Question for those over 40 who've maintained a longterm skincare routine : Is it worth it?

If you do not smoke, stay out of the sun, do not use a tanning bed. Your skin aging timeine is pretty much dependent upon genenics

Skin is created from the inside. I've been taking 5,000 mg on Vitamin C a day for twenty years. C creates collagen to keep your skin tight. I have no wrinkles or lines on my forehead,

Very much so- I started using sunscreen When I was 25 (later than I should have.. I wear it daily rain or shine. I do use Retin A. 43 now and look good. Who knows how I will look in a decade. And I am also a big believer in Vitamin C and Vitamin D supplements. 5000 MG is ALOT! I only take 1000. Maybe I should up it.

It's good to take care of one's skin, of course, but I truly believe that genetics has a lot to do do with how skin ages. Both my mother and father had skin which looked a lot younger than their years.. I just turned 46 and my skin looks better than it should. It certainly has little to do with my personal skincare regimen, which is practically nil. I do take vitamins: vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D3 - maybe that helps. I'm outdoors a lot, but I never burn; I tan. This ability might come from my mother, who had olive skin, almost black hair, and dark brown eyes - looked very Mediterranean, but was actually of primarily British descent. She'd tan in the summer and keep the tan well into the winter. My father was blond like I am, but he burned like a bugger in the sun.

Mary!

Unless you're malnourished, or have some kind of disease or disorder no-one needs supplements. One grapefruit contains twice the amount of vitamin C needed based on a 2000kcal diet.

I only use soap on my body 3 to 4 times a week. 'Hot spots' is every day however. A 99p cleanser and a 3.99 moisturiser that lasts a month.

And yes, I look 20 years younger.

I use old school Noxema every day and that's it. I let it sit on my face for a few minutes, then rinse it off. That's all I do. I'm in my late 40s and I don't look 20, but i have great skin and no wrinkles and people comment on it all the time. Even though I get sir a lot, people always tell me that they have no idea how old I am.

I notice a lot of 40 years old who want to look and dress like they're 20. That's the mistake so many people make. Dress your age and stay out of the sun.

Daily application of my creams and serums made from the by-products of human embroys obtained from various sources in China and Russia

[quote] I have no wrinkles or lines on my forehead.

However, you look like a Shar Pei everywhere else.

I always LOVE when Ms. Estee Lauder posts from the Internet Cafe in HELL.

We have found that a jizz facial from a 20-something poolboy works wonders.

Funny how no one has mentioned the easiest, cheapest method: drink water, plenty of it.

I only use two products (in addition to sunscreen): Clinique for Men Face Wash and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer. Those products in combination work great for me.

I just turned 40 and like every other DLer, everyone thinks I look much younger. My keys to keeping skin young boil down to being fair skin growing up in SoCal so I was always slathered in SPF for most of my life and have always used SPF30 moisturizers religiously since I was in my early 20's. I always wear sunglasses until there is a the last bit of sun in the sky so I haven't gotten any crows feet. I like really basic Kiehls products (face wash, lotion, eye cream). Pre-Covid, working out and using the steam room regularly for the last 20 years has been good. The steam followed by a good moisturizer really plumps up your skin. Getting lots of sleep (7-8 hrs), yoga, working out and keeping stress out of your life are key. Straight men go from 35 to overnight once they have kids. Also, this might be unpopular, but grey ages you and if you have more of a baby face, it looks odd. The stress of a family can age a bitch. The minute you start seeing grays, get a gray blend rinse from a good salon. It's not like hair color. It washes out quickly and it looks natural. Do not do DIY.

TL:DR - Moisturizer, sunglasses at all times outdoors, sleep, basic but effective products, working out, steam, keep the stress low, and propecia.

I also feel like once you start going to botox or injectables, there is no going back. My friends who are younger look older for using it and when it wears off, it seems like you are worse off than you were pre-injectables. I'm not into it for men and really don't want them...but never say never. Right now, I want to age naturally but we'll see at 45. I feel like even the really young looking guys in their 40's eventually hit a wall at 50.

