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How to look better at 50 (ish)

107 replies

SereneSquirrel · 30/10/2025 11:22

I don't mean younger.

I mean healthier, I think. Fresher. Less knackered.

When I look in the mirror I always look tired and old.

I am not trying to look younger, just nicer.

What works for you? More exercise? Better diet? Better sleep? Different make up? Or do I just need to suck it up and accept that this is how I look now?

OP posts:
Catonacoldfridgefreezer · 30/10/2025 11:32

I do it all, eat well; Mediterranean diet, very little upf, very little alcohol and have exercised regularly throughout the whole of my life. I walk everyday, stick to a regular sleep routine but I can still look bloody knackered and yes, my age and some days older than my age! 😄

However, I don’t do Botox or fillers, but also don’t have a lot of money for skin care, and as much as I hate to say it, because I don’t want to buy in to it, I do think if you have the money for good clothes, facials, regularly get hair cut and coloured, some good subtle make up, this can make a real difference. Not to make you look younger but just fresher, more polished.

Defiantly41 · 30/10/2025 11:35

in more or less order of less expensive to more expensive

More water, exercise, fresh air, good food eg low UPF.
get ChatGPT to do your colours or get them done professionally
a good flattering haircut and get hairdresser to show you how to style/ maintain at home
maybe some new makeup, get a demo eg from Bobbi Brown for an update especially on foundation and blush (colours and placement, as we age both need adjustment)
identify one thing in your wardrobe that makes you feel dowdy and ditch or donate it - start with just one thing and make this a regular thing to do
Find a style tribe that you aspire to on Instagram and look at how they put outfits together, so that when you replace items you’ve ditched you pick something better rather than a similar thing to the old one
book a styling session at John Lewis

ThePoshUns · 30/10/2025 11:38

Tretinoin and 50spf every day.

HeadNorth · 30/10/2025 11:40

Do things that bring you joy even if they are a bit scary - push yourself out of your comfort zone. That will reflect in every aspect of how you present yourself & come across.

TeaRoseTallulah · 30/10/2025 11:41

Daily walk/ fresh air
Good moisturiser
Good hair cut
Sheerer make up rather than heavy if you wear it
Perfume
Some nice pieces of jewellery

FourFiveEightNine · 30/10/2025 11:43

Cull as many stress generators as you can. You may feel guilty but it’s a relief. Negative stress isn’t good for the body.

Find somewhere outdoors you love and go there often. (Local is obviously better for regular immersion.) Fresh air is crucial.

(I own a stunningly beautiful yoga mat, a billionaire’s hula hoop, a skipping rope … Currently temporarily separated from them and I really notice the difference.)

Sign up for a weekly veg box and start consuming about three times as much as you’d imagined possible. (I find Riverford wonderfully convenient; no obligation to buy anything you don’t want, and you can dip in and out without issue.)

There was an article in one of the papers recently on research showing a correlation between a very good diet and oral health.

But you should also invest (money / time) in your teeth. That will make a huge difference to how you look.

For myself I like an enzyme cleanser, then Paula’s Choice exfoliating gel, then a facial oil. I’m wary of introducing anything that might upset my skin.

Magnesium! Best in large handfuls in the bath, but a body spray is ok too. Helps with skin and sleep.

(I’m rather older than you. Note that I’m sitting at home pontificating on health rather than making use of the expensive running kit I bought in a rush of madness over the summer. Maybe do as I say, not as I do …)

DiscoNights · 30/10/2025 11:44

Blusher! I look like a corpse without it.

JustReacher · 30/10/2025 11:55

Less knackered comes down to actually being less knackered sometimes I think! So getting plenty of sleep, not drinking too much, eating well.

I agree about a good haircut, SPF and good quality make up too.

Scrollers · 30/10/2025 12:03

Sleep, water and make up. Blush , brows, foundation (unless excellent skin) and mascara are all vital to make me look ‘fresh’

I use retinol, vitamin C , take collagen etc , I honestly don’t think they make any difference.

