To ask if your embracing the ageing process?

[superstarheartbreaker]

Or tackling it head on with as much anti aging stuff as possible. I'm 36, I like to look after myself but am far from perfect with crows feet and a belly etc.
I do use SPF 30 and a serum plus rosehip oil and I'm always on a diet ( but do drink etc. ) I don't want to let myself go completely but how can I stop those pangs when I see those gorgeous young girls with the hair that I never HAD let alone have?!
What are you all using to keep young looking ( if at all?)

[Thenapoleonofcrime]

Being happier and smiling a lot. I've decided I can't do much about the crow's feet, but most people like happy smiling people- whatever age they are, so when I go places now, instead of worrying I'm not as thin as all the 18 year olds, I dress the best I can for me (with my wobbly belly, bingo wings) and then enjoy myself. It works really well, I have more fun now than when I was 18 and convinced I was hideous.

[Thenapoleonofcrime]

I'm in my early-forties by the way, the time women are supposed to become invisible not get hit on all the time and shouted at in public by twats

[Purplepoodle]

I'm happy in my mid 30s. I try to keep my weigh ok, dye my hair, pop on a bit of makeup, wear clothes that suit me ect. I don't envy those girls as I'm happy with my life. I know what I want and how I want to live my life. My lines on my face are through having personality.

[carabos]

No I'm bloody not embracing it! I'm fighting it tooth and nail. Hair dyed every three weeks, gym every day, healthy eating, active holidays you name it I'm doing it. The first thing I'm doing when I win the lottery is booking a face lift and a full set of veneers. There are, IMO, four things that give away your age: teeth, jawline, grey hair, eyebrows.

I'm 51.

[Montegomongoose]

I'm fifty and very happy with my looks. It took some time to get here, and a bit of money, but it's lovely to know that I can look in the mirror and not want to change anything and look in my wardrobe and love everything (and it all fits!).

I embrace it totally.

I have my hair done professionally, run every other day, and take care of my skin after a lifetime of sun abuse, but that's it.

Minimise stress, lose the drama and spend as much of each day as you can doing something you love.

Youth is terribly overrated.

[slightlyglitterstained]

42, happy with how I look, not that worried about the prospect of looking older.

I use a moisturiser, try to avoid too much sun w/o sunblock but haven't done that well on that front this summer. Am kinda looking forward in a strange way to that stage where my face gets comfortably creased, just don't want it to happen tomorrow!

But have never really thought of looking old as a terrible thing.

[Hassled]

I'm not embracing it either. Am late 40s and look late 40s - I really need to get over myself. I'm hoping one of these days I'll wake up and think "actually, I'm old and I'm fine looking old".

What gets me most of all is that back when I was young, slim and pretty I had no idea how good I looked. I'd like to go back in time and slap some self-esteem into myself.

[Joysmum]

I don't do makeup or creams and potions.

I have had a tummy tuck and boob job done after I lost 6.5 stone though. I guess I'm a bit of a contradiction. I'm early 40's btw.

[Delphiniumsblue]

I'm 63yrs and fight it in a natural way. I go running most days, always walk rather than take the car if I can, keep to a healthy diet and keep my weight down, dye my hair, don't sit in the sun, drink lots of water, use lots of moisturiser, keep my brain active.

[Frozennortherner]

Am 50. My 13 yr old drags me on extreme high ropes courses. I can hike up mountains no problem. Recently put on weight as working FT and no running. I think I ve aged about 5 yrs because of it. Running definitely made me have more energy and look younger. Must get my act together and exercise again. Oh, I also have quite alot of younger friends - both male and female (mid 20s). I think partly it s a state of mind tbh.

[Shockers]

I'm 48.

I enjoy life. I walk, I swim, I ride my bike, I love sunshine (but not so much this week... it's far too hot!), I like good, healthy food and I'm trying not to like wine quite so much. I have my hair cut every six weeks, my legs waxed and my eyelashes tinted every four weeks and I have a personal trainer twice a week.

My love of wine ages me more than anything else.

[SirChenjin]

I'm in my mid forties. I can't say I'm exactly thrilled at the fact but that's more because I'm becoming increasingly conscious of my own mortality - a few people of similar age that I have know have died recently, and the fact that life is passing by so quickly (does time speed up when you get older??) is worrying.

That being said, I try to keep myself looking presentable - regular haircut, dye the grey, don't smoke/drink, good moisturiser, bit of makeup, keep busy with work and other outside interests, etc. I had DC3 when I was a week off 38 so he's keeping me young too

[Bettercallsaul1]

I'm with carabos -fighting the good fight! I won't go gently into old age either!

Things that I think help are a) lots of sleep - I actually think you can look years younger after a relaxing holiday when you don't have to get up early and b) avoiding stress - worry can make anyone look a lot older.

The one I'm not sure about is weight loss - I kind of agree with the old maxim that, at a certain age, you have to choose between your face and your figure. A slim body definitely looks more youthful but losing weight around the face can make older women look either gaunt or saggy. I may have to continue with the chocolate biscuits....

[sarahquilt]

What annoys me is my tummy but you can't have everything. Have minimal lines on my face which I hope to maintain as long as possible (I'm mid 30s). To be honest, the most ageing things are sun and fags; if you can avoid those then you're doing ok. Other than that, I wouldn't worry to much. I just always try and take pride in how I look. A great friend of mine said to me: 'half the battle is just putting make up on and turning up' and she's right.

[trappedinsuburbia]

Late 30's and fighting tooth and nail, botox and daily spf to try and counteract the damage I did when younger. Definitely feel better a stone lighter than I am just now, tackling that with diet and physio exercises for my core muscles after pregnancy last year.
Hair highlighted frequently oh and completely false perky boobs because first pregnancy put paid to that.
I think lots of fresh fruit and veg and some exercise is the best thing you can do, it gives your skin a healthy glow that no botox can replicate.

[stopgap]

37 here, and trying to remain healthy for my age rather than appearing to be 25. I developed an autoimmune condition two years ago, and so eat organic and mostly Paleo, use organic beauty products and take lots of supplements. I don't wear make-up, but do dye my hair, although that's organic as well.