I wear sunscreen and I'm a fat whore so I have NO wrinkles.

I've been applying lotion (various brands) to my face after every shower since I was in my 20s, and I'm 66 now. And today I have a few crow's feet around my eyes and that is about it. Not going to claim that I look 40, or some much younger age, but I'm happy with how well-preserved I am. Friends who I've known since grade school have not fared so well. I owe it to the daily application of a lotion and probably not working in the sun or other activities where I'd be in the sun most of the day.

Is it worth applying lotion every day? In my case: yes!

These are the products that I've found are worth it. You can get them at your local drugstore. Don't try to preserve your youth and beauty with expensive snake oil. Save your money for keeping yourself happy in your well-earned old age.

Anti blemish products that contain salcylic acid in liquid or Stridex-type wipes. You can also use them to soften calluses on your feet prior to buffing them down with a pumice stone and a little soapy water.

Daytime moisturizers for sensitive skin like Cetaphil and Neutrogena that offer 50+ SPF protection and don't sting your eyes.

For body, 50+ SPF sunblock, whatever brand you like.

Cetaphil and Lubriderm or knockoff brand sensitive skin all-over moisturizers can be used on both body and face.

Honestly I think at the end of the day it isn't worth it. We all become fat, old, and ugly sooner than we'd like to admit. Nobody really ages gracefully. It's a part of life. Live with it instead of constantly living in fear of the natural process of aging.

Lotion/sunscreen every day is very effective, inexpensive and the easiest thing you can do if you don't really care. My dad is 69 and has the broken capillaries/sun damage on his face. The only thing I'd like to get done now is to have those capillaries that are under the skin zapped b/c those will start to surface in my mid 40's to 50's and it is safe. Although I am scared of doing anything that might fuck with my face.

I'm 62 and since college I have used some kind of department store moisturizer every morning on my face and neck. On days when I'm out in the sun, which is often, I use a token amount of sunscreen. As odd as it sounds, I have only ever used water to wash my face, never any soap or astringent. I use a shaving cream that is soap-free. Today my skin looks good, with only a few lines and wrinkles, and no "sun spots". (No, I do not look like I'm 35.)

As kids, my brother (18 months older) and I were often mistaken as twins. Same complexion, same hair and eye color. He has never used a moisturizer and only occasionally uses sunscreen. He smoked from the age of 16 until his 50's. Today he looks 10 years older than his actual age, with deep wrinkles and dark spots on his face and neck. (Filed under "Life is so unfair" - My brother has a full head of hair. I don't but have embraced my baldness.)

Side note: Five years ago my dermatologist recommended PDT ("blue light") treatments on my face and scalp. The special ultraviolet light reacts with a chemical they apply to skin to penetrate the top few layers of skin. The treatment removes fine lines and causes spots and blemishes to rise to the surface and slough off. I've been pleased with the results.

R18 - Agreed. I think Neutragena SPF 35 daily moisturizer for $15 is one of the best and most reliable products I have used for many years. I used to love Cereve when it came out, but I think they changed their formula. It used to be amazing. I also think that you want to keep your skin care as basic and affordable as possible. I don't want to start doing treatments are costly and need to be kept up in the event that there is some kind of unexpected financial hardship and then my face falls apart.

While I like having great skin, a natural full, thick, luscious head of hair that never thins almost trumps skin care.

R2, that's great. Of course, the kidney failure probably keeps you indoors.

When I am thinking nice hair, I am thinking maybe Rob Lowe style or for elder-elder, George Clooney.

Every night I sleep facedown in a bucket of water.

Move to a place with a humid climate.

It seems like people in high humidity have more acne breakouts. I remember having friends from HI and their skin was not great.

dmso

Yes it’s worth it. But as others have said, the best thing you can do is stay out of the sun and don’t smoke.

