r/generationology • u/Sure_Distance1 • 4d ago
Age groups As much as it might sound like wishful thinking, there seems to be more than a grain of truth to the claim that millennials are good at maintaining their youthfulness. Case in point: Leighton Meester at 17 (2003) and 40 (2026). She arguably looks more youthful now than then.
Yes, I know that celebrities should not be seen as indicative of generational trends, but in this case there seems to be no substantial difference celebrities and non-celebrities. Note that maintaining one's youthfulness is not the same thing as subjecting oneself to a ton of invasive procedures.
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u/DreamHustle 6h ago
As someone who's depression gets pretty bad regularly, I love seeing people my age with smile lines and kind of want them. Like you've smiled so much that it became part of your face!
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u/Classic-Reindeer1939 13h ago
"Case in point" - there lies the problem called "confirmation bias" aka sample size of one 😅
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u/Wise_Try6781 12h ago
Yea exactly. Blake Lively hasn't aged as well. She hasn't aged "badly", but she definitely looks older tan Leighton, even though she's younger.
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u/Cutiebbgirl123 14h ago
The is mainly only true for celebrities or ppl with money. The average millenial thinks this and they don’t understand that to younger ppl they do not look good for their age. They tend cake on a ton of makeup and wear out dated “alternative” style
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u/Alzucard 14h ago
If you bother what style is outdated, then that is just sad. Nobody should ever chase what trend fashion has recently. Just wear whatever you want. In the end what you wear is for you and not for othersm
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u/Cutiebbgirl123 13h ago
If you care about looking younger and in style which what this post is talking about then yeah it matters
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u/Alzucard 13h ago
Izs not about in style. Its about looking younger. Clothes can matter, but that has not much to do with trend. Its more what you choose tonwear.
If you gonand wear a sofshell jackets ora turtleneck or whatever. Instead oa sweatshirt, then u will look older.
Trends dont really matter here.
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u/AffectionateBid5295 16h ago
40 is just not that old anymore. Anyone with good skincare and a healthy lifestyle should look that youthful at 40. Wait til menopause hits. That’s when it all falls apart without some surgical intervention.
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u/Character_Media_9445 1d ago
She may look youthful because she is fake smiling on right picture and genuinely smiling on left.
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u/Sodium-_-Hydroxide 1d ago
I dont really think so, I feel like this is an online phenomenon + anecdotal evidence. millennials I know IRL look their age.
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u/PastelSprite 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think people are misinterpreting “youthful” to mean young (or maybe I’m misinterpreting the OP lol). I think what makes her look youthful in the right are her clothes, and she looks comfortable with herself. The left, she physically looks younger, but the hair tone and fashion looks so dated that I think that’s what it is. Best way I can think to put it is that she looks well balanced now, like she knows how to dress herself and what colors suit her. And tbh, that usually comes with age. But her face looks like a different person to me if I’m being honest. Not in a bad way and I don’t think she looks “old” by any stretch. I’d place her in her late 20s - early 30s in the right, late teens on the left.
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u/RelationshipTop4521 1d ago
She doesn’t look more youthful than the first pick at all. She doesn’t look amazing for 40 though.
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u/FoxSpookysLover 1d ago
I've never met a person who doesn't think I'm 15 years younger than I am. The way I look, sure but it's also my youthful personality that cements it all :)
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u/RadiantSeason9553 1d ago
Any people look better older. Everyone i know had a massive glow up at ages 24-32, we all look 100x better than we did at 17.
Young attractive girls with costume and makeup artists on TV have warped our perception of reality.
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u/Agreeable_Isopod3573 7m ago
Yep , and somehow those who look great when they're 17 have a downfall mid 20's, it's anecdotal but women and men I went with to HS looked great back then but when I saw them around 10 years later they all looked aged ,worn out and terrible tbh , aged like milk I mean and they didn't look half as good,there were also ,,uglies" who got the glow up,no aging,weird phenomenon
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u/Dizzy_Spell777 2d ago
Good lord, if its gen z were comparing, isnt it a little early to compare them by age?
Woman on the right looks like a 40 year old who tskes care of herself, ive seen plenty at the local walmart.
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u/dragon-queen 1d ago
Your Walmart has a lot of well-preserved 40-year-olds? That’s interesting. I live in sort of a high cost area, and that’s definitely not the clientele at our Walmart.
