Turning 50 - what can I do to make myself feel better

[birdsintrees]

I’m fifty soon. Not been feeling great about it but have decided to use it as an excuse to do lots of beauty stuff. I’ve contacted someone to try Botox for the first time. Got some nice oil and cream to try and sort my hands and nails out. My hair is alright at the moment, I have a good hairdresser. Don’t know what else to do really, I’ve never really bothered. Get a make up consultation? I don’t wear it at the moment but maybe something basic? Would love any suggestions to get me to feel a bit better about being fifty years old (why does it feel so much older than 49?!)

Whatever weight training you can safely do. It makes you look and feel better, strengthens your bones, builds muscles in unexpected ways (eg no more squidge between underarms and bust), and improves confidence.

Thanks!

At 50 I gave up booze, got much more careful about my diet, and increased my exercise- initially more cardio and yoga, but switched to more weights, mobility and determined upping of my step count. I lost about a stone and unlike other times in my life when I’ve lost weight, I’ve kept it off.

At 60, my body is thanking me. I’ve got rid of a lot of the tendinitis, joint pain and weaknesses. HRT probably helped too.

Sleep! (No booze, exercise and HRT helped there too).

I’m fussier about my clothes- I declutter regularly and don’t hang onto anything that no longer feels right, or which has given good service but needs retiring. So I do buy new, but carefully. Spend more on individual items but buy fewer, basically.

Personally I’ve gone grey, and really like it. It suits me very well but some people hate greying. I’d rather spend the hair maintenance budget on other things like dental care, the occasional bit of Botox (although I’m not a zealot) and- next month!- getting my varicose and thread veins in my legs fixed. I’m hoping this means I will happily wear shorts if we get a heatwave next year.

Have fun, OP, it’s a good decade, and the 60-70 is supposed to be even better!

Unfortunately I never got around to sorting myself out as I hit 50 , thought I was doing ok. But my later 50's , the menopause and depression took its toll

I started my glow up at 59, slowly, and it's still a work in progress. Did my first marathon aged 60 and at 61 I started weights. I wish I had started the weights in my 50's tbh, my balance is pretty bad for my age

No fillers or stuff for me. It's been about eating well , cutting back on the booze. lost 2 stone, still carrying a bit too much around the belly, but wear 8/10 - the gym is toning me slowly

I do a gentle simple face care, wear little in the way of cosmetics , and have let my hair silver but cut well

Never going to be a beauty , but Im happy with how my face is holding up - so far - just concentrating on keeping the body good

Think a personal trainer would be way more beneficial than Botox as it would be good for health AND appearance.

Take a lover ... 😁!!

In my fifties I wasn’t willing to give up wine so managed several more years on biodynamic wine which had fewer unpleasant side effects. Now, in my sixties I’ve pretty much stopped drinking at home (unless entertaining) but still enjoy wine in restaurants or cocktails in bars.

And my weekly organic veg box is a non-negotiable. I’m not interested in spending money on Botox, and the sort of facials I find effective are horrendously expensive now - so I prioritise eating well and, if not actually eliminating stress (as I’m human) trying to make my base level day / week / month as close to my ideal as possible. (Within my means.)

I found turning 50 hard but it’s been the best decade of my life.

@PenelopePritstop The makeup person had the run of all the brands John Lewis sell. The foundation was Nars light reflect. The eye colours - they are all sticks- are Laura Mercier. Lip pencil and oil is Trinny London and the eyeliner pencil in two green shades was Charlotte Tilbury. I already had some Jones Road miracle balm, Channel Le Volume mascara and Nars stick blusher, all recommended by her. I had to go to Cardiff as our two local branches don't offer this service but I presume London would.
Yes, being thinner is a great help and I'm hoping that as I dieted to stop my knee hurting it might be easier to maintain this than if it had been primarily to get into smaller clothes.

Like a previous poster, I'm days off turning 70 so, from my perspective, I'm going to say you need to prioritise health and fitness. Lots of advice already given so I won't repeat it all but don't put this off, even if you don't enjoy it. In fact if you don't enjoy it, the more reason to do it.

And then I'd focus on the things you enjoy. For me, that means clothes. I have a minimalist skin and hair care regime and I couldn't care less about make up, manicures etc. Some people take the opposite view - equally fine. Just make sure you enjoy it. And if you're not interested in any of of this stuff then don't do it and find something else that brings pleasure. Because I can absolutely guarantee that the next 20 years will pass in an instant so don't waste time.

Sleep
Hydration
Healthy food
Healthy weight
And a few nice clothes.

I think you must be me!

