When you look in the mirror do you like what you see?

[LoveBeingAMum555]

Just that really. I am mid-fifties, lucky enough to be able to afford facials and nails done, and I am just about to get my teeth whitened. I have a good hairdresser, eat well and exercise regularly. I feel like I have a fairly good idea of what clothes suit me.

But when I look in the mirror or see a photo of myself I don't like how I look at all. I always think everyone else looks better than me. My son is getting married this year and thinking about outfits and being on show on the day has made me realise how little confidence I have in my appearance.

Do other people feel this way? Can I change how I see myself?

Noone else cares how you look. Even if someone was mean or kind enough to pass comment or compliment, they genuinely don't care. So the only person who does is you. Unless you are going for radical surgery, this is you, so you may as well embrace it.

I like my face but not my body. However. I'm working on this as I owe it to myself.
As pp said, your looks don't really bother anyone else. They're preoccupied with themselves.

i’m 53 and it depends on the lighting 😀😀

Good lighting, I’m pleased with what I see, lighting that shows up the way my face has changed, not so much.

I do like my body though.

I really don’t mind what I see in the mirror at home, but in mirrors in shops and in photographs it’s like looking at a different person. I may become a hermit.

I look like a potato in a wig (early 40s) but I’ve always been ugly. I also have huge boobs so clothes never fit properly. I wish I could at least look “put together”. I’ve always looked young but recently had eczema or something on my eyelids and they’ve gone all weird and droopy and I look so old 😭

Most of the time I am ok about it but lately I’ve been really down.

Mirrors yes, photos.. It depends on the angle.

I think a lot of women do this compare themselves to other women and see who looks better, it’s honestly something thay surprises me, I’ve genuinly never done it, I can think a woman looks great but don’t compare to myself, as her looking great doesn’t change how I look and it’s not a competition. I do wonder if it was as I was raised by my father, and with a brother, It simply never occurs to me to compare my appearance to other women.

and I like what I see yes, a lot, as I gained weight due to many factors, and then lost it, and work out a lot, I’m toned and fit, my hair is good and i dress in clothes I love. So for me, it’s about me, it’s never ever about anyone else.

I’m the wrong side of 70. Removing my glasses before looking in the mirror works well for me.

Sometimes I’m startled when I’m out and about and get a glimpse in a shop window of the old woman who stalks me. I’ve tried waving to her to be friendly and she always waves back.

Yes, I always have. Don't mind photos either.

It's not about how you actually look, it's how you feel about how you look. I look in the mirror and see me.

I do. I’m really conceited. 😂

Apart from recently, I lent over a tray with a mirror base to clean it. That was alarming.

I am ok at home. In shop mirrors it is depressing! I never compare myself to other women though. It is what it is. I would like to be slimmer though. I envy people their nice legs but it doesn’t depress me if I see a nice pair, I just think, lucky them.

Sometimes. I have great hair that random people compliment but my face is so old and tired looking I’ve always been self conscious.

I'm 50 and am finally, mercifully, pretty neutral about what I look like. After years of never being happy, I just don't feel much of anything when I look in the mirror. I just look like me and that's ok. For me, the more I tried to pursue 'looking good' the more dissatisfied I became. It's like an endless spiral, the more you look at yourself and try to 'fix' stuff the more you see.

No, I've put on 2 stone since hitting perimenopause 4 years ago. I used to be fit and looked good. I love the gym when I have the energy and motivation to go. I love being outdoors, walking or cycling. I generally eat well.

I've been ill this week and the only upside is that I've lost 4-5 lbs through being too unwell to eat.

I looked my best 5 years ago, I've recently started getting my spark back so hopefully the rest will follow.

Absolutely not! I’m undergoing cancer treatment and have had mastectomy, 2 rounds of chemo so have lost most of my hair including eyelashes ( which have fallen out and grown back once before). Have broken/weak nails. I hardly recognise myself but doesn’t really matter. Going out for lunch day and putting a new dress I bought on Vinted ! Onwards and upwards I’ll get used to the new me and grateful for all the care I’m given.

I always check myself over in the mirror before leaving home.
After catching a glimpse of myself in a reflection in a shop window I now realise that my mirror is a lying bastard. That reflection looks nowhere near as good as that fucker showed me.

lol @Riapiai feel your pain!

I mostly like the ‘whole picture’ in the mirror but not when I see photos of myself and I’d like to be thinner.

Nope. I hate mirrors! 46 and overweight. Oh and short so overweight looks even worse.
Unruly hair too. No clothes suit me and I feel like shit.

I'm 49.
thought i looked pretty ok...until I caught myself looking down into my phone. OMG gravity....Einstein can fuck off.

Body wise, I'm feeling better than I have in years. Recently tried on bikinis for pending holiday and actually felt good.

For most of history, no one really 'knew' what they looked like. My house has only one bathroom mirror for checking presentability and while I first found out challenging I am so much less bothered now because I am confrontation so much less.

(yes it makes styling new outfits challenging, but once you know what goes together it's ok)

Depends where I am in my cycle!! Luteal phase, not a chance 🤣

Yes, but I'm not that focused on appearances either my own or other people.

It might be liberating for you to learn to worry less about how you look?

It depends on the lighting, how I feel about myself and whether I'm well rested. Always has done, it's not a feature of getting older for me (though the lines and wrinkles don't help!)