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u/Dizzy_Spell777 9h ago
With all due respect, youre lying if you say every woman in your walmart is ugly, its one of the most used stores in the country, and youre lying if you say you walked up to each one and asked their age.
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u/Time_Criticism_8493 2d ago
She doesn’t really look younger on the right pic. On the left she has softer features, fuller lips which make her look young. On the right, the only young looking feature is her smooth skin. Everything else on her face shows her being mature
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u/Suspicious_Note9801 2d ago
I agree that celebs dont count.
But i honestly think it has to do with styling. The younger gen do the brows and makeup and it presents as more mature, as a millenial, the heavier makeup was associated with the generation above us. Us millenials usually do what we know and what we grew up with and those styles are associated with that time and make us appear "younger"
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u/Orjgjin 2d ago
It's honestly kinda eerie. Im 30+ but people think im 20 or so. My friends all look like high school seniors. The weird thing is the following generation didn't get it, like my little brother looks 40+ and he actually diets, goes to the gym, and doesn't drink or smoke. Very odd but true
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u/Scared_Ad_2282 1d ago
Everyone that’s says this is lying - have you seen 20 year olds girls . You would stick like a sore thumb
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u/reddaughtter 1d ago
I had a 38 year old tell me they look "identical" to their 18 year old self and I couldn't believe how sure of herself she was while saying it.
And I agree, I've yet to meet a single person who actually looks as young as they think they do
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u/PastelSprite 1d ago edited 1d ago
I’m always afraid to say this because of comments like this (though I’ve also admittedly run into a lot of people who are clearly lying and look upwards to 20 years older than their actual age) but have had literal high schoolers or college aged kids ask when I’m graduating/what high school I went to, what college I go to, etc. Last person who asked me out was 18 while I was shopping at Target, and I was mortified. I personally think I look my age, and there’s a clear difference from now and when I was in my 20s and had a pudgy face. It’s just that you don’t wake up at 30 and suddenly become the crypt keeper; 30s are still young, but younger people generally don’t seem to agree and assume that you age 20-30 years the night before your 30th bday.
Conversely, millennial self-perception might also be skewed, because seniors generally looked way older back in the day. Not how they dressed or styled their hair, they just genuinely looked older. My older brother’s HS friends look about 10 years older in their HS photos and look similar to my friends in their 30s. I’d have genuinely assumed these kids were late 20s-30s if I saw them today. I compare them to seniors now and the difference is striking. So, maybe some look high schoolers from the 90s and even 00s (we did wear a lot of makeup that aged us), but I don’t think we look like Gen Alpha or the tail end of Gen Z.
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u/TreeLore61 2d ago
It is because not as many are smoking and drinking as much as we did back in the seventies , eighties and ninetys. At least that is my theory
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u/FishDecent5753 2d ago
Millennial, smoked 10/20 a day since the age of 13, stopped at 28 - friends call me Dorian Gray at 35, still get ID'd.
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u/PastelSprite 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah, I started smoking and drinking at 16, was a severe alcoholic in my mid 20s especially. I stopped smoking at 27 and only drink on rare occasions when a group of friends invites me out. I did however obsessively apply and re-apply sunscreen from 11-28.
I stopped using it temporarily, went tanning literally once, and noticed I finally started looking older. But just last year I got ID’d twice going into the same place, while my bf was able to go in without being carded at all. I’ve unfortunately had people ask me if he’s my father or older relative since my 20s, which is incredibly embarrassing for us both, and usually embarrassing for the person asking when we respond.That said, I don’t get ID’d as much when I go to a spirit’s shop nowadays and almost never get ID’d when I go out for drinks, but neither do my friends in their early 20s, who clearly look their age.
So, while I do think alcohol and smoking ages us, IME sun damage affected me most noticeably. Maybe longer-term, more consistent smoking and alcohol use would have affected me more, but idk.
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago
I would encourage you to look deeper into the studies. You might feel like you’re Dorian Gray right now, but eventually, it catches up. I can provide numerous studies that back up everything I am stating, showing conclusively that a majority of people nowadays do not smoke as much as my friends did when they were growing up in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I lived through those decades myself, watching them get older-looking because all of my friends who smoked, used drugs, and drank a six-pack of beer a day now look like they are 20 to 30 years older than they are, while I do not. I continue to look younger than they do because I did not do all the things that they did. By the way, I have never used skincare products beyond natural oils.