Look for brand name products next to house brands on the shelf. Certaphil was $2.00 more than the CVS with same ingredients, listed in same order on the label. Elizabeth Arden sold same products under "Elizabeth Post" in Kresge's, before it became K-Mart.

Queen Hélène Mint Julep Face Masque will tighten you right up.

real african black soap and aloe

My hairdresser told me having a humidifier on at night, which I do for sinus, is helpful in preventing wrinkles--I don't have many wrinkles and I'm 66.

The things that actually make the difference are:

1) Staying out of the sun

2) Getting enough water into your system by drinking it

3) Not washing your face with soap

Everything else, even moisturizer, is really not that meaningful in the end.

^ What R30 and R35 said. Also, you have to understand what’s best for your skin. Many face washes advise twice a day usage. If I did that, my skin would be stripped beyond belief. I learned that my skin feels best when I leave it alone and wash with plain water, and use a face wash only once every two or three days. I also make my own rose water and glycerin tonic for overnight use which removes dirt and oil as well.

ewww...wash you face every 2 or 3 days? i bet you stink too.

I have oily skin. This helps aging, but it means I am also prone to acne, which means ugly red marks and scars - potentially.

sunscreen

a sal acid cleanser

la roche posay thermal spring water to hydrate, followed by hydra phase moisturizer

sunscreen and avoiding sun on the face, in general

48 look 36

[quote] I have religiously taken care of my skin. I regularly wash and moisturize (with products containing at least SPF 30)

Ever check the labels on those SPF products? All those chemicals go right into your bloodstream.

I have to wash my face twice a day with some sort of mild soap otherwise it feels yucky. How is it some of you don't need to? What do you do instead?

sweat and reek

God, now sunblock is cancerous. Has anyone tried the Korean or Japanese sunscreen that is supposed to be really good but expensive? Apparently it's really good.

R45 Probably not what you're talking about, but the best sunscreen I've ever used is Tatcha (it's billed as a Japanese beauty brand, was started by a Chinese-American woman). Crazy expensive, but is matte and actually makes your skin look better. When I run out, I also use La Roche-Posay, which is almost just as good and at lot less money.

Sorry, I was responding to R42.

U queens are sick and dumb. Esp the massive vit eaters - all the excess just goes down the toilet. Why are you trying to have young looking skin? Young looking skin on a 70 yo does not hide a 70 year old body. U sound like Marie Barone.

[quote] 48 look 36

Yes, we're sure you do, honey.

We bet you'll swear your friends tell you that too!

Flattery won’t work, R37! Thanks all the same, although I’m sure I could never reach your heights. You’re probably a walking wave of BO in real life.

I've always thought that the touching and pressing and rubbing, etc. that people do to their faces in order to put on all those moisturizers and serums makes the skin more apt to wrinkle and look worn out. Wash it. Put a little moisturizer on when it's really dry out. And, then don't play with your face.

Relatedly, I've always wondered if contact lens wearers are going to have really baggy eyes when they hit 60 or so with all that pulling they do on their upper and lower lids. We'll know soon, I guess, since all the teenagers who started using daily contacts in the 80s and 90s and have been pulling on their eyelids for 30 years now are going to be hitting those wrinkle years in the next decade or so.

I've maintained a long-term skin care plan since my late 20s. I'm 46 years now. I could drink more water. I could take more vitamins. I could eat healthier more consistently. I wear SPF religiously, but I could have done it more in my 20s. And I could have worn sunglasses more. I was a marathon runner in my 20s, so that's something I can't undo. I'm an avid bushwalker, so that doesn't help. They say you have to choose between your face or your ass at some point. I will always choose my ass, because I like being slender and feeling light on my toes. I live with depression, so anything I can do to not feel physically dragged down by weight, I will endeavour. That means eating healthier and exercise, which I'm still trying to master. I fight against consistency and routines with every fibre of my being unfortunately.

