Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe most of these posts.

I live in DC and I see the average woman on the street. The looks of the average woman is about late 30's to mid 40's. Perhaps the city just ages everyone but people, especially women, rarely look younger than their actual age in my opinion. Also, I've seen a lot of rough looking 20 year olds here ... The youngest looking group does tend to be the minorities (Asians and African-Americans). Everyone else not so much.

I just turned 30 and sometimes look my age, sometimes look younger (early 20's). Without sleep I definitely look a little older (early 30's). Depending on what I wear, I could pass for a college student in their late teens. It all depends.

And how do you know they're not late 40's to mid 50s? You don't.

The areas that I see them don't tend to be frequented by people of that age range but nice try.

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe most of these posts.

I live in DC and I see the average woman on the street. The looks of the average woman is about late 30's to mid 40's. Perhaps the city just ages everyone but people, especially women, rarely look younger than their actual age in my opinion. Also, I've seen a lot of rough looking 20 year olds here ... The youngest looking group does tend to be the minorities (Asians and African-Americans). Everyone else not so much.

I just turned 30 and sometimes look my age, sometimes look younger (early 20's). Without sleep I definitely look a little older (early 30's). Depending on what I wear, I could pass for a college student in their late teens. It all depends.

And how do you know they're not late 40's to mid 50s? You don't.

I don't believe most of these posts.

I live in DC and I see the average woman on the street. The looks of the average woman is about late 30's to mid 40's. Perhaps the city just ages everyone but people, especially women, rarely look younger than their actual age in my opinion. Also, I've seen a lot of rough looking 20 year olds here ... The youngest looking group does tend to be the minorities (Asians and African-Americans). Everyone else not so much.

I just turned 30 and sometimes look my age, sometimes look younger (early 20's). Without sleep I definitely look a little older (early 30's). Depending on what I wear, I could pass for a college student in their late teens. It all depends.

45

Anonymous wrote:Around 43 is when everything started going to pot. Passed for high school age well into my 30s.

Pretty much the same for me until 38-40 when my Dad died and I suffered a series of miscarriages. The stress of everything cause me to gain a bunch of weight and lose sleep. While I don't have wrinkles my face has sagged a little bit. Most people think I'm around 30-34. I'm started to get called "Ma'am by service people in their 20's.

Around 43 is when everything started going to pot. Passed for high school age well into my 30s.

When I had my first kid, like PPs. I don't mind looking my age, though.

Anonymous wrote:I think looking great for your age is underrated.

American culture is so youth obsessed. Women totally mess up their faces and look ridiculous wearing clothes meant for much younger women.

Older, graceful women are truly beautiful. Look at some of the screen sirens from the past vs today's reality housewives and actresses.

Don't get me wrong- I'm as vain as the next girl. I just don't think you will age well if you have such an innately negative view on aging.

Embrace it. Stay young at heart. Stay active. Life is a gift. You realize how superficial all of this is when you meet those that have lost life and loved ones.

True words. You sometimes don't realize what a gift every day is until you see someone who is very loved leave this life too soon.

35-I was diagnosed with infertility and felt ancient. I must have started to look it to because no one ever again told me that I looked younger than my age.

I think it can change over time. When I was in my 30s, I certainly looked like I was in my 30s. But I went to a new eye doctor the other day and when I told him I thought I needed reading glasses, he said "you are too young for that". Then he looked at my chart and said "Oh, never mind". He was at least 10 years younger than me, too. So who knows.

I can look 10 years younger based on - if my hair is colored and styled, I am well groomed, I have put on makeup and cosmetics (specifically eye make up that makes my eyes look bigger), and I am well put together.

If not, I look like a bag lady. Actually- like a much older bag lady.

I think looking great for your age is underrated.

American culture is so youth obsessed. Women totally mess up their faces and look ridiculous wearing clothes meant for much younger women.

Older, graceful women are truly beautiful. Look at some of the screen sirens from the past vs today's reality housewives and actresses.

Don't get me wrong- I'm as vain as the next girl. I just don't think you will age well if you have such an innately negative view on aging.

Embrace it. Stay young at heart. Stay active. Life is a gift. You realize how superficial all of this is when you meet those that have lost life and loved ones.

I hate to brag, but I know I look young for my age because number one I am Asian and number two I have extremely oily skin that has remained moist and unlined throughout middle age.

I also have not smoked a cigarette at all.

But I am not going to gloat and say that I look like a spring chicken.
There are those that will see me up close, or during my "off" days or some people in general just think I look all of my 45 yrs. and that is okay, I do not have an issue with it.

I have a lot of gray hair, and I get lazy having to cover it up all the time so every now and then my gray roots show which I am sure ages me a lot.

Plus, with age my hair has lost its youthful luster and shine and no longer bounces in a healthy manner.

When I make a lot of facial movement, I notice more lines in my face and I do have bags/circles under my eyes even if I sleep a whole day! Sucks.

I have the dreaded brown age spots from not wearing sunscreen in my youth and the combo of age/anti-anxiety meds have turned my waistline from a 26' to a 41'.

And my god, if I sleep less than 8 hrs. in a night, I look like something the cat dragged in the next day no matter how much time I spend on hair and make-up.

But I wouldn't trade any of it for all the wisdom I have garnered.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe strange, but I honestly can't say objectively if I look younger or older than my age. I guess I see myself too often. Anybody else feel this way?

I hear you. I think I look roughly my age (late 40's) and then I'll see someone like Denise Austin (who is 57 but looks way, way younger than that) and what does that mean for me? She looks younger than I do, damn her. Does that mean that I'm old looking for "my age"?

If we put a bunch of random off the street 48 year old women in a room would I stand out as the old lady? I don't think so. Or at least I sure hope not!

Maybe strange, but I honestly can't say objectively if I look younger or older than my age. I guess I see myself too often. Anybody else feel this way?