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Original poster

what makes us look younger than we are?

41 replies

stitch · 09/02/2009 21:35

i am 36, and am often told that i dont look it. mainly i think, because i dont act it. i just act like me. i wear clothes that i like and want to wear, hopefully with a nod towards fashion. i am not mega skinny, not even skinny actually, . obviously sometimes i am more groomed than at other times.
so, today, i was shopping for something in next, and nice young man there helping me. i was in a bit of a frump, hair all rolled up into hat as not straightened and frizzed up further in rain. no makeup, glasses. but, had on nice sweater dress, uggs, and leather jacket. however, i think the leather jacket was really a no no with the rest of the outfit, but i was in a couldnt care less mood.... so am shopping nicely and enjoying pleasant conversation. wheni filled in the date of birth part of the compettion, he looked genuinly surprised. said i looked younger than i was, andsomething about him being 23. i just thanked him, in what i would hope was a gracious manner, and left.

but, this has happened a lot to me recently. and it is actually making me a bit worried. what makes a person look old? and am i overdue the whatever it is? will people talk to me differently if they think i am my actual age? how do i ensure i continue to just be me?
basically what does it mean, to look younger than you are?

OP posts:
blueshoes · 09/02/2009 22:34

stitch, blimey, must have put a spring in your step

I am 40, but am routinely asked to show ID at Sainsburys where I get my dh's week's stash of ale.

Hmm, what makes me look young? It is mostly genetics. I am petite and slim, reasonably groomed with fairly good skin. I also have a young looking face. At a glance, you don't see the cracks unravelling around the edges. I am sure I look a lot closer to my age when you take things in carefully.

I did manage to reel in a dh 5 years younger than me!

LauriefairycakeeatsCupid · 09/02/2009 22:46

Being fat - plumps up your skin better than any cream - I look ten years younger than I am.

Ass or face, that's your choice after a certain age

hf128219 · 09/02/2009 22:47

Put a photo up and I'll let you know

NormaLeighLucid · 09/02/2009 23:01

I too am constantly told I look younger than my 32 years.
I was asked for ID in tesco on Friday for some Ale.
I dont know what makes me look young, I feel about 100.
Stitch, I too feel that people may talk to me differently if they knew my age.

pollywobbledoodle · 09/02/2009 23:46

laughing and seeming carefree.....never seem to manage it myself, am an old crone

gigglewitch · 09/02/2009 23:48

children

WilfSell · 09/02/2009 23:51

a fringe

peachface · 10/02/2009 00:01

Not being too skinny, having good skin - and a smiley face! I'm 35 but people always think I'm in my 20s too - I'm sure we will enjoy it more when we're 50 odd but when you're in your 30s you don't really want people thinking you're some young flibbertygibbet in your early twenties! I went out for a meal recently and there was a chat about some show on in the 70s and one woman quipped that I wasn't even BORN in the 70s trying to single me out as being the odd one out in a group of 30-somthing mums - turns out I'm 4 years older than HER!!! hahaha!! Actually,it has its perks...she was very sheepish for the rest of the night and bought the next drink!!!

electra · 10/02/2009 00:21

I think it's genetic. I'm 28 but look younger - a general trend throughout my family. I do think other things accelerate aging though;

smoking
sunbathing
not using moisturiser from a young age
having a hard life!

ThumbLoveWitch · 10/02/2009 00:23

I have always looked younger than my age and never used moisturiser. I think genetics has far more to do with it, and attitude.

supersalstrawberry · 10/02/2009 00:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

peachface · 10/02/2009 00:42

Definitely genetics - my mother has lovely skin and similarly doesn't look her age. Good ol' mum (or not so old?!)

starbear · 10/02/2009 08:12

I was chatting to a new colleague, about various work issues and various things that I've done. She then had a dismissive tone of disbelief and said 'but your only 30!' 'No, Sweetheart, I going to have my 22 year long service award in December. She looked geniunely shocked.
I think its genetics and Oil of Ulay (never Olay)since I was 14 yrs. But it doesn't mean I look good, just young, I really need to start looking my age and groomed!

Flamesparrow · 10/02/2009 08:16

Genetics. DH tends to look about 15.

He hasn't got clear skin, he isn't desperately over or underweight.

He just has a very young face

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/02/2009 08:19

My mum is 72 and is regularly asked if she is my 2 year old DDs mum!

nickschick · 10/02/2009 08:23

I am frequently mistaken for my sons girlfriend/sister etc etc ......my son is 15 but looks bit older.....dh isnt impressed (hes older than me by 17 years )-I think its cos fashion doesnt have an age now does it? the clothes I wear could be worn by a 15 yr old or a 45 yr old.

nickschick · 10/02/2009 08:24

By FanjoForTheMammaries on Tue 10-Feb-09 08:19:37
My mum is 72 and is regularly asked if she is my 2 year old DDs mum!

How old does your 2 yr old look???

saramoon · 10/02/2009 08:29

Crikey Fanjo, my mum is 57 and gets asked if my 2 and 4 year old dds are hers when she takes them out. I also look a bit younger than i am (36 next week)and get told that alot - although I never get asked for ID in the supermarket anymore - but unfortunately take after my dad more who had bad skin and grey hair. Hence my mum has no grey hair and i have some and i have inherited my dad's sallow skin, dark shadows under eyes and greasy skin. Nice. It IS genetics mostly. Also yes not having a hard life. I used to teach some women from Croatia who had lived through some terrible stuff during the war there and they all looked so old and grey but they must have all been in their thirties at the time.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/02/2009 08:32

I don't look as youthful as my mum did at my age, but I have had an older telling me once that their daughter had a baby recently, but she was much older than me, she was 33...I was 35..she then went on about how her daughter had left it far too late in her opinion

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/02/2009 08:32

an older lady I meant

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 10/02/2009 08:33

mind you I was once in hospital (granted I was ill) and was asked if I was my now DHs MUM, (he was 21 and I was 28) when I said no, he was my fiance, the Dr said "oh sorry, its just he looks in his late TEENS"!

Original poster
stitch · 10/02/2009 13:35

wow, your stories are lovely.
i am glad i am not the only one then. yes, genetics and good skin, and a relatively easy life.....and attitude. i have lots of attitude.
at fanjo's 72 yera old mom being asked if she is the mom... wow. ...actually, not sure i would want to look old enough to be a new mom at 72

OP posts:
NormaLeighLucid · 10/02/2009 15:58

Genetics are probably most likely, my mum looks a lot younger than she is. A lot of the time people assume my sister is older than me, but Im nearly 3 years older than her which doesnt go down too well as you can imagine.

I think oily skin may have something to do with it too?, so although I suffered with spots until I was in to my twenties and occasionally have a random one pop up now at 32, it helps your skin to remain naturally moisturised.

Are any of us going to post pics?

SongBirdOfPrey · 10/02/2009 16:02

a smile

Lizzylou · 10/02/2009 16:02

Lots of sex and soft lighting