Well, not any more. I saw pictures from yesterday and it looks like my visage has collapsed and I've suddenly got a square face. Really wide. I'm very upset. I realise this is shallow of me but I just want to mourn and moan a bit. Has anyone else had this?

That’s a huge achievement! Congrats ! Anyone can take a bad photograph so don’t take that to heart .

I'm strangely slightly pleased about the loss of cheek fat - for the first time ever I actually look like I have cheekbones!

I am 54 and this year have developed jowls;(

What ya gonna do ? 😂

I'm buying the Rio neck toner. I had one years ago, it's cheap and effective.

Omg I hear you. I was recently very shocked at my face, I actually see one thing in the mirror and another in photos. I'm careful with makeup, I even switched to a BB cream that was recommended on here, it took a while to get use to as I was always a heavy makeup wearer and was told 100% not to use heavy foundation at my age.

I saw myself in a video taken over Christmas, this was on whole other level, so no unflattering light, my lovely small round face is now replaced with a square shape and just god awful horrible BB cream that was barely visible and a big red face, I looked like I had run a marathon and I can't believe I have been walking around like this for 2 years. I have also taken on the 'mother' body shape 😔😔😔

Same age as you and I feel my face has sagged.

I've been given some skincare stuff for Xmas and this includes retinol as well as other mysterious products.
Was wondering what the heck retinol was.

I hear you. I am 62 and look after my skin, wear all the recommended 'stuff' for my face/age etc.
I looked at the xmas photos in horror. My face is huge. Where did that come from? Its now a massive oblong. I dont want a massive oblong for a face. It all looks droopy and very 'fleshy' iyswim.
I'd rather have wrinkles.

@Wendysfriend I'm afraid to say I chuckled at your misfortune on seeing the video of yourself. I know exactly what you mean. I have to appear on videos at work all the time, and the first few times I saw them I was horrified. Now I just zone it out. I think wear what makes you feel the most confident, for me it's a light foundation, so more than a BB cream, less than a heavy foundation- I take a lot of the 'ageing' advice on here with a pinch of salt, though I do use a brown mascara but have done that all my life!

Am 54 also and find hrt a great way to help the skin and after Christmas am going to start my walking again and no sugar or crisps january. Am sure you look fine, I hate having photos taken myself and bet you look great in the mirror so try not to be so hard on yourself. So difficult facing getting old but nothing we can do unless we go down the route of fillers etc.

Yes! See Madonna.

I’ve started having regular facials every few months. They definitely help me feel better about myself. For me losing weight definitely helps my face.

I thought square jawed women aged well. I think someone on here mentioned it there is a website devoted to square jawed women. I understand what you are saying though, just turned 55 and always told I looked younger but no one says that to me anymore. It is depressing but I try to make an effort with clothes and makeup still.

DeclineandFall can you use those machines with fillers? I have a small amount in each cheek to prop my face up!

I had a similar experience a couple of years ago OP. My face was always slightly long, but well defined at the jaw. I'm 56 and don't have too many wrinkles, but my scaffolding has well and trying collapsed. My face matches my arse - they are both oblong😆

*well and truly that should say🙄

You could try micro current devices, but those are better to use before the sag has happened. Think about it, any improvement is going to be minuscule. There's no proof facial massages or yoga helps, in fact there's thought that it can be counterproductive.

To reverse sagging you need to look at fillers. Otherwise it's surgical route. These are things that will work.

I hope that doesn't sound harsh.

So sad that this is such a worry for women, it wouldn't be like this if older women were treated like they are in other cultures.
It's such a cringe worry though. My sister didn't make it to 40, every year is a blessing

Yes the bigger the jaw the better it supports any sag.
So the ones who were cute and pretty when young don't usually age well, the ones who looked odd growing up due to large bone structures fare better in age

High cheekbones are the faces that age best as it acts as scaffolding.

I’ve actually noticed that. I guess it’s turnabout.

I suppose that’s fair . Although yes good bone structure ages best I guess. Joanna Lumley springs to mind.

I am 70, the only thing I really hate is my double chin - going to get one of the devices pp mention for that. As I have aged, heavier foundation looks nasty. I now use Erborian CC Dull Correct and it evens out tone, gives a bit of colour and does not sit on top of the skin. I buy it for friends for birthdays and it is much appreciated. Takes years off you.

That makes sense. I think cheekbones and jaw (near ear possibly I think) are two places that filler is placed for sagging. That I know of.

A still shot can make anyone look awful. I look a million times better in a video where I am animated, than I do in a photo.