What makes a 50+ year old woman think that she looks 25? Serious question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think I look in my 20’s but I’ve been mistaken to be a younger person many times.

I’m 54 and people assume I’m in my 30’s.

I don’t see it personally.

No, they don't.

Yea they do. It’s weird to me too but alas it is what it is.

They're just being nice to you, because you're one of the women OP is describing who is obsessed with this.

I promise you that there is no one on the planet who sees a 54 YO woman and "assumed" she's in her 30s.

Actually, I’m the opposite I never really think about my looks. I wear tinted lotion and a little bit of blush. Otherwise I don’t really wear make up. I don’t tan or were the latest trends.

I don’t wear fancy shoes or carry expensive bags. I get my hair cut 2x a year and my eyebrows shaped 4x a year. That’s about it.

I don’t run marathons I go to the gym. I do yoga and walk.

I’ve actually never talked about my age.

People feel like it’s a moral failing or something to not look young I just got lucky I have good DNA.

If you have friends that are black, Filipino, French, Italian, you will see that their skin does not age as quickly as other skin.

The reality is some people will always just look younger.

[Anonymous]

A lot of Gen X women have never quite grown up all the way and really do think they still look 25 at 55. I say this as a Gen Xer who walks among them. The delusion is real!

[Anonymous]

I don’t think I look 25, but I’m 47 and people are usually shocked when I tell them my age. I don’t have any gray hair yet and work as a nanny, so I guess you could call me young at heart. I know I look younger than people my age, but it’s not something I’m trying to do, it’s just genetics.

[Anonymous]

Nanny again- I was also overweight for many 20 years and when I lost weight it’s like my face froze in time. I feel like the extra fat in my face kind of preserved things?

[Anonymous]

I think people simply dress and behave different not in middle age, so when women in their 50s look in the mirror, they are less likely to see their mothers looking back at them, and it makes them feel like they look pretty youthful.

I agree acting like you look 25 when you are in your 50s is silly -- you don't! But you also don't look like what your mom looked like at 55 either, right?

I'm 42 and when my mom was my age, she'd cut her hair into that ubiquitous middle aged lady bob of the 80s/90s (blunt bangs, curling slightly under the chin, either single process color or graying) and was wearing elastic waist paints and shorts and oversized shirts. Plus a lot of her clothes had that mark of "old lady", like appliqués on her sweatshirts with holiday themes, or orthopedic shoes. I don't dress like that at all. I'm not dressing young for my age, but I still look younger than my mom did because my jeans have actual buttons and zippers on them and my clothes fit my body appropriately and my hair doesn't look like helmet.

So maybe a lot of women notice that they haven't entered that phase of "old ladydom" like their mothers did, and thus think they look younger than their age, not really picking up on the fact that since everyone dresses and styles themselves a bit younger these days, it's very obvious who among us is in their 20s versus their 50s. My jeans might look cute and flattering but my face is still hollowing out a bit and my hands are the hands of a 40-something woman. I'm okay with it, but I'm also self aware. som people are not.

[Anonymous]

The thin über fit women in their 40s and 50s do look quite young, at least in good light or from a distance. They look great in clothes and often wear the similar styles as their daughters. With the right makeup and great hair, some really do look amazing. But mistaken for 20somethings? Of course not.

[Anonymous]

Being thin. It really is as simple as that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being thin. It really is as simple as that.

Idk I think it makes you wrinkly.

A little plumpness is the way to go

[Anonymous]

What a bunch of nasty people so many of you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently had dinner with relatives, all females in their early 50s. All the women look their ages (and one looks slightly older). During the dinner, all of the women (with straight faces) kept commenting on how young they looked, how people mistake them for 20/30 somethings, how young guys hit on them constantly, etc. I was baffled by the delusion but tried hard not to show it.

Serious question, but what's behind that level of deluding? Is it fear of reality, getting older, being competitive, and is there any point in disagreeing with them when they aren't hurting anyone? Also, what is so wrong with looking good for your age?

I am the youngest in the group at 41, and while I take excellent care of myself, I look my age.

Wait till you reach 50. Your level of empathy will change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe old people say this to other old people (you look younger) because they have lost perspective on what young people look like. It’s another way of saying you look great for your age. And people know other people love to hear this. Why not say it.

When I see 20-something’s and early 30-somethings now they look like babies. Sorry ladies when we are 50+ we do not look like them. Even freaking J Lo does not look like them.

I totally agree with this. I have completely lost the ability to guess a young person's age. Honestly can't tell the difference between a teenager and a 30-year-old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people simply dress and behave different not in middle age, so when women in their 50s look in the mirror, they are less likely to see their mothers looking back at them, and it makes them feel like they look pretty youthful.

I agree acting like you look 25 when you are in your 50s is silly -- you don't! But you also don't look like what your mom looked like at 55 either, right?

I'm 42 and when my mom was my age, she'd cut her hair into that ubiquitous middle aged lady bob of the 80s/90s (blunt bangs, curling slightly under the chin, either single process color or graying) and was wearing elastic waist paints and shorts and oversized shirts. Plus a lot of her clothes had that mark of "old lady", like appliqués on her sweatshirts with holiday themes, or orthopedic shoes. I don't dress like that at all. I'm not dressing young for my age, but I still look younger than my mom did because my jeans have actual buttons and zippers on them and my clothes fit my body appropriately and my hair doesn't look like helmet.

So maybe a lot of women notice that they haven't entered that phase of "old ladydom" like their mothers did, and thus think they look younger than their age, not really picking up on the fact that since everyone dresses and styles themselves a bit younger these days, it's very obvious who among us is in their 20s versus their 50s. My jeans might look cute and flattering but my face is still hollowing out a bit and my hands are the hands of a 40-something woman. I'm okay with it, but I'm also self aware. som people are not.

Agree with this. There used to be a uniform of "mom clothes"/"mom hair" that gave away women's ages. It wasn't flattering but it was an actual look with the mannish haircut, big earrings, and boxy sweaters. Now you're either still trying with clothes that fit and long styled hair, or you've given up with pajama pants, giveaway t-shirts and a sloppy bun. The ones who are still trying get compliments that they look young but really they just look NICE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thin über fit women in their 40s and 50s do look quite young, at least in good light or from a distance. They look great in clothes and often wear the similar styles as their daughters. With the right makeup and great hair, some really do look amazing. But mistaken for 20somethings? Of course not.

Agree with this. Skin is always the tell, and there is a lot of sun damage around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of nasty people so many of you are.

What is the lesser of two evils- being delusional or being nasty?

[Anonymous]

Not sure. But I distinctly remember having lunch with a close friend and my husband. They both were talking about how young they look. It cracked me up because I think they both look their age!