In 12 days, I will be forty "this year".

[MaggieAnFiaRua]

Not sure I care as much as I thought I would.... but even so. Hmmmmmmm.

On the one hand, how did I get so old?? BUT, on the other hand it feels like 30 years since my 21st.

I think I look alright but I do need botox. I wish I had a botox friend to come and have botox with me. It'll be a bit sad and lonely going to have botox teute seule.

Who's had botox? tell me about it. i should have put that in the title, but I dont want to imply that all 40 year olds need it. Only me, because I've been pissed off for 7 out of the last ten years. I'm feeling better again now though!

no experience/ knowledge of botox but just wanted to say Happy Birthday and I'm glad that you're feeling perkier than you have been for most of the last decade! May the next one be 100% happy

Um, you don't need botox, it's not like food, drink, a flush toilet

I've seen a lot of botox done to other people (I work with slebs). I've been in the room when they're having it done and people scream with pain it's not the easy ride the doctors make out.

It makes no one look better just different and slightly odd. I'm quite vain and if I'd been even vaguely impressed I'd been impressed I'd have done it like a shot, I'm often offered it for free and say no.

Spend your money on a fabulous hair cut and colour and if necessary having your teeth done, that's what makes all the difference

Happy birthday anyway, I'm 41 and enjoying forties a lot.Hope you do too

Message withdrawn

mrs shackleton i heart your attitude
i am 42 and although complimented a lot along the lines of 'yes but you dont look it' i am not feeling great...

i have been wearing more makeup than i am used to and today wore barely any and felt great - fresh nice clothes etc

not sure about botox although my dentist does a hard sell every time i see him

I've had it and paid to make sure that a plastic surgeon who does stacks of it did mine

it's really great, very subtle and wasn't at all painful.
My friend had hers done at the dentist and now has sky high eyebrows and an immobile face above her upper eyelids...I'm sure this sin't always the case but it's worth going to someone who specialises.

I've had it done 3 times now and will continue for the next few years I only go every 5/6 or so months and it seems to last very well

My other mate had some different tones lowlights around her face and that seemed to do the same sort of thing so goes to show...can by anything that helps...tis just a bit of a boost
Happy soon to be birthday!

Oh God, if I hear one more MN complain about being 40+...you are still children. WhatI'd give to be 40....
Really ladies- I am early 50s- but people kindly tell me they think I am mid 40s.

It's really what you make of yourself without being mutton as lamb.

Keep your weight down- nothing is more aging then being a telly tubby with 3 chins.
Keep your hair good and go for some subtle colour.
Use make -up- unless you have the dewy skin tone of a 16 yr old you need a bit of foundation, blusher, mascara and lippie.
Get your teeth fixed or whitened.
Wear clothes that are fashionable and youthful, but not right on trend, and like your teenage daughter's, as they say.

Don't smoke, sunbathe, and eat healthily.

Thanks ronaldinho. i'm not feeling old purple peony, tbh, i feel younger now than i did in the run up to my 30th.

i don't like that line because it makes me look like a right pissed off old grouch.

letthemeatcake, thanks for the birthday wishes, but i'm still 39 for a good bit of 2010. cool your jets?! who ya callin' 40!? only joking.

I am not BOVERED

beginninganew, thanks i'll take a look at that book now, looks interesting..

Maggie, knowing your story from other threads and the sort of year you've had, I'd say hold off the botox.

I was getting vain about the furrows above my nose, but they disappeared within weeks of leaving my partner! The reduction in stress in your life will do wonders for your appearance.

Confidence matters. I recently bought (on the recommendation of MN!) Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov. I don't agree with all of it, but having come from a position of being treated so badly, it's really helped and people keep telling me how well I look. In that slightly frightening way where they just stand and stare, saying 'I can't believe it, you look sooo different'.

In 12 days time, I will be thirty "this year".

I am really enjoying being 28 right now.

Do you know, I had dinner with two good friends last night who are at least 8yrs older than you OP and several times throughout the evening I though 'gosh they're wise' or 'they're so beautiful'. Honestly, they are confident, assured, experienced, worldly wise and very attractive because of it. I felt young, inexperienced, clumsy etc. I think age, like anything, has its benefits if you want to see them.

know how you feel, I've only just turned 39 but can already feel 40 looming

Hear hear purplepeony. I am hitting the big 50 next year- but don't look it. No help either. Totally agree about teeth fixing/ keeping weight down- yes it's an effort, but my god it gives you confidence.

QueenofDenial, I think you can well imagine what my forehead looks like!!!! Ok, I left the x 2 years ago now, but out of the last 10 years, 8 of them have been spent feeling stressed, angry, upset, or more recently, shouting at the kids!!!! It's not old that I dread looking, it's PISSED OFF. I don't want people to look at me and think whoah, she looks seriously pissed off that woman there. Which one? the one with the ache!! oh yeah, her.

Cos I'm not UNhappy. But i think I lOOK it.

Last of the mulledwine, your birthday must be coming up soon!?!?! or my maths needs a polish. happy birthday!

I'm the same age as you OP. 40 'next year' which is now scarily close.

I've been having botox for about the past 2 yrs. Just on the furrow between my brows which made me look permanenetly angry.

I don't think i look younger necessarily, just less permanently pissed off. Which is nice.

It hurts as much as any injection, so not much. You'd have to be a serious wuss to be screaming imo.