Are you ever shocked how *old* you look in a mirror?

[fizzbuzz]

Have just spent 2 hours in hairdressers. Most of it was spent without specs on as they faffed around with my hair.

So finally put specs on to admire hairstyle (which was v nice) but look old old old, and yet feel 24. In fact I can't believe I don't look 24, and am really shocked to see middle aged frump looking back at me!!!

I love clothes, but have convinced myself I look old and frumpy in all of them. Wore one of those printed t-shirts, and thought I looked good, and then caught glimpse of middle aged women in a shop...and realised it was me

Shirt now residing in bin.....Does anyone else ever feel shocked when they look in the mirror?

I'm usually shocked when I look in the mirror but the reason for shock varies.

Sometimes I'm shocked by how old I look but strangely other times I'm shocked how young I look and even sometimes I am suprised at how thin I am (I've recently lost a few stone and still feel I'm fatter) when I get ready to go out and have actually done my hair and make up I'm suprised how pretty I can look and wonder why I don't make more effort.

oh yes, i'm getting a scraggy neck and big pores. (i avoid that mirror)

Oh God yes, all the time

I think of myself looking exactly as I did when I was 21. I get a proper shock when I clock myself sometimes. Photos are the worst tbh. I look like my Mum in a lot of them.

The thing that I have noticed is that when I look in the mirror, I think I look ok, but then I catch a glimpse of myself smiling, laughing, generally having expression on my face as opposed to that deadpan looking-in-the-mirror non expression, and then....oh my god the wrinkles!!! I am just emerging from my second post-baby period, when I look down at myself and survey the horrendous fallout of pregnancy, comfort eating and breastfeeding - horror

and that advert that goes 'not yet ready for cosmetic surgery' argh

My main shock is when I don't have make up on, and grey needs retouching.

Well done on weight loss Part of my problem is birth of dd led to huge baggy stomach. Despite weight loss (lighter than pr-pg)and loads of exercises still big and baggy....not a youthful look I fear

I am ok as long as I don't share mirror with any of my children. Comparing skin with them will send me to bed with depression for days.

since finding Boots No. 7 Protect and Perfect Beauty Serum I feel much better.

i hate my grey hair, however.

I need a face lift...

Ugh, totally. I was using my webcam to take pictures of old photos the other day, so I'm holding up the photo, nice young DCMB on the screen, put the photo down ... who the fark is that middle-aged woman on my computer screen?!

I also think I'm thinner than I really am.

Its photos that always despress me - there am I thinking I look ok on that particular day and then I see a photo and hardly recognise myself!

You are all standing far too close to your mirrors.

I'm gorgeous.

i am getting more and more shocked!

Straight on and not too close up i look ok. Yet if i catch my profile, i think , god look at your chin/neck, its all falling downwards. If i see a photo of me that is also not head on i think 'shit thats what I REALLY look like'

my porse have got bigger too, my gut is pretty bad atm. I am nearly 40, and i absolutely feel crap about it, as i feel abotu 25, and have NO idea how i got to this age.

Fairymum, I teach teenagers...all glowing skin, glossy hair, flat tums...I hate them

Sometimes when they are quiet and working i glare at their luminescent skin...but it's the hands that get me. There's are so soft and well...pudgy.

My mum usd to go on at me about wearing make up when I was a teenager...and now I understand why. If I had dewy skin like that, i woyldn't coat it in crap.

Also, have noticed that 6th formers can go out all night, come to school and still glow...whereas I look like a walking ashtray after one hour's missed sleep...sort of grey and dusty

Every morning and every time I look in the mirror. I am 47 so the grey hair and wrinkles were bound to appear at some point. I think I've been lucky as its only recently that I've gone down hill.

Thinking about botox if I can afford it which is looking unlikely atm.

Their's..of course

But it seems to have happened overnight!

One day I looked about 30, then the next I look ancient.

Piratecat, haven't focused on neck/chin yet....it is my pouchy cheeks I can't stand....and my one good feature is high cheekbones, so don't know why I have got a cheek problem....

However chin/neck could be the next area of loathing........

Since DD arrived I suddenly realised how old my skin was. I spend all day looking at this baby face with clear skin, then I look in the mirror in shock and think how the heck did that happen

yes its the same with my cheeks too, the way they are starting to droop a bit, making me look more sullen than usual.

and the fact i can see my mother (weeps)

Also have noticed teeth are not as white....asked the dentist...£480 to make them whiter....

Dd has such soft golden peachy skin, white pearly teeth, pink gums...How did I give birth to her???

All the time. Hairdressers mirrors are esp bad for the aging effect, imo. One bit of advice I can give you all is to not under any circumstances use a magnifying mirror. I thought having such an object would help supplement my aging eyesight. Dd, bless her, thought only the best would do for her mum and gave me a top of the range version.

I tell you, viewing one's face five times larger than life and lit with fluorescent lighting is not, repeat not, for the faint-hearted.

I looked really young until I had babies,now after years of sleep deprivation I am a raddled hag,a husk of my former self.I hate looking in the mirror.

Yes, hairdressers not flattering mirrors, nor are the black gowns and towels....very draining....

Would be very scared of looking in a magnifying mirror....it's bad enough at current scale...