My mother has skin like porcelain. I was not fortunate enough to inherit that. My skin is decent except places where it counts most. I have baggy eyelids which age me. I also have dark circles which age me. Other than that, the skin on the rest of my face and body is that of a guy in his 40s. I can't complain. I like what I see in the mirror, but I just don't like being photographed, if that makes sense.

An earlier poster said he'd choose a full head of hair over no wrinkles. I have to concur. I did okay in the hair department, but, now I'm realising I wasn't in the top 10-percentile. My hair is thinning and I don't like that one bit. If I invest money, it'll be in that before my face. But, I need to act fast. Or, maybe I can just start loving myself more. Easier said than done.

I never spend time in the sun, I don't use soap on my face, and I moisturize daily with extra attention around my eyes. I'm 47 but am frequently told I look about 32.

lolz

I have to exfoliate due to a skin condition. At 79 I am remarkably wrinkle free in the face. I do have some sagging skin on upper arms. Legs look fabulous and toned due to skin issue. That is all I have to offer except use an exfoliate lotion. I am female. I use Amlactin.

Now that that's taken care of, what the fuck do I do about the turkey wattle neck thing that is starting to develop??

I've maintained my longterm skincare regimen of washing daily with Ivory soap and not putting anything else on my face. Apparently still look significantly younger than my age, so I'm going to credit never smoking, drinking lots of water, and avoiding the sun like Dracula.

I'm 42 and look 28, so I'd say yes, OP.

Pathetic faggots all of you.

If you don't want wrinkles round your eyes, wear good quality sunglasses, not just when it's bright but when there's any glare. It'll protect against eye ageing as well. Take it seriously.

What should one use instead of soap on the face?

I was 18 when I started loosing my hair. To be so young and to be turning into a 55 year old man was agony. Hair all over the pillow combing and brushing hair into piles and blocking the drain after taking a shower. Honestly I would have taken a rare facial skin disease over it. I had such a thick pile of hair on my head it took until I was 33 to be really bald. Every second was pure hell. Especially because I have a big head and long face. Well all dating opportunities went to hell after that because I was very timid when I still had hair. I certainly didn't go the Trump route where you'll try every surgical procedure under the sun and you have a scalp so badly scarred you have no choice but to keep it covered.

Every other QUEEN talks about skin care and staying out of the sun to look young.

If you want to look younger than you are don't - SMOKE , DRINK or TAKE DRUGS. Also eat lots of fruits and vegetables and only eat sweets occasionally. Your diet greatly affects your skin youthfulness.

Which anal bleach do you use?

Well, if you stopped loosing your hair when you were 18, it never would have fallen out, R59. Most of us will keep our hair nice and tight until we're about 50 or so, but then it gets painful.

the stuff about the FDA report is BS. EVERYTHING goes into your bloodstream. Ever had asparagus? This from the same queens doing Molly and poppers.

the FDA did that vague report as a way to get industry to pay for the testing they should have been doing with our tax dollars. the sunscreens in europe are better because they don't have a bunch of lazy fat asses in cushy government jobs.

no one has gotten cancer from sunscreen - but millions have gotten cancer from not using sunscreen.

R59 - My hair started thining around 18. I started propecia really young, around 21, and it grew my hair back and I've kept it. I am very grateful at 40 to have a full head of hair. But, I would like it to be thicker. I'd love hair like Zack Effron or even Ryan Phillipe. Stylists, beauty people - how would you go about just adding density to your hair? I am wondering if doing a transplant with a full head of hair is the way to go? I really like the whole package right now, except my hair. It's just the one area I am always fixated with. It looks great when styled, but if the wind blows it out of place, I feel like I always have to do a hair check in the bathroom at my destination before I greet anyone.

How about tinted car windows to keep the sun off your face? I'm in Ohio and that's not the norm on the used car I got. In desert cities like Vegas, tinted car windows are the norm.