Getting filler is not the answer !
Good skin care !
Good hair
Good weight
Keep walking when U can
And eat clean
And hands and feet keep those nice and dress for yourself ,!
I've just turned 50 I know I'm super lucky I don't look it (Good Genes)
But the above things I've always done !!!! It helps being comfortable in your own skin as well confidence !
Recently noticed people younger than myself how dreadful their work looks fillers Botox ect ect ( my opinion it never looks good there is nothing wrong with ageing it's totally normal to look good at 50 and be 50 don't come for me people )

I think spa day, massage and exfoliation and moisturise. Also a physio or going to a gym for a fitness check.

Also sleep and water- no screens after a certain time and hydrated, so moisturiser, good food, water, sleep, less screen time and meeting with friends/ starting a hobby. Do you really need botox?

Hmmm maybe I stay away from the Botox then… I don’t look fifty yet but. I feel a bit insecure about my forehead and my 11’s. Maybe better just to get a nice facial here and there instead. More relaxing.

Not too late for Botox !

Seriously I dont mean to be condescending, but the 11's won't be bothering you in the slightest, if you dont have the strength and energy to go out and show the face off

None of us want to look older, but there comes a time when looks arent the most important thing in life , health is

Mum looked 20 years younger than her age when she passed this year, but she had been sat in a chair for 10 years . The more she sat, the less muscle she had, the less she could move without pain

I know you say you have problems with exercise , I do as well - shoulder/neck injury, but finding the right instructor is key , they will push but protect you . I do three classes a week, cardio, upper and full body.All the upper body are changed for me so whilst I am building muscle, Im not putting my health at risk

It's not something we ever want to hear, sure arent we on the go all day and never stopping after all. But an hour a day 3 or 4 days a week will be more beneficial , more bang for your buck, then a facial or botox

Thanks! Yes, they do this near me and I was surprised to see most of the MUA booked up for weeks!

I probably won't have it done as I'm sort of okay - but I'm going to look again at Nars foundation. I used one some years ago and it was Gobi- too yellow- so I need to get the right shade if they do it.
Bobbi Brown has reformulated their foundation so many times and it's not as good now IMO but I've half a bottle to get through.

I'm intrigued by lip oil as I wonder how it stays on. Does it disappear like lip gloss?

One thing I am impressed with is Laura Mercier powder - the blur one.
I don't use much powder but it's so super-fine that it does make your make up the whole day.

Seriously I dont mean to be condescending, but the 11's won't be bothering you in the slightest, if you dont have the strength and energy to go out and show the face off
None of us want to look older, but there comes a time when looks arent the most important thing in life , health is

They are not mutually exclusive @suki1964

Looks may not be the 'most important' but it's not wrong to care about how you look. And your health and looks are so closely related- eat well, sleep well, be happy and it will show in your face too.

My take on it is that health is the No 1 and a 'given' to take care of, day to day, but so is slapping on spf 50, and if you want to, having the forehead lines relaxed. No one wants to look cross or miserable if they don't have reason to!

Maybe you are overthinking Botox. If you have 11s and you don' t like them just go and get them sorted. Botox is not expensive relative to other treatments. I don't think it's about being 'insecure' it's more about what YOU want to look like- not other people's opinions.

I am 51 and I feel fitter than I did when I was in my twenties (possibly because I smoked 20 a day then but still!). I don't look the the same as I did then, of course, but I (like to) think that I look pretty decent for my age. I would recommend weigh training and high intensity cardio type exercise. It's made me feel very strong and fit and I think that makes me feel more youthful. I think you mentioned a health condition which may impact but perhaps, depending on your circumstances maybe a specialist PT could help?

Just a word of warning on forehead Botox - be really cautious if you have hooded eyes or sagging skin above the eyes. Relaxing the brow muscles can cause the brows to drop so it makes the eyes appear even more heavy or hooded. After a consultation I decided against it for this reason.

I got my first lot of Botox a month before turning 50 and really liked the effect I’ve had it done one again at 6 months ish and will do it again I don’t think it’s too late at all. For me it was now or never I also got few more piercing. Might get some more ( ears only too wobbly elsewhere)

Forgive me for being so clumsy with my wording

Sure I keep my own "pretty low compared to most on this board " standards up . but Im now seeing the importance of spending on the health , same as even at my age Im now looking at finding Private Health Insurance , because where I live, the NHS isnt on its knees, its collapsed and just to get an appointment for an antibiotic for a Clegg bite, which was seen by the pharmacist, I was told to ring Monday to see if there were any appointments ( this was the Wednesday )

COL, collapsed NHS, Im now looking where my money is better spent

And I am clumsy with trying to say what I want to say - I apologise , I never mean harm nor to put another woman down