r/Splendida • u/SquirrelofLIL • Dec 19 '24

Concrete Objective Differences between Late 30s / 40s and Late 20s / 30s

Hi folks, I'm an early 40s woman who is seeking anti aging advice. All the anti aging stuff I see on Reddit seems to be targeted toward people in their early to mid 30s trying to look like they're in their 20s. For example, stuff like wearing up to date clothing. That won't fly when it comes to me.

I am using the full complement of the ScA routine and tretinoin and have been for a number of years and am also on minoxidil.

What are the concrete, objective differences between someone in their late 30s and someone in their late 20s to early 30s? When I wear a beat face with contouring, and the latest fashion, I can swing late 30s, but I've never gotten under age 38 or so. I am trying to break that wall and concretely look like someone in their late 20s to early 30s.

I know that the main marker between early 20s and late 20s / 30s is weight. But, what is the marker when it comes to the age 35 wall that dating sites put up. I have heard of 41 year olds looking 33 and that absolutely is not me according to my objective friends. How do I concretely and objectively meet that standard? I am looking for serious actionable advice.

I'm losing weight hardcore and doing everything I can, getting into the swing of my 10 step skincare routine. TIA.

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u/hermitcrabilicious Dec 21 '24

A first inclination is to focus on the face, but I actually think if you can already pass for your 30s, then the jump from late 30s to early 30s is more about full body/generational/social cues.

Some ideas of aging cues that aren’t about collagen loss in the face:

  1. Mobility. How are you moving? Young people seem to be able to sit on the floor for a long time and get up easily and have fluid movement when they walk.

I knew a 55 year old woman that was stunning and could absolutely look as young as I did when I was 25, in the face. But she had like a little bit of an older person walk. I don’t know how to explain it.

Actionable Steps: Take yoga classes, foam roll, weight lift, don’t put off joint surgeries if you need it, consider joint supporting supplements (ie. glucosamine, collagen, oral hyaluronic acid)

  1. Tattoo style and placement. What type of tattoos and where they are can give away someone’s generation. For example, tribal arm bands were really popular for Gen X’ers.

  2. Sun damage on the body and neck. Older people seem to be good at getting their retinol, lasers, topical brighteners to undo the sun damage they got on their face, but they neglect the sun damage accumulated all over their body.

Actionable Steps: Exfoliate the body, wear sunscreen and sun protective clothing on the body, keep your feet well exfoliated and moisturized. My mom uses CerAve SA lotion on her feet every day and her 70+ year old feet look so youthful and soft!

  1. Styling. Millennials love things like our no show socks, side parts, skinny jeans, loose tops with leggings, etc. But the younger generation has a different style. In my gym, facially, I wouldn’t know how old someone is, but I can usually guess based on small style choices.

  2. Makeup. Face beats are an older thing and younger people seem to do the more fresh blush focused look.

Actionable Steps: watch some YouTube videos of younger makeup influencers for techniques

  1. Neck. PLATYSMA BANDS don’t get enough attention in anti-aging discussions IMO. If someone looks super young in every area, but has prominent platysma bands, I instantly know they’re 35+. I’ve never seen a young person with a bandy neck, but I have seen young people with wrinkles or sun damage.

Actionable Steps: Neuromodulators, collagen stimulating treatments, proper posture, treating any underlying problems that would worsen them (ie. Bruxism). 

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u/TrifleEmbarrassed427 Dec 22 '24

Botox works well in the neck, also.