Anonymous wrote:When do most women start developing those deep vertical creases in their chest skin? To me those are the sign that I will have reached “visibly middle aged.” Maybe not everyone gets them or it’s a weight thing, I don’t know, I notice them a lot when I see them though.

I think it's a sun damage thing. I have seen them as young as 27-30 for the Sun Goddesses.

43 but could pass for 42.

When do most women start developing those deep vertical creases in their chest skin? To me those are the sign that I will have reached “visibly middle aged.” Maybe not everyone gets them or it’s a weight thing, I don’t know, I notice them a lot when I see them though.

I'm 37 and think I look....30? I have always looked 30. People thought I was 25-30 when I was 15 and over time it is like I have just kind of stayed the same. I never had a babyface so didn't have a SUPER young look, but I see a lot of peers around me that do seem to be aging much more rapidly and it is noticeable. Very occasionally there will be someone who seems a bit salaciously tickled by my DH being SOOOO much older than me (it's 7 years, not 20) and they think I am in my 20s, but this is usually much older people so I don't give it too much credit. Things I think helped:

1) Genetics. My parents both look pretty good with no work.

2) Prescription retinoids starting at 12 used daily with high SPF. I was on this train EARLY and never stopped, barring pregnancy. Still used acids. Also always "pulled down" treatments to my chest.

3) Generally avoiding the sun due to the above medications. I don't and never have laid out to intentionally tan. I am also so fair I don't really tan and don't choose to do a lot of things like beach vacations. I don't have melanin on my side, so major precaution it is.

4) I have full cheeks and high cheekbones

5) Botox in between my brows (this is my problem area. I'm a scowler) and recently some light preventative through my forehead

6) Really limited weight fluctuations. Stayed within 10 lbs of my middle/high school weight barring pregnancy when I gained a normal amount (25 lbs) of weight. Size 0-2.

7) I did 2 IPL treatments, not sure if I'll continue but I am open to lasers.

I'm sure it will catch up to me as age does, but for now this seems to have worked ok.

I’m 51. If you look at my face and neck, I don’t look my age. My face looks younger, but my hands, now that’s a different story! My hands look every bit the hands of a 51 year old. As for my face, I’ve been lucky to have south asian parents who themselves have “good” skin, and that combined with me staying out of the sun since I was born with a fabulous tan, is probably why I look younger in the face. I still don’t have wrinkles, age spots, nasolabial folds, or crows feet. If it’s strictly my face, I can pass for my mid 40s.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's easy for motivated and wealthy women in their 40s to look early thirties - you need a good dermatologist for subtle botox, lasers and medical grade skin care, cosmetic dentist, hair stylist, personal trainer and help from a stylist when you shop. I feel like 40s are as much about lifestyle as genetics. I recently visited with some high school friends and I felt really good about myself especially compared to a few friends who got all the attention back in school.

I'm latina though other latinas my age look much much older. I don't sunbathe or if I do I wear maximum sunscreen. My skin has always been combination and mostly oily and I have high cheekbones (I feel this help pull the skin tight). Since I have thick hair, no glasses or need of, and few grays, and I have been told I have the body of a 21 yr old by doctors, I constantly get mistaken for decades less at 40. I will enjoy it but also start to do things to keep it up. I am not a wealthy woman at all yet. I really believe how you age is mostly about genetics and keeping out of the sun.

I dont know how old I look. I look better than people my age. The true measure of how you look is compared to others your age. People will always compliment you and that skews your belief of how old you look

I think I look my age.

I'm 48 and I could pass for mid to late 30s. Minimal wrinkles (a couple starting to form on my forehead) and I have black hair with no grays. I think it's based on multiple factors. One, my mom and my grandparents look young so genetics play a factor and I'm Asian with tannish/caramel skin tone, so having more melanin is on my side. I'm also not skinny, nor fat and I weight lift; and I don't really put makeup on except for the rare occasion which means I don't have to deal with the bad repercussions of not cleaning my face at night because I'm lazy with that regard. I'm also short and for some reason, I think shorter women tend to look younger. On the other hand, I dress like I'm in my 40s so that alone is a dead give away, haha. I also sleep terribly (thanks to perimenopause) so I've been looking tired lately.

A teenager, but not in a good way.
Short, braces, and moderate acne (for the first time).

I'm near 30.

Anonymous wrote:

Not always. Not much you can do with wrinkled and damaged skin from overdoing the suntanning in your younger years. I'm seeing a lot of this on women in their 40s who literally look 10 years older from years and years of sun damage.

Probably true. I see this in a friend who runs competitive marathons - her face is very thin and sundamaged, and even though I know she tries and her body is incredible, she definitely looks old.

On the other hand, I suntanned as a teen but then started using sunscreen religiously in my twenties, and I've used a form of tretinoin since I was a teenager other than during pregnancies, and I've added in biannual laser treatments and subtle botox, and my skin looks great at 40 for now. But we all get old, fallen and wrinkly at some point, so I guess we do the best we can for as long as we can then accept the inevitable!

Anonymous wrote:I think it's easy for motivated and wealthy women in their 40s to look early thirties - you need a good dermatologist for subtle botox, lasers and medical grade skin care, cosmetic dentist, hair stylist, personal trainer and help from a stylist when you shop. I feel like 40s are as much about lifestyle as genetics. I recently visited with some high school friends and I felt really good about myself especially compared to a few friends who got all the attention back in school.

Not always. Not much you can do with wrinkled and damaged skin from overdoing the suntanning in your younger years. I'm seeing a lot of this on women in their 40s who literally look 10 years older from years and years of sun damage.

I think it's easy for motivated and wealthy women in their 40s to look early thirties - you need a good dermatologist for subtle botox, lasers and medical grade skin care, cosmetic dentist, hair stylist, personal trainer and help from a stylist when you shop. I feel like 40s are as much about lifestyle as genetics. I recently visited with some high school friends and I felt really good about myself especially compared to a few friends who got all the attention back in school.

I’m 34, I looked young until I had my third kid/COVID and homeschooling happened. Now I probably look my age. Pre-COVID I was asked by a few delivery/service people knocking on the door if my parents were home.

I don’t wear lots of makeup, which I think used to make me look younger, but now you can see the lines starting to form around my eyes and forehead.

My husband is 36 and is mistaken for a college student often, but usually when he’s outside wearing a hat to cover his gray/balding head haha!

sure, sure, whatever makes you feel better.