Although all the listed contribute to aging, in your opinion what gives a persons age away the most?
1. lines and wrinkles
2. stooped posture
3. grey hair
4. saggy loose skin
5. other factors
I ask this question because for the last couple of months I've been receiving a Senior's Discount at more than one place. I'm offended. This kind of hurts because I still don't qualify for one age wise, not even the 55+. When this first starting happening I mentioned I'm not a senior, now I don't even bother. When I look at myself, I don't see a whole lot of difference, yet they see me older than I am before my time, and that may be trivial, but it still bothers me. My self esteem has gone way down. Did anyone else take this transition hard? I have to face it, I'm getting old, and I'm looking old! What is it that's making me look so old????
The skin-not just the wrinkles but also elasticity of it. I usually pay attention to the skin in order to estimate a person's age. But then some people have great skin at 50+, and I have seen people shrivelled like a prune at around 40. Also, to me, estimating the age of overweight people is especially difficult.
Thanks for the reply. I've seen firsthand that people with extra fat on their face seem to retain their plump youthful skin better than the skinney minney. I happen to be one of the skinnies, and look like I'm headed more in the direction of the shrivelled prune. I hardly have any sag, just lines and wrinkles without any plumpness to my skin. I guess the elasticity and collegen stores have dwindled.
I've read that menopausal women who have more fat in their bodies also tend to produce more natural estrogen in their cells, so it explains why they may look younger for a longer period of time.
Personality and clothing too. I used to work for this company and I'm always pretty friendly with lots of energy and i dress pretty hip and I remember talking to one woman one day and she was shocked when I said I was 30 - she thought I was between 18 and 22.
Also, I know a guy who is very quiet, serious and reticent and he was only 20 when i met him and i thought he was about 26.
are you possibly dressing frumpy at all? i think that always ages people
LoL, maybe sometimes. I dress sort of inbetween. At times I put on something and think it's too young for me and I should dress more to my age and sometimes I put on something and think it's too old for me.... so I put on what I feel good in. I use to wear black very nicely, now I find it looks too matronly and I feel older in it.
I would agree that what you wear definitely influences people estimating your age. But as far as your actual body is concerned, I would say the biggest giveaways are the skin on your neck, creases round your eyes and the backs of your hands, as well as whether your hair is grey. Maybe you can fool people a bit by dyeing your hair, doing exercises to tighten the skin on your neck and using lots of moisturiser. Ultimately, though, it's down to genetics whether you need to make any effort to look younger.
My grandmother is 87 now, but until she was about 75 people did not believe she was a pensioner! She always dressed well and carried herself well (stood up straight and looked confident), and her skin was smooth and soft, although I don't think she ever used anything other than soap and water on it. The main thing, though, was probably that she was not grey. She has blonde hair and only started to go grey (at the sides, by her ears) in her mid seventies. My Dad is 61, and he hardly has any grey hairs. People don't believe he is retired now. Hopefully I've inherited some good genes!
Archie, what a nice story about your grandmother (What a lucky grandmother) I guess it is all in the genes. Last month I went for coffee with an elderly friend. She was mentioning to me that she had just celebrated her 80th Birthday. I told her that she looked too young to be 80. Although she has a few pounds she wants to shed, her skin doesn't have a line, freckle or spot on it. It's flawless. I asked her what she was using on her face, and she said " Ah some cheap cream, nothing special" I know that tanning is bad for the skin, but I think the genes have a lot to do with it also. Thanks
LoL, maybe sometimes. I dress sort of inbetween. At times I put on something and think it's too young for me and I should dress more to my age and sometimes I put on something and think it's too old for me.... so I put on what I feel good in. I use to wear black very nicely, now I find it looks too matronly and I feel older in it.
I like black too and I wear it quite often. If I wear a black top, I make sure that I wear a vivid colored skirt or the other way around.
I forgot to say that gray hair definetely makes anyone, man or woman, look older. I went gray young, in my mid-twenties, and ever since I have been religiously coloring my hair every month. It definetely helps.
LoL, maybe sometimes. I dress sort of inbetween. At times I put on something and think it's too young for me and I should dress more to my age and sometimes I put on something and think it's too old for me.... so I put on what I feel good in. I use to wear black very nicely, now I find it looks too matronly and I feel older in it.
It is difficult to dress age appropriate without looking dowdy. I am now 34 so I'm at that age where I have to stop dressing so 'cutesy' coz I'm starting to no longer look like a 20 year old.