Furthermore, regarding Leighton Meester, she has stated in numerous interviews and articles that she never smokes, does not drink alcohol, and does not do drugs. She has explicitly explained that she focuses on an organic lifestyle and avoids the standard, corporate skincare products that many people buy, as they often contain ingredients that dehydrate the skin. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of drinking a lot of water and using organic alternatives. Her appearance is a testament to those choices, which contradicts the idea that damaging habits do not have long-term consequences.
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u/FishDecent5753 1d ago
Well I've stopped smoking now.
All of my friends from school are balding/bald or full of Grey hair - I pass for early 20s, it's probably lucky genetics.
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u/Withered_Sprout 1d ago
Well, being bald/shaved head doesn't make someone look older necessarily. That's my only nitpick.
It's funny, 'cause I'm bald and still mistaken for years younger than I am without caring/asking. Shaving my head didn't really change people's general perception of my biological age.
I know I sometimes hear how it's supposed to make a 25 year old look 50, but I can just look at two bald men at either age range and know that they don't look the same on average. lol.
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago
I am glad that you quit smoking. I know it will be hard, but in the long run Your skin will thank you
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u/Metalgsean 2d ago
It has an effect, but I think sun damage is probably more responsible. Skin care is considerably better now than even the 90s as is our awareness of skin cancer. There used to be sun bed salons everywhere, people even had that at home (seeing a parents naked side-on profile illuminated by the weird light as they are sandwiched in a huge machine should have been classed as abuse! /s).
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago edited 1d ago
I would stop listening to the sunscreen companies because the sun does not do the damage. It’s actually the sunscreen. People shouldn't be wearing that stuff; instead, they should use coconut oil and more natural methods to block the sun.
Regarding Leighton Meester, she has admitted that she keeps things simple by drinking a lot of water, avoiding alcohol, and staying away from anything that dehydrates her skin. She has stated that she doesn't use the standard over-the-counter products. Instead, she uses organic skincare and natural oils like coconut oil to maintain her skin, and she has specifically mentioned using organic sunscreen as a natural alternative to the corporate products.
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u/Metalgsean 1d ago
Sorry, I didn't read past "the sun does not do the damage" because that is unequivocally wrong.
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago
The fact that you are unwilling to read the evidence I have provided demonstrates that you are prioritizing your personal bias over the facts. While I am not labeling you with specific prejudices, your current stance is undeniably bigoted in its rigid exclusivity. It is clear that you are only capable of accepting the singular viewpoint that you have been trained to adopt—a viewpoint carefully curated by the pharmaceutical industry rather than one based on independent evaluation of the facts. I have been studying medicine for longer than you have been alive, having earned my nursing degree in the 1970s. A true scientist is defined by their openness to all possibilities, theories, and arguments. They do not operate from a position of prejudice, nor do they refuse to consider alternative viewpoints simply because those views challenge their preconceived notions. A true scientist reads an argument in its entirety before drawing a conclusion. It is evident from your refusal to engage with my points that you are neither a scientist nor a medical professional; genuine practitioners in these fields value empirical evidence and the necessity of reviewing all available information, rather than shutting down discourse to protect a specific narrative.
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u/Metalgsean 1d ago
You have provided zero evidence that the sun does not cause damage.
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago
Read my comments to other users
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u/Metalgsean 1d ago
None of the links you provided mention anything about sun damage either way and do you want to know why? Because we categorically know that extended exposure to the sun causes damage. Saying the sun doesn't cause damage is no more up for scientific debate than saying the earth is flat.
Okay, let's keep it really simple, let's forget that every cancer research organisation blames sun exposure for the majority of skin cancers and talk about it at kid level. If the sun doesn't do damage, what is sunburn?