I also put up a second, thicker curtain layer (not blackputs, I was cheap) in my sitting room which gets harsh evening sun. UVA and UVB rays can penetrate a closed window glass right?

Such a bizarre thing deep down to want to look decades younger than you are. It really is so odd when you step back and think about it. I'm an okay looking 57. I was an okay looking 40 year old, 30 year old, and 20 year old. Maybe because I've never really been gorgeous I can accept this and don't need to keep trying all this weird shit to look so much younger than I am.

To stay fuckable r66

I think the standards have changed for Gen X, Millenials, etc. Basically anyone under 50 should still be looking active and young. I watched something recently that was from the early 80's.(I forget) and the character said he was 40 - he looked 55 by 2020 standards. Even the Golden Girls, Blanche was 49 and had the old lady haircut. Women are still having babies in their late 40's. Then you look at nostalgia like Cobra Kai where Zabka and Machio are pushing 60, but they don't feel like old men as they were portrayed 20 years ago. It's a good thing.

There is a difference between looking active and young and looking active and age appropriate. Yes, thanks to genetics, advances in science and medicine, and a better understanding of aging and what contributes to it, a 50 year old in 2020 doesn't look like a 50 year old in 1960.

But a 50 year old is never going to look like a true 20 year old or even a 30 year old. Not even with the best cosmetic surgery. The best anyone who is obsessed with looking younger can hope for is -maybe- looking 10 years younger and even that's a stretch.

R66 makes an excellent point. How you handle aging has a lot to do with perspective. I was an attractive kid and got work as a catalog model (pre-teen through early 20's). As a result I'm probably more aware of how people judge others by outside appearances since that's how I got modeling gigs which (eventually) paid for college. Modeling, even for kids back in the 60's and 70's, was and still is a cut-throat superficial racket.

Jan Marini products. The full line. I get everything on a discount from EBay. Watch her YouTubes for advice on what products to use. I turned 40 this year and I get carded 50% of the time when buying alcohol.

If a guy has disposable income, Fraxel or another laser treatment is amazing because they stimulate collagen growth by damaging the lower layers of skin. They were initially used for skin resurfacing but that's only seen as valuable for people who hate their skin surface....The collagen stimulation is amazing for someone in their 40s and the collagen stimulation can last for several years. Skin peeling after a few days happens with fraxel but theres another laser that does the same thing in 3 treatments with no peeling, just costs more to do it that way.

you need to read about it and educate yourself just enough so that you can call around. Not all dermatologists have all lasers. A laser can cost $100K and dermatologists want to pay them off so they usually recommend the lasers they have in their offices. So do your research, definitely listen to a dermatologist but maybe call or email first and ask what lasers they have on site so you don't get sold a treatment that isn't as effective or from a 10 year old laser machine when better technology is available

one thing i forgot to mention in r72 was that there are zillions of expensive products that all promise to stimulate collagen growth. you can spend hundreds in a single year on creams and dietary suppliments but 20 minutes of a laser treatment can get better direct results that last years. By all means, eat the $30 collagen powder and use the expensive creams if you want but might as well spend 20 minutes stimulating collagen growth directly. Its also a way of looking fresher and younger without resorting to the extreme measures of a facelift.

Good advice R72. I didn't even think about asking what type of lasers a dermatologist has.

r74 they'll only offer the ones they have in house. And those are an investment for them. Which is why a second opinion or some advance research is best. that way you dont get pushed into a technology that is outdated or before its time. Great example is the hair growth lasers. They've been selling them for 20 years but the early ones didn't work so great in terms of results. but still cost the dermatologists $100k out of pocket, so many claimed they worked great for some patients. They advertised to sell treatments. The lasers got better and 20 years later they are more likely to stimulate hair growth. But many people heard they didn't work--because they didn't back when we first started hearing about them. Its an interesting field that requires some work on behalf of the consumer to get the best results for themselves.

