People don’t comment when they think you look older. So all you hear is from people who think you look younger.

Very few people actually look that much younger. It is just flattery and puff.

I have the nurses at the dermatologist staring at my charts, and have seen other techs watching me as I walk out. There nothing else in my charts besides my age and the fact that I wore a ton of sunscreen when I was younger. I swear I’m not difficult. Skin professionals tell me I look young. Same doctors don’t say any of this to DH who is a similar age, but has more damage. I believe I look young, but only because dermatologists tell me so, unsolicited. I agree that most people are bad at determining age. I know I’m terrible at guessing, because my parents also look young. It runs in families.

I know a lady in her late 80s who has looked about 60 since I met her fifteen years ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this so controversial on this board? I am 49, went to get a wax yesterday (thanks to the post here about it!) and the waxer was shocked when I said I have a 20-year-old child. She said she thought I was mid-30s. That's a stretch IMO, but people regularly think I'm 40ish, not 50ish. I can't take credit for most of it -- it's largely genetics as far as I can tell. My mom and sister look young for their ages too.

People were just surprised you were a teen mom. A lot of 49 year olds have much younger kids. You're taking this the wrong way.

My bad I thought you said your kid was mid 30s. But still, with so many late 40s with young kids it's not as usual to find empty nesters at that age with kids in their 20s. 40 yr olds look like 30yr olds now, nothing like in previous generations.

There is no one look for any certain age. People are polite and don’t want I guess older and if it’s a service then they want customers to feel good by guessing much younger.

People’s view of what 20 or 35 or 50 looks like is very subjective and not a universal norm. Someone else at the wedding might have thought you looked 40.

Anonymous wrote:Why is this so controversial on this board? I am 49, went to get a wax yesterday (thanks to the post here about it!) and the waxer was shocked when I said I have a 20-year-old child. She said she thought I was mid-30s. That's a stretch IMO, but people regularly think I'm 40ish, not 50ish. I can't take credit for most of it -- it's largely genetics as far as I can tell. My mom and sister look young for their ages too.

People were just surprised you were a teen mom. A lot of 49 year olds have much younger kids. You're taking this the wrong way.

Most of us are just terrible at guessing ages so we make a random guess, hope we're off by a few years in the "young" direction and then feign surprise when the true age is revealed. Like I think you might be 40 so I'll guess 35 b/c better safe than sorry. It's not that deep. I don't thing anyone is a medical anomaly and am never "shocked" to find out I overshot.

People thought friends of the bride and groom were the bride and groom’s age? Not surprising. Sometimes people forget context. If you are on the same wavelength with someone, please often register that as “same age as me.” Like book club lady is on your wavelength, so you were surprised to learn she’s that much older.

Why is this so controversial on this board? I am 49, went to get a wax yesterday (thanks to the post here about it!) and the waxer was shocked when I said I have a 20-year-old child. She said she thought I was mid-30s. That's a stretch IMO, but people regularly think I'm 40ish, not 50ish. I can't take credit for most of it -- it's largely genetics as far as I can tell. My mom and sister look young for their ages too.

Anonymous wrote:So I don't know how common my situation is but I looked younger than my age up until 35. Like a lot younger--up to 10 years. At 50, I look every bit my age plus some.

This is OP. Me too. In my twenties people thought I was 19! I was at a pool once where the life guard could not believe me when I told him I was 27!! I had to show him my drivers license! And people thought I was in my twenties through ought my thirties. I think since I turned 36 I am beginning to show signs of aging. Eye bags and my baby fat is wearing off...but compared to other 36 year olds...I definitely look younger. I probably pass for 31-32.

Google Angela Bassett, then look up her age. You will be shocked.

I'm 45 and am regularly mistaken for early 30's partly I wear sunscreen, stay out of the sun, and carry extra weight, so I don't have withered look. But also...I come off as young in a quasi-Asperger's way, and that's...not good. I would rather be seen as 45 and competent.

So I don't know how common my situation is but I looked younger than my age up until 35. Like a lot younger--up to 10 years. At 50, I look every bit my age plus some.

In my experience until 40 or so lots and lots and lots of people pass for younger. I know I always did. I think it may be partly a matter of looking good but also a misunderstanding among younger folks of what 36 or so looks like. As you get into your 40s and beyond some people still look better but you still tend to look your age … just good for your age . Always exceptions of course

I was at a wedding over the weekend where the bride and groom were 29-30. My husband and I are 36-37. Everyone thought we were 29-30 as well and were shocked to hear about our real ages! I don't know whether to be flattered or be embarrassed that we come across as really immature?

Meanwhile, I met this lady at my book club the other day. She revealed that she is 53! We all thought she was late thirties/early 40s. Her skin is so supple and beautiful and except for a few gray hairs there was no tell!

So there you have it, some people ACTUALLY look younger than their age.