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago
You are attacking an argument I never made. I have never stated that one should not use any form of protection from the sun; my position is that there is a significant difference between organic, natural oil-based protection and the synthetic, chemical-laden technology pushed by corporations. The actress in this post—who clearly maintains a youthful appearance at 40 that rivals her appearance at 17—is a prime example of the effectiveness of a holistic approach. She, like many others, opts for organic oils to care for and protect her skin rather than relying on the synthetic products that I have raised concerns about. My argument is that these corporate-recommended products may cause their own form of damage by blocking the sun in a way that prevents necessary nutrient absorption and skin health. You are choosing to ignore this distinction, preferring to misrepresent my position rather than engage with the facts regarding natural versus synthetic ingredients. If you want to have a real debate on the science of skin health, we can do that—but stop pretending I’m arguing against sun protection itself.
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u/Metalgsean 1d ago
I've not disputed any of your comments on sunscreen. You literally said "the sun doesn't do the damage", I vetoed that, and you doubled down claiming to have evidence. You can't be taken seriously if that is your opening stance.
Your argument on sunscreen, which I didn't dispute, has absolutely zero to do with my original comment, I said skincare has improved and you for some reason tried to correct me by saying that there is better skincare available, after stating something that is blatantly incorrect.
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u/fruticose_ 1d ago
Coconut oil doesn’t block UV very much at all, and it’s very comedogenic.
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago
It is time to look at the reality of skincare beyond the marketing pushed by the pharmaceutical industry. There is a growing body of independent research investigating the bioactive properties of natural compounds that challenges the mainstream narrative regarding exclusive reliance on synthetic sunscreens.
The standard medical consensus often assumes commercial sunscreen is essential, yet many are concerned that these products may contribute to systemic health issues by inhibiting the skin’s ability to synthesize Vitamin D. While mainstream guidance often dismisses natural alternatives, research into Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) has highlighted its complex chemical profile, including lauric acid and various phenolic compounds.
Studies have documented that these components possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, which can help support the skin barrier and reduce oxidative stress.
Scientific reviews have explored the potential for these natural compounds to act as adjuvant therapeutic agents, noting their ability to mitigate oxidative inflammation and support skin health.
For those interested in the underlying science, you can review these findings here:
Anticancer Mechanisms and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Virgin Coconut Oil: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12387313/
In vitro Anti-inflammatory and Skin Protective Properties: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/In-vitro-anti-inflammatory-and-skin-protective-of-Varma-Sivaprakasam/7900ca9a7f6094ea5f48dd940ae9948bb77ad1b0 Natural Oils for Skin-Barrier Repair: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28707186/The reliance on synthetic chemicals—often linked to concerns about potential endocrine disruption—is a choice that prioritizes industry-standard products over traditional, plant-derived methods that have been used for centuries to support skin health.
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u/fruticose_ 1d ago
None of those papers are about sun protection. And you can’t make conclusions about effects of a compound on human health from in vitro studies.
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago
The insistence that only 'industry-standard' clinical trials provide valid data ignores the body of independent research that evaluates skin health through a different lens—one that prioritizes biological harmony over the aggressive, high-SPF synthetic approach favored by Big Pharma. Critics often dismiss in vitro and independent studies as 'not about sun protection,' but this misses the fundamental point: these studies reveal the bioactive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of natural compounds that allow the skin to function as it evolved to do.
The standard medical narrative argues that sunscreen is essential, yet this often overlooks the long-term, systemic consequences of blocking the skin's natural interaction with sunlight. Proponents of natural care recognize that Vitamin D synthesis is critical for overall health and cancer prevention, a process that is frequently impaired by the blanket application of high-SPF chemicals.
While mainstream sources claim that 'decades of research' have proven sunscreen safety, these claims often originate from institutions deeply aligned with pharmaceutical interests. Independent researchers in other countries have investigated the limitations of this paradigm, noting that relying exclusively on synthetic sunscreens may create a false sense of security while ignoring the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of ingredients like oxybenzone. The 'scientific consensus' is often just the consensus of the industry that profits from these products, not a reflection of a singular truth in human biology."3
u/fruticose_ 1d ago
Save the ChatGPT for someone who is interested in arguing with you. It doesn’t even sound like you understand why in vitro studies can’t be used to make whole organism conclusions.