I'm an ex smoker R75. What would you recommend to get rid of smoker lines?

[quote] R6: Unless you're malnourished, or have some kind of disease or disorder no-one needs supplements. One grapefruit contains twice the amount of vitamin C needed based on a 2000kcal diet.

I think I’d rather have a face that looks like a scrotum than have to eat a grapefruit daily for 40 or 50 years.

“I use old school Noxema every day and that's it. I let it sit on my face for a few minutes, then rinse it off.”

I’m like the Miami Sound Machine that exploded all over you!

How to delay jowliness and sagging cheeks? I can only think to avoid high impact exercise (running, jump rope) that aids gravity on your face.

Yes.

R76 and R79 I'm not a dermatologist. If you have the time in your life and don't currently have a dermatologist, find two in your area for a consultation.

Anyone reading this should see a dermatologist at least once per year for skin cancer checks. Check their websites beforehand to get a sense of the technology they're working with in their offices. When you do meet with a dermatologist, just avoid the salesman types. Avoid someone who guarantees you'll look amazing. At best, all they can accomplish are moderate improvements. Their language should reflect that. If they say "you might see some improvement" you know they're at least honest. then you decide if the money is worth it.

Thank you r81. I have a dumb question: do dermatologists take USA health insurance? My employer uses Anthem or Blue Cross or Blue Shield. I gotta check.

I'm fine to pay fully out of pocket as I'll just be doing my first ever skin mole check soonish.

Thank you R81. I'm going to a dermatologist next week. Just wondered if one laser was better than another for smokers lines.

R82, my dermatologist takes health insurance...especially for skin mole checks (I just went in for one a few weeks ago).

I can outdo the Noxema fan. I use Oil of Olay and I love it. It's cheap so I slather it on freely after a shower and let it soak in. I've tried fancier moisurizers, but they leave waxy crumbs on my face.

But I have no idea how old I look.

Usually the way it works is that people use health insurance for yearly checkups (or specific skin conditions) and then use that opportunity to discuss cosmetic stuff.

But im sure plenty of dermatologists do consultations if you have a specific cosmetic issue you are interested in discussing.

[quote] UVA and UVB rays can penetrate a closed window glass right?

My understanding is that glass is opaque to UV-B, but it lets UV-A pass through. So it protects you *some*, but getting lots of window light can still do sun damage. Those photos comparing the left and right sides of career truckers’ faces are frightening.

[quote] But a 50 year old is never going to look like a true 20 year old or even a 30 year old. Not even with the best cosmetic surgery. The best anyone who is obsessed with looking younger can hope for is -maybe- looking 10 years younger and even that’s a stretch.

Well yeah. I’m about to turn 51 and most people guess early 40s rather than some huge discrepancy like thirtysomething or younger. It’s having good skin, not faerie glamour or holographic technology from [italic]Star Trek[/italic]. Doesn’t stop crow’s feet and laugh lines from developing or hair from graying (which I’ve been insufficiently vain to do anything about so far—we’ll see when my eyebrows turn invisible!).

OP - it's not your late 30's that you're going to see the payoff. You're still supposed to look good even without good skincare in your late 30's.

The payoff is in your 40's and 50's and later years.

You're doing the right thing - keep with it. But note - taking care of skin is just good for your body. Like exercise. But it's not a time machine that will keep you young and ageless forever.

The only way to keep aging at bay is going to be Botox and other medical cosmetics (for now). That would speed down the aging process by 2/3 in your 30's and 40's. You'll still age, but at a much slower rate, if done well.

R79 - My friend had hooks put in her face under the skin that is inserted by the ear and the pulls the skin back at the jawline to reduce the jowles, sagging skin on a weaker chin. She was in and out in an hour and went for drinks after. Very easy.

ALWAYS wear sun screen every day, and avoid the sun as much as possible. This is the single most important thing you can do for your face. Sun damage and/or skin cancers often don't show up until later in life. It's never too early to cultivate good habits.

I have the complexion of an eighty year old.

Trust me, fresh air and sunshine aren't all they're cracked up to be.

I once had a hook in my face.

It left a scar.

R42 Biore Watery Essence is supposed to be good. And so is Supergoop.

Sleep while lying on your back. Preferably no pillow under your head. Avoid sleeping on your side or on your stomach (face gets squashed).

R89 did your friend get work done by a cenobite??

Prescription retinoids are great. I started in my mid 20s. Now mid 50s. But you don't need to use them 12 months a year, year after year.

After 45, find a good dermatologist who does laser surgery. Start to remove imperfections when they appear. For me little issues arose past 50. I worshipped the sun from 10-24. RetinA did a lot of repair but there was still damage.

R95 - It sounds like that, but the hooks are super, super thin. It's very low key Hellraiser.

[R97] I want to do that, but they don’t last long. My jowls are making me sad.

You're throwing your money away, OP. Your money and your time.

Wash your effing face daily. Use a sun screen when you go out. Done. Your face's fate was cast when your 46 pairs of chromosomes aligned to make you. Don't make it worse with smoking and too much booze.

If you want to do anything to look youthful, monitor your eyebrows. Do what you can to keep them dark. White eyebrows read OLD. No matter how old the rest of you looks, it's the eyebrows that close the deal. If you have white eyebrows, you're old. If they're dark, you're aging well. Every male in Hollywood knows this. You should, too.

[R99] Good point about the eyebrows. I was out yesterday at a restaurant and the mask wearing waiter had the best thick eyebrows. I kept staring, he was really cute. Eyebrows make the man.

I only use water (after washing my hands) and a facecloth rinsed in warm water to wash my face. In the shower I use the leftover soap from my shampoo on my face and rinse it off. The only reason I stuck my oar in here is people actually stop me and ask me what I do to my skin. But doesn't it come down to genetics?

Can my skin improve if I quit smoking, our is the damage irreversible?

No my skin is all fucked up from exfoliating and acids. Now my skin is sensitive thanks to me eroding my skin’s protective barrier with scrubs and exfoliants.

I use apricot scrub every morning, moisturize with coconut oil and then seal it all in with vaseline. No one ever believes Im 52.

My mother is in her 60's and has fantastic skin, so she told me that her secret is Oil of Olay SPF 15 moisturizer. She gave me my first bottle and I've started putting it on anytime I go outside since I was 29.

[quote] If you want to do anything to look youthful, monitor your eyebrows. Do what you can to keep them dark. White eyebrows read OLD. No matter how old the rest of you looks, it's the eyebrows that close the deal. If you have white eyebrows, you're old. If they're dark, you're aging well. Every male in Hollywood knows this. You should, too.

Eyebrows are an underrated feature of a man. What do you do, though, if you don't even have that much eyebrow hair to dye? Microblading?

R69 Standards have indeed changed, the social pressure to appeal young seemingly intensifies year to year: it is an Instagram world. This development has led to some great research and impressive medical advances, skin rejuvenation techniques and undetectable hair replacement as examples.

But with this focus on extending ones youth and desireability comes the inevitable dark side, the obsession and the delusion. Of course take care of yourself: protect and optimise. But it is critical that one retain the ability to see reality in a mirror. Be the best looking 55 you can be. Wigs and dyed facial hair, dressing like your college-aged nephew, these in fact age one and call one out as desperate besides. 'I am in my 50s but people think I'm in my 20s!' Uh no, no they don't.

Anyone here used squalane and/or niacimide as topical oils longterm?

At the urging of my sister I was trying them out for a few months back in the summer, and did notice a plumping rejuvenating effect on my dry lined but youngish skin. I’m sceptical about ‘wonder creams’ and such, and not sure if the improvement was really the solutions or just the humidity outside and my higher rate consumption.