Maybe you should buy a magazine like Marie Claire or In Style as they have great tips on fashion - esp for various ages. Also, older celebs may give a clue as to whats fashionable for someone in their 50s. But, I think a nice pair of straightlegged pants, a fitted shirt in a nice bright color and some pointy shoes peeking out from under the pant leg looks good on anyone from age 16 to 80.
I do have some grey hair sprinkled throughout. I have very fine hair, so I only use the gentle hair dye (not permanent) which is only good for so many shampoos. It darkens most of the hair, but does nothing for the grey. After a couple of shampoos it makes me wonder why I bothered dying it in the first place. I know I need a permanent hair dye, yet worry that it is going to damage my fine hair. The last thing I need on top of all this is hairloss. I do have fun going up and down the isles checking out all the fabulous new brands and colors. They always look good on the box. Does anyone know if a water based hairdye will be less damaging?
It is difficult to dress age appropriate without looking dowdy. I am now 34 so I'm at that age where I have to stop dressing so 'cutesy' coz I'm starting to no longer look like a 20 year old.
Maybe you should buy a magazine like Marie Claire or In Style as they have great tips on fashion - esp for various ages. Also, older celebs may give a clue as to whats fashionable for someone in their 50s. .
Besides having the foresight to pick parents with good genes (LOL!), I think attitude says a lot. While I know I don't look my age, I would if I acted/dressed it. Now that doesn't mean that I can show my belly button but I can dress in style for the times not for my grandmother's. My mother is 82 and doesn't look a day over 65...and at 58 and 59, my sister and I consistently are considered early to mid 40's. Take care of your skin - clean it, moisturize it and keep it out of the sun. Have a stylish hairdo, color it if it needs it (and I don't mean just if it's gray....if it's lost its luster, and some pizzaz to it!), wear up to date clothes (and I don't mean the latest preppy chino's from the old line catalog houses). AND DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR ACHES AND PAINS! We all have them...they are a fact of like and soemone is worse off than you).
Work out...whatever you can do....walk, weights, jog, Pilates, whatever and do it consistently and for life. When you quit, your body will quit and you'll be on a downhill slide. Oh, and put a smile on your face!
BBC America channel has a programme called "What not to wear". I learned great tips from that show. How to pick clothes according to your body type, right colors,right hair cut, etc.
Smoking,stress,and sun will age anyone. Your appearance and the way you carry yourself (with confidence) will help you "age gracefully". I was politely told by a 76 yr. old woman that as you get older grey hairs soften your face....sorry, I still color mine..but on some, she's correct. I love being 55 and not looking it...I'm having the time of my life.
LOL, it may soften your face, but the few grey hairs that I do have are like wires sticking up. I wish I could think of a way to soften them so they don't stick up begging to be seen.
I just turned 32 but this thread caught my eye...guess I'll have to start thinking about this age stuff eventually! From the point of view of a young-ish person, I can tell you that the look in someone eye and the tone in their voice always gives away their age for me. If you have a youthful look in your eyes when you speak to people, as well as a fun, light tone in your voice, you will seem younger. I also agree with the clothing advice...dressing a few years younger may not seem "natural" at first, but it really, really changes the perception of how old someone is. As long as the clothing fits your particular body type, how old you are shouldn't mean much.
Yes, I defnitely think your skin can give your age away. Unfortunately, wrinkles are often due to genes. My mother and her mother both do not have wrinkles. My Mom is 72 and still does not have any wrinkles, although she does have some jowling. We both had oily skin, so I think oily skin does have that benefit, although I was plagued with acne when I was younger.
Now, at 50, after getting my skin clear and having a dermabrasion for acne scars, my skins looks awsome for 50. I use an exfolient to shed the top layers called A-Cute Derm. I really noticed a difference when I started using this lotion. Then, in the morning I use Copper Peptides by Skin Biology. Copper Peptides tightens the skin and actually remolds it. I have found that the combination of these two things makes my skin have a glow to it.
Also, I tan once or twice per week for 20 minutes only to give myself some color. I think as long as you don't overdo it, some sun can make you look healthier. Oftentimes, is that's pale looking skin or pallor that can make you took older. Try using a peach colored blush and glow powder to give your skin a glow. I use glow powder by Clinique, which is a loose powder and Revlon age defying make-up.
Also, there is a magazine called "More" especially for older women and how to look better for your age. I truly think that exercise, diet, and good skin care can make a world of difference. A little plastic surgery never hurts either. I had terrible bags under my eyes and hooded eyelids and once I had my eyes done, it turned back the clock about 5 or 6 years. I heard a facelift can turn it back 10 years and I'm saving for that now. I don't feel 50 years old, so why should I look it??? In this day and age, no one needs to age gracefully anymore.
Re: What gives a person's age away? 