RosesAndHellebores · 30/10/2025 12:10

Defiantly41 · 30/10/2025 11:35

in more or less order of less expensive to more expensive

More water, exercise, fresh air, good food eg low UPF.
get ChatGPT to do your colours or get them done professionally
a good flattering haircut and get hairdresser to show you how to style/ maintain at home
maybe some new makeup, get a demo eg from Bobbi Brown for an update especially on foundation and blush (colours and placement, as we age both need adjustment)
identify one thing in your wardrobe that makes you feel dowdy and ditch or donate it - start with just one thing and make this a regular thing to do
Find a style tribe that you aspire to on Instagram and look at how they put outfits together, so that when you replace items you’ve ditched you pick something better rather than a similar thing to the old one
book a styling session at John Lewis

This.
Keep your classics up to date

A couple of years ago, I removed almost all upfs, all processed meat, saturated fat, refined carbs, including sugar, wheat and alcohol. I felt so much better within a fortnight - aches and pains disappeared along with eczema, puffy ankles and dark circles. After 10 months I'd lost 2.5 st.

Posture, pilates and 6000 steps.

Daily I take turmeric, collagen for hair, skin, nails, vitamin D.

I cannot emphasis how imporyant it is to know your colours. I could buy the best cut, beautiful fabric, up to date classics going this season buy this season's colours make me look washed out and awful.

theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 30/10/2025 12:57

I have started eating more protein, cut out a lot of carbs and sugar. Cooking more fresh from scratch, I make dump bags with meat and veg on a Sunday and stick them in the slow cooker each day to make sure I'm not reaching for convenience foods. I try and drink 3ltr of water per day.

I have started doing facemasks once/twice a week, I have never really had a face rountine, I used to now and again slap some moisturiser on. I now wash with a cleanser and have started using L'oreal firming anti wrinkle cream and also their hyaluronic night mask, I have started to notice a difference. I'm also tackling my hair, using hair masks, making more of an effort (almost 50), going to get it coloured and cut next week. Also, i've lost weight and have started to change the way I dress, I got into a skinny jeans and top routine and I have found making more of an effort makes me feel better about myself.

I try and get in my 10000 steps, even if most of these are done in the house.

Floisme · 30/10/2025 13:00

I think maintaining health is the most important thing. So all the things already discussed - good diet, regular exercise, cut down the booze. try and maintain a stable weight etc etc etc.

Then I'd focus on the things you enjoy, whether that's clothes, skincare, grooming, make up or whatever.

And if none of those activities bring you pleasure then find something that does because, to be blunt, time is beginning to run out so why waste any more of it than you have to?

Greenship · 30/10/2025 13:08

DiscoNights · 30/10/2025 11:44

Blusher! I look like a corpse without it.

I was going to say blusher! Why didn't I do this sooner? It really helps.

I have found the Cornish Seaweed shampoo really good for menopausal hair as well - really softens it.

Purplecatshopaholic · 30/10/2025 13:11

Look after your teeth, your skin, your hair - you will be glad you did. So, regular dentist, decent moisturiser (doesn’t have to be expensive, currently loving Numbuzin), good hair cut (and decent shampoo, I like Plantur 39). Find a concealer that works for you (I like Huda Beauty). Fresh air (I have dogs). If you can, invest in tretinoin, a decent spf, hair colour (I will never be grey, lol, although some people are fine with it, personal choice). Botox is an option - I swear by a little now and again. Try and eat more healthily (this is my downfall!), and reduce stress (also an issue for me, but working on it).

ZenZazie · 30/10/2025 13:15

Dance in your kitchen to music you loved in your teens and twenties
Naps
Tata Harper Crème Blush in Flashy as a highlighter
Omega capsule daily
Quick self administered facial once a week- salicylic acid serum on thickly for five minutes to exfoliate, clay mask on for ten to clean out the pores, hyaluronic sheet mask for ten to hydrate
Something physical you enjoy a couple of times a week

FourFiveEightNine · 30/10/2025 13:25

Sorry, but why the jeff am I (60s) only allowed to enjoy music from my long distant youth? Confused I was actually dancing to Raye yesterday and have been roaring out Where the hell is my husband?! at odd moments for weeks.

And I don’t need any fucking ‘naps’!

And why only quick, self- administered skin care. Am I not worth a full morning at an expensive and expert salon, whenever the fancy takes me?

(Were you being deliberately provocative?)

ZenZazie · 30/10/2025 13:48

@FourFiveEightNine

  1. I didn’t say you could only enjoy music from your youth. The point is to sometimes remind yourself of times with less responsibility.
  2. From the way you are talking to me I would beg to differ on your needing naps. Might improve your temper.
  3. It’s just quicker and more accessible.
  4. No, I was just outlining things that work for me. Again, see point 2, you might not mistake sharing in good faith for deliberate provocation if you were a bit better rested.
Wowisthisit · 30/10/2025 13:55

ZenZazie · 30/10/2025 13:48

@FourFiveEightNine

  1. I didn’t say you could only enjoy music from your youth. The point is to sometimes remind yourself of times with less responsibility.
  2. From the way you are talking to me I would beg to differ on your needing naps. Might improve your temper.
  3. It’s just quicker and more accessible.
  4. No, I was just outlining things that work for me. Again, see point 2, you might not mistake sharing in good faith for deliberate provocation if you were a bit better rested.

LOL

Nameeechanged · 30/10/2025 13:57

Okay, everyone has covered the good stuff - but I’ve got to chuck in salmon sperm microneedling. Everyone keeps telling me how good my make up looks and thats the only
thing I’ve changed. My skin glows now!

FourFiveEightNine · 30/10/2025 14:04

Gosh I hope I live long enough to reach a point where I won’t be told, effectively, to moderate my tone …

C8H10N4O2 · 30/10/2025 14:09

Choose the right parents…a huge amount of ageing is genetic.

That aside, its mostly boring stuff.

  • keep the alcohol down
  • minimise refined sugars (but not complex carbs)
  • eat a good variety of fruit, veg, unrefined grains
  • moisturisers/sunblock
  • incorporate as much movement into your day as possible
  • find ways to manage stressful times and situations
  • try to get enough sleep

I’ve always been quite good at the first three, I’m a life long veggie who has always eaten the “right” diet by chance. Regular drinking was killed as a habit by having DC close together and years of insufficient sleep to drink.

I’m good on sunblock, not always so diligent on moisturisers.

The last three are much harder to manage - long hours, often with travel in a demanding job. However with experience I learned to discriminate between things I needed to stress about and things I really didn’t need to stress about (which is most of them in reality) and of course seniority brings much more autonomy which removes a whole layer of work stress.
I’ve always been a rubbish sleeper, I don’t imagine I’ll ever fix that.

I have a set of exercises I do religiously to maintain mobility and prevent it deteriorating, but that aside its really just walking.

Helphjjjjb · 30/10/2025 14:11

Sleep
hydrate - lemon water helps me a lot.
Simple makeup - tinted moisturizer, concealer and a brush over with powder and blusher.
Getting weight back into the normal BMI - working on this after an illness.

ZenZazie · 30/10/2025 14:14

@FourFiveEightNine Well growing up is hard to do.

Peridot2 · 30/10/2025 14:20

moisturised skin. But of bb cream on a brush. Bronzer on eyelids. Line your top lashline and use mascara. Cream blusher. Tinted lipgloss. Spray from a distance with a radiant setting spray. Ta-da!

Thelankyone · 30/10/2025 14:24

Weight, it’s the number one thing that’s ageing, too thin or too fat. A matronly bust atop a big belly. Or a thin body with no muscle tone. We should aim for a healthy bmi, irrelevant of where on the bmi scale be it 19 or 24 that suits our frame, with muscle tone, is the most youthful.

good hair, in good condition. With a good cut/style, no washed out colours, brassy colours, dry ends, massive roots.

good skin, this doesn’t just come from skin care, it comes from diet and lifestyle, being hydrated, eating enough protein, vegetables, fruit, limiting alcohol, sugar and caffeine. Skin is also your body as well as your face, so moisturising all over to keep it supple and bright.

good make up if you chose to wear it, subtly done to highlight the positives and blur the negatives, nothing harsh, fake or caked.

good eyebrows, thin , sparse or over drawn in is never good.

good clothes, quality pieces, in a current cut, in a quality material that fit properly. So maybe wide leg trousers, rather than skinnies, midi dresses rather than knee length etc etc, whatever suits you, not going for fashion, but going for a nod to current, depending on age, also aiming for elegant and modern, is better than going for cheap fashion, in crap materials and cut. Try vinted for higher end high st. Like Reiss, me + em, max mara etc if on a limited budget.

subtle perfume if you like perfume, or a scented body lotion, something you love the smell of, stays close to the body, and makes you feel good.

snd importantly exercise if you’ve time, exercise gets the blood flowing, brings a flush to our skin, and makes us feel better, at least after if not during.

make small changes one at a time, it’s amazing the difference some self care and love can make to our outward appearance and subsequently how we feel about ourselves.