Yeah, ditto R106. My eyebrows are not much to begin with, not sure what to do with them...

Use castor oil on your eyebrows R109. It will take awhile, but I use it twice a day and can see new hair growth. They also have some serums, but don't know how effective they are.

[quote] Well yeah. I’m about to turn 51 and most people guess early 40s

People are so kind.

No, there are two things and two things only that work.

1. Stay out of the sun

2. Genetics

That's it. Period.

Retinol also builds collagen, although it takes some practice to find the right formula and to get past the redness and peeling stage.

Jesus Cristo! We’re all aging. Everyone has a really good skin tip, and yet they age. Without surgical intervention, overtime and scaffolding, your skin will age. No little fancy pot of cat piss is gonna fix that for you.

You can’t take vitamins in pill form for skin care because they’re worthless. The vitamins go right through your system. It’s the same with probiotics. Get your vitamins from food and the sun.

I remember an interview with Lauren Hutton from the 70’s that stuck with me because it seemed so odd. She said that she had been on safari in Africa for several weeks and never washed her face. She said her skin had never looked better.

I wish I could go without washing my face after everything said here but I would feel disgusting.

One of the least believable parts of Mad Men was when Megan Draper claimed she only splashed water on her face to clean it.

[R118] Especially ludicrous considering the make up she had plastered on. If she only splashed water on all those fake eyelashes, liquid eyeliner, foundation, powder etc it would make a mess and she’d be a dirty pizza face.

I’m a lesbian, and have been getting Botox/dysport since my late 20’s. I started using retin-a in my late 30’s. My skin looks good but, at 49, it’s starting to sag and there isn’t much I can do about it. I recently bought the Skin Inc LED glasses, and they are really helping with undereye darkness and puffiness. I am actually blown away by how well they work, and now I’m thinking about getting a full face light machine.

Depends on how much money you want to spend R120.

Does light therapy address fine lines?

At 27, I have developed light forehead creases. Very disconcerting.

Those are the first lines I developed, and they are still fairly light at 42.

I'm so sick of the sunscreen and genetics queen on this thread. Sunscreen - 100% yes.

Genetics, as with anything, only plays a certain part. Environment and your skin regimen do the rest.

You will absolutely look better if you take care of your skin. Any aesthetist will tell you and show you studies on this.

Women know this - although they have more to maintain and worry about with daily makeup.

Cleaner, moisturizers - these all work and serve a function. Are some junk and overly expensive? Absolutely. But that's with every product.

Minimally, you have to use a moisturizer with an SPF15 or 30 every day. This is a twin shot - they're 61 - the one on the right lived in Florida and was out in the sun a lot.

R121, I went to a facial plastic surgeon last year and he told me to not even think about touching my face surgically for at least 5 years. He did say that I will need a brow and neck lift at some point, but he didn’t think I was ready yet.

People under 40 who use Retin A regularly are fools.

No one "needs" that work except for women who work on camera, R125. And Jared, apparently. The two things may not be mutually exclusive.

If someone wants a neck lift or face lift and can afford it good for them.

R112, I would add smoking & excessive drinking to your list.

Edwardian living!

That's called "want" R128, not "need"....

I said want R131. No one gives a shit with your word play with need and want. No one needs a new car every few years, but if they want it and can afford it good for them. Maybe if you save up your pennies one day you will be able to afford what you want.

Yeah I know, words and stuff are like so stupid, R132. Let's just forget it and buy shit.

No one gives a shit what you think R133. You don't get to dictate what people should want or need or buy. You're a control freak.

Yes, [OP]

The doctor selling the surgery seems to be dictating whether or not it is NEEDED. I just think it's hilarious that facial mutilation is presented like an oil change or a haircut. "You're going to NEED this." But of course, I'm committing one of the few remaining unforgivable crimes, that of telling someone on the internet that they shouldn't buy something that they want. Go on gurl, get that stuff!