Genetics have a lot to do with it. Our family does not seem to wrinkle. But there is a saying "wrinkler or sagger" thanks Oprah. So I guess I am a sagger. from 36-56 I looked about the same. After 56, it is just scary. real acceleration of aging looks except and even among the beautiful (like pro models)

I am 38 but everyone says I look 20ish. I was thinking of joining the police department and doing undercover work in college.

Genes play a huge role. Just look at my DH and I. He is Scottish and NEVER goes in the sun. He cannot can and he slathers himself with block and hats. The poor guy's thin, fair skin is just starting to melt at age 38.

I'm the complete opposite. I'm European, but must have some Southern European in me because I can get a deep tan and have very oily skin and seemingly thick skin. At 37, I'm yet to have a wrinkle, stretch mark, or inch of saggy skin. It completely boils down to genetics from what I have seen in my house. I'm kinda sad to see that my kids got my DHs skin, just because it seems to delicate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 31 and I look great so I couldn't tell you.

Take lots of selfies now. It'll come.

31 yo pp here.

I keep hearing people say that kids will age you.

I have two kids ( 3 yo and 6 mo).

For the women that have aged due to kids...what ages were your kids when the bulk of the aging occurred?

If you have given birth to two kids your body has absolutely changed. 31 is still very young, though. So not surprising that you don't look middle age, yet.

I'm 38, two kids. After each child, my stomach returned within weeks to it's tiny, toned, flat self. I eat healthy, and exercise regularly, though can't invest a lot of time in exercising (fit in walking and weight training in the basement 2-3 times a week).

Lately, I've noticed my stomach starts to stick out as the day goes by. I hate it! I'm still very thin and I feel toned but it just feels like this thing I can't control. I just saw an article on that woman "fit mom" who did the "what's your excuse" photo that caused such controversy. I looked her up and she is 32 years old! I thought, well, yeah. Wait until you are approaching 40.

That said, I just want to try to do my best and control what I can control as I age. Continue eating healthy, whole foods, exercising regularly and maybe getting back into regular yoga as the kids get older, keep slathering on sunscreen and maybe start getting more facials. It is what it is and happens to everyone.

Anonymous wrote:43 for me, though my friends the same age still look great, better than I do. So a lot depends upon how much you worshipped the sun.

And how much you exercise, sleep, and eat well. For me I dramatically changed my diet and exercise habits and the difference in my skin was nothing short of shocking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 31 and I look great so I couldn't tell you.

Take lots of selfies now. It'll come.

31 yo pp here.

I keep hearing people say that kids will age you.

I have two kids ( 3 yo and 6 mo).

For the women that have aged due to kids...what ages were your kids when the bulk of the aging occurred?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's probably the menopause years, it would make sense that once you can't produce, the body/face doesn't need to look attractive anymore.


Does it really matter? I'm going to try to accept aging, but I will admit that I'm vain.

Well that's it. Time for the buzz cut, 24 hour wearing of overalls, and definitely no more shaving and waxing. Anywhere. That includes the moustache.

I didn't mean that once a woman can't have babies she doesn't want to look good. What I meant was that it's "mother nature" that once you go into menopause, you're body and face aren't going to look as attractive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's probably the menopause years, it would make sense that once you can't produce, the body/face doesn't need to look attractive anymore.


Does it really matter? I'm going to try to accept aging, but I will admit that I'm vain.

Aging doesn't stress me that much. I'm 48 and no I don't look 25, I never will look 25 again. I'm cool with that.

i do sort of resent the pressure that "society" likes to place on women to "maintain" their looks. So many value judgments based on physical appearance alone. It's sad.

yes I hate it. I hate all those stupid magazine covers that celebrate so and so because "wow, look how hot she is and she's 60"! Or, "she just gave birth 2 weeks ago, and look at those abs!"
Creates reidicu0ous pressure on women to stay "hot." It's maddening.

And to echo what others said, I really aged after I gave birth -- particularly after my third. Have had four kids and am now 42 and look like shit. I exercise so not fat, but face is haggard. Kids suck the life out of you.

Yes, I keep waiting to see: Pregnant, fit and fabulous at 65! You, too, can be JUST like (insert random obnoxious celeb name here). It's just a matter of time...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It hit me the second I gave birth. Seriously. I was 40 and didn't have a wrinkle on my face. No forehead lines, no crows feet, nothing. By 41, lack of sleep, poor diet, not enough time for exercising, left me with crows feet, dry skin, and the first signs of wrinkles on my forehead. Unbelievable that all this happened in one year.

Huh? Do you mean when you gave birth in you 30s and then you aged when you hit 40?

I was 40 when I gave birth.

Oh ok, I think that births later in life tend to wear you down more than those earlier on.

The pro of having kids later is you look good until you have them. The decline for most women is post kids and menopause years.

I do not regret, even one bit, waiting to have kids. I had a blast pre-kids and I do mean a blast. I love being a mom now. I love being married to my husband. I do not feel as though my kids are responsible for making my looks go downhill. I think that was going to happen at some point anyway - whether I had kids or not. Kids may have sped up the whole process a little bit, but it's not like I was going to look 20 something forever if I hadn't become a mom...

I believe it has a ton to do with genetics. Some people are blessed with insane metabolisms, some with calm demeanors that can handle stress, others don't get wrinkles too easily, etc.

I am blessed in that way with oily skin and my mother has barely ANY wrinkles, so I don't look my age at least in the face. Now I do have to dye my hair, eat healthy and exercise regularly or now that I am 40 I am prone to gain weight super fast. I drink a ton of water. I also try to wear lots of sunscreen, but I have olive skin which doesn't wrinkle as much as my fair green eyed husband.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It hit me the second I gave birth. Seriously. I was 40 and didn't have a wrinkle on my face. No forehead lines, no crows feet, nothing. By 41, lack of sleep, poor diet, not enough time for exercising, left me with crows feet, dry skin, and the first signs of wrinkles on my forehead. Unbelievable that all this happened in one year.

Huh? Do you mean when you gave birth in you 30s and then you aged when you hit 40?

I was 40 when I gave birth.

Oh ok, I think that births later in life tend to wear you down more than those earlier on.

The pro of having kids later is you look good until you have them. The decline for most women is post kids and menopause years.

Don't feel bad. I'm fat and haggard. And my abs? LOL. No.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's probably the menopause years, it would make sense that once you can't produce, the body/face doesn't need to look attractive anymore.


Does it really matter? I'm going to try to accept aging, but I will admit that I'm vain.

Aging doesn't stress me that much. I'm 48 and no I don't look 25, I never will look 25 again. I'm cool with that.

i do sort of resent the pressure that "society" likes to place on women to "maintain" their looks. So many value judgments based on physical appearance alone. It's sad.

yes I hate it. I hate all those stupid magazine covers that celebrate so and so because "wow, look how hot she is and she's 60"! Or, "she just gave birth 2 weeks ago, and look at those abs!"
Creates reidicu0ous pressure on women to stay "hot." It's maddening.

And to echo what others said, I really aged after I gave birth -- particularly after my third. Have had four kids and am now 42 and look like shit. I exercise so not fat, but face is haggard. Kids suck the life out of you.

In answer to the question, I do think that pregnancy and young children take their toll. And that is probably the time when the quickest, most noticeable changes occur - lack of sleep, exercise, inattention to (your own) diet, care taking can really zap it out of you.

But the reality is, I don't care who you are or if you have kids or not. Unless you are Raquel Welsh, you WILL age. Of course, good genes help...but in the end, we will all look old eventually.