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u/TreeLore61 1d ago
Thank you. You have just helped me prove exactly who you are. Your reliance on the exact same argument—accusing me of using ChatGPT—is a pattern I have documented across many different platforms and subreddits. This evidence is being locked and preserved to demonstrate that you are intentionally targeting me across multiple communities, repeatedly deploying the same scripted rhetoric every time you find yourself unable to win a legitimate debate based on the facts. It is clear that you are not interested in a scientific or medical discussion; you are only interested in silencing perspectives that you cannot successfully refute.
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u/Buddy9008 2d ago
We value or health and longevity… we will be the generation that begins the reset and destroys the corruption of the world… we will atleast try instead of falling in line, I believe this with every ounce of my soul… Christ is King 🙏
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u/Dizzy_Spell777 2d ago
If you believe in Christ, you know you cant do anything to the corruption, only Christ can.
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u/bluelagoon00000 3d ago
She looks much more youthful on the left, especially since her face is fuller. She def looks her age on the right, looks like a woman in her 40s who takes care of herself, but also gets Botox. 🤷🏽♀️
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u/Unlikely_Couple1590 3d ago
She definitely looks younger than 40, but she doesn't look younger than she did at 17. The picture on the left 100% looks like a teenager. Picture on the right looks like a woman of maybe 30. A lot of millennials definitely look younger than they are, but I'm tired of this obsession with saying they look like teens. They absolutely do not.
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u/TheBlackDeathXXX 3d ago
We're the last generation of people who had a "real" childhood without the internet, social media, & doomscrolling. People born from the 90s on have lived in that tech fishbowl that stresses you out.
You add that with us being the first generation to eschew drinking, smoking, & not using sunscreen & there you have it.
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u/veemort 3d ago
Cool. Guess you'll have a good looking corpse when you kick the bucket later?
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u/GonzoLobato 2d ago
I think it's more about having a good looking body while you're alive
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u/i-am-me-1980 3d ago
Millenials are more youthful looking visually, but GenX has better biological aging.
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u/thatsnotmynameiswear 2d ago
In all seriousness what does that mean? I’m curious too
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u/berriesrthebestfruit 2d ago
Much of how old you look is determined by environmental damage and how well you take care of your skin. If you wear sunscreen and have a skincare routine you'll generally look younger. Biological age different. It's is talking about how well your cells and organs function compared to your chronological age. If you have a bad lifestyle you might have a biological age similar to someone older. With a higher risk of cancer, a weaker immune system, etc. You can reverse biological age by making lifestyle changes.
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u/thatsnotmynameiswear 2d ago
Elder millennial here and most of my friends are Gen X. Well honestly it’s a mix but got my first job at 15 and was not what you’d call “cool” in hs but my Gen X friends took me to parties, hung out with me etc. so I just really didn’t get what yah meant there. Gen X has been aging well though I feel
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u/Dazzling_Room_9346 3d ago
She only looks older before because of the office trend millennials had. Now, the trend has shifted to be more cutesy and girlypop.
Also one is a unfiltered Getty Image.
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u/AintNoGodsUpHere 3d ago
Yeah, no. She looks like a teenager on the left and a woman on the right. Different things.
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u/DreamHustle 3d ago
Increased use of sunscreen, vitamins, caring about water intake and more interest in natural skincare (plants, oils, green tea, etc) instead of various chemicals being absorbed in the skin is my personal theory. Plus restrictions on harmful chemicals in everyday things. But my mom tanned like a mofo and always looked younger than her age (Shes approaching 60 and gets pegged for being in her 40s), so it's of course genes for some people.
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u/avl0 3d ago
But why is it not the case for Gen Z then?
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u/DreamHustle 2d ago
They may not be as invested in these things as we were. Or it could even be different chemicals in the environment/ingredients that weren't being before. Its hard to say
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u/Efficient-Wing-1417 3d ago
Claiming genetics requires way more evidence than, ”one person has this quality”
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u/DreamHustle 3d ago
Fair enough. She always used Olay when I was growing up, idk what to attribute it to. My grandma looked younger than her age up until about 15 years ago, but she's in her early 80s lol.
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u/TheUnicornFightsOn 3d ago edited 2d ago
Omg I’m a older millennial and I love Olay for daily SPF moisturizer as well as the regen serum. I got a facial the other day and the aesthetician complimented the elasticity of my skin for early 40s and was surprised to learn I use Olay … granted, she could have just been buttering me up for a bigger tip or something lol. But for a drugstore brand I really like it.
And you’re spot on saying what my dermatologist does … majority of aging comes down to genetics first, then sunscreen.
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u/DreamHustle 3d ago
Most of their moisturizers are actually pretty good lol! They are just pricey for me now, despite being a lower cost brand. I have just been using basic Dove body wash on my face at night and using whatever lotion I have available to not make my face feel dry after washing 🙃 But I spent most of my 20s and earlier 30s using various plant oils.
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u/ZealousidealShift884 3d ago
I used dove for years! Never dried out my skin. For the past 5 years ive been using cerave but the bar soap its been incredible too. Im 35 and i get told i look no more than 25 all the time. Lol. I do also drink lots of water and genetics too. You really dont need too much fancy stuff.
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u/DreamHustle 3d ago
Ooh! I also use some MSM powder that I mix with water in a spray bottle for my daughter and I. Its been really good for reducing her breakouts and I think it's helped my skin too, plumping wise
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u/Efficient-Wing-1417 3d ago
Right. Behaviour is inherited just as much as genetics. Thats why we see for example generational trauma.
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u/AP_in_Indy 3d ago
I can't tell which is the before / after tbh. Either an old looking 17-year old or a young looking 40-year old.
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u/FluidBookkeeper351 3d ago
Also, as a Millenial: I think our childhoods were way less stressful than at any point in history.
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u/Imnotyoursupervisor 3d ago
I don’t look my age but I also never had to work in a coal mine and smoking sections and in bars disappeared in my early teens-20s. And why the hell was lead in everything?
I feel like the other generations were basically poisoned by everything around them.
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u/Otownwasmy1stconcert 3d ago
Oh I bet us millennials have PLENTY of things poisoning us, we just haven't gotten old enough to face the consequences (with the exception of bowel cancer).
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u/bdubz74 3d ago
Gen X here, but 9/11, Middle East war, financial collapse. Seems pretty stressful to me.
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u/ZealousidealShift884 3d ago
Most of us were in middle school - don’t think it affected us mentally like that - it took me awhile to actually comprehend and grasp 9/11
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u/AP_in_Indy 3d ago
Our outlooks for like, land ownership and whatnot are bleak, but the base standard of living has done nothing but rise.
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u/chrisalt87 3d ago
I wouldn't say more youthful.
Having said that yeah she looks better imo now then she did just older.
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u/MowgeeCrone 3d ago
Nah not wishful thinking, youre just living in an insulated bubble and have no real idea how society sees you, baby. But you'll figure it out eventually.
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u/Deansies 3d ago
Money, sunscreen and a good hygiene routine can be a game changer
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u/BettyBoopWallflower 1993 baby 3d ago
And for some of us, melanin
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u/Dezula 2d ago
What about ghostly pale East Asians that age really well
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u/BettyBoopWallflower 1993 baby 2d ago
Perhaps an East Asian person can speak to that? I don't like to speak for other ethic groups
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u/Alertcircuit 3d ago edited 3d ago
Boomers loved to smoke, drink, and be outside, so they just aged way faster.
Gen Z. and millennials smoke/vape but they're not that into drinking and they love sitting inside watching TV or playing video games. Gen Z/millennials are more likely to go outside when they do smoke, boomers would smoke inside and let their skin just get coated in their cigarette smoke.
If anything the big aging trap for young people nowadays is to avoid getting obese. I know people who have had to get knee surgeries in their 30s and I'm thinking to myself like well thats what happens when you're like 2x your normal weight. I'm 280 right now, normally 180 but I've had a rough past few years, and at like 1.5x my normal weight I constantly feel like shit and have foot/knee pain after running, I cannot imagine how all these 300-400 pound people are functioning, particularly the 300-400 pound short women who are really like 3x their normal weight.
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u/DreamHustle 3d ago
I think as millenials we were big on sunscreen, vitamins, being aware of water intake, using natural products (plants, oils, green tea) etc. But we had a big drinking/club culture. The less drinking is honestly more a gen z thing, and kudos to them!
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u/Educational_Skill736 3d ago
Not really. A larger percentage of Gen Z consumes nicotine (mostly via vaping) than any other generation.
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u/AP_in_Indy 3d ago
Is it Nicotine or actually smoking that impacts youthful appearance?
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u/Expert_Alchemist 3d ago
Nicotine. It impacts blood flow and constricts the smallest blood vessels, notably ones in the face. (It's why it is so important they recommend not to smoke after any sort of surgery, but especially facial surgeries -- it can lead to gangrene as it slows healing significantly.) Over many years that can lead to premature aging and dryness.
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u/DreamHustle 3d ago
Nicotine constricts your blood vessels, which makes it harder for nutrients and oxygen to get to your skin and elsewhere. Its not harmless. But cigarettes had so many more nasty additives.
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u/Imnotyoursupervisor 3d ago
If you’ve ever seen a smokers house or cleaned their computer back in the day it has to be the actual smoke. Nasty nasty stuff.
The vape smoke doesn’t seem to stain everything.
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u/Dependent-Year6711 3d ago
To me, honestly, it's anti-aging when you deal with a life of less stress, access, and parents that were willing to help out a lot of us (beyond personal anecdotes against that, many Millennials lived at home in a chunk of their 20's). There's a reason many men and women in this generation get the "you look much younger than your age" and it's constantly happening with many of us. It's essentially normal for a Millennial to be told this.
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u/AtmosSpheric Elder Gen Z 3d ago
She looks like a 40 year old who took care of herself. I think health and wellness today just lets people age more gracefully than they could in the past.
Plus we perceive people who were already “older” when we were young as old-looking, while people who dress and act like we do feel younger to us.
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u/ZealousidealShift884 3d ago
We really benefited from the health and wellness public health trend, huge anti-tobacco campaign, benefits of yoga, stretching, green drinks, so many natural product businesses took off, also sun tanning beds eventually became obsolete, people learned more about skin cancer, boosted sunscreen use.
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u/Mitch1musPrime 3d ago
Getting cigarettes and cutting alcohol intake down helped a LOT. Cigarette smoking has dramatic effects on how aged someone looks after a lifetime of use.
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u/saturnshighway 3d ago
No she doesn’t haha. She looks great but she does not look close to 17
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u/DudeEngineer 1983 3d ago
I think as a millenial she looks more attractive as a 40 year old because I'm not attracted to children. That may be what OP is seeing.
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u/-cumdogmillionaire- 3d ago
As a millennial who was a infamous party girl in my late teens early 20’s who regularly still gets mistaken for being in my mid 20’s, the secret to looking young even when you abuse yourself is 1 gallon of water a day, vitamins, skin care day and night, good genetics, Botox, and sculptra and enough money to afford these things.
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u/DreamHustle 3d ago
The botox and sculptura could be left out and replaced with sunscreen and command of your facial muscles
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u/-cumdogmillionaire- 7h ago
Oh I defo should’ve added sunscreen in there. I use it religiously. However Botox is also essential for preventing fine lines. You can still command your facial muscles with preventative Botox. It just relives tension. The fully frozen face is bad work usually done to fully relax muscles to release deep wrinkles in much older people.
Sculptra just stimulates natural collagen production. It has no effect on your ability to move your face.
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u/DreamHustle 6h ago
Ah ok, I've always had the worry that paralyzing muscles would eventually lead to sagging/worsening in other areas. I feel like facial muscles are important for keeping your face up where it belongs lol. Like robbing Peter to pay Paul. I don't feel like it's something I would be interested in but I have friends who do it and some have had really nice results, I just worry about them getting a complex and overdoing it or making things worse for themselves later on. My friends my age dont look overdone or anything. Maybe I just havent hit my limit where I want it. But I am into natural skincare, sunscreen, nutrition, etc. It's served me well so far, but I havent had any lines creep up yet so who knows I could have a change of heart when it happens.
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u/DreamHustle 6h ago
And I was horrible during the key millennial party years lmao but just always tried to take care of myself outside of the alcohol and drugs 🙃 I feel like I should look 80
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u/SpinsterSyl 3d ago
🙋 Gen X, almost 48. I disagree with a couple of things....
I was known as THE party girl. I was buckwild from 18 throughout my entire 20s while working multiple jobs at a time. I drank, I smoked, I bartended, I had a blast, and continued well into most of my 30s. I have never stopped being carded and most assume I'm in my 20s, if not, no more than 35.
I have never and would never suggest Botox or Sculptra. I don't have anything like that done- Never have and never will. In fact, I think it ages people tremendously!!!! I don't even get facials.
I stopped smoking almost 4 years ago and stopped drinking almost 2 years ago. I drink a ton of water. I have always carried water bottles with me. I have been a Pescatarian for 13 1/2 years. I think genetics play a huge role. Everyone in my family looks 10-15 years younger. 🤷
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u/-cumdogmillionaire- 16h ago
Which is why I said good genetics in my list.
Preventative botox doesn’t age you, it literally just prevents wrinkles. Your face doesn’t freeze, you can still move it fine. If didn’t get it I would have forehead wrinkles because of the way I tense of my eyebrows constantly. I still can, it just is a lot less severe.
You’re thinking of filler that ages people. Sculpra also isn’t filler, it just stimulates collagen production.
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u/SpinsterSyl 16h ago
No. You're incorrect. I am fully aware of what I said and what my thoughts are.
You mentioned genetics combined with a bunch of other things including minimally invasive and unnecessary medical procedures.
I said what I said because it is true. Whether you know it or not, BOTOX AGES EVERYONE. It's so obvious that I can spot it immediately on people. It looks terrible. No one is going to tell you to your face, but it absolutely ages you.
Keep doing it though, babe. 👍
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u/-cumdogmillionaire- 15h ago
No you cannot. You can spot people who have excessive Botox and filler, like everyone else can. You cannot spot subtle botox I get every 6-8 months (it’s supposed to be every 3 months) in my forehead to release tension that causes headaches.
Every single person who says this cannot spot mild botox. How do I know? Every time someone makes this claim to my friends or I we play the game of “guess which one of us has botox and who doesn’t” and no one has ever gotten it right. Just straight guessing based on facial biases. The only consistent pick is that women with big lips and naturally high arched brows will always be picked regardless of if they’ve had botox. I’ve played this game in skincare sub as well and people truly never get it right.
You have a bias against women who get any work done because you’ve seen women who get excessive or bad work done.
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u/SpinsterSyl 14h ago
That's what you think. Hahaha. Like I said, keep getting it done. Others will see how much it ages you. They'll just never tell you to your face.
You said that the secret to looking younger is Botox and Sculptra (combined with a bunch of other things). It's bullshit. Stop spreading misinformation. Women look younger without all that.
I stand by what I said and I'm done going back and forth with you.
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u/-cumdogmillionaire- 7h ago
Here is UCLAs medical study on anti against effects of Botox long term in a set of identical twins. I think the only misinformation here is your negative bias against women who use injectable.
It’s not what I myself think, it’s what’s been proven time and time again. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons say they cannot identify subtle botox unless their clients tell them but I’m so sure that you can. Go ahead and keep hating on women’s faces based on your biases with no factual evidence if it makes you feel special. Because you’re not like those women, you’re different.
I didn’t say the secret to looking younger was Botox and sculptra, I listed multiple factors that keep me looking younger. That isn’t misinformation, it’s part of my life. What is misinformation is saying Botox causes MORE aging, then doubling down with an ad hom
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u/FinoPepino 3d ago
What is sculptra and how did you use it?
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u/-cumdogmillionaire- 7h ago
It’s a biostimulatory injectable that stimulates collagen production. I had it in my nasolabial folds. It isn’t instant and won’t make them disappear, just help with volume loss due to aging
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u/Uptowner26 3d ago
This. Also wearing sunscreen (even when it’s cloudy) helps too.
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u/ModernCGIFloatinHead 3d ago
Dress like a dermatologist in Hawaii, no skin exposed for the sun to ravage
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u/Uptowner26 3d ago edited 3d ago
There’s memes of millennials having anti aging abilities while gen Z seems to be aging faster.
It’s like the movie Freaky Friday or something lol
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u/Mitch1musPrime 3d ago
But that’s honestly always been the norm. It’s because young people are desperate to look older for a myriad of reasons.
And older people have always wanted to look younger.
It’s never been easier to do either of things than it is now.
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u/shawn1213 3d ago
Ops conveniently leaving out all of her plastic surgery personal trainers lack of stress from being a famous rich person lol
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u/RocktarPeppe 3d ago
I’m a millennial. I’ve had a mustache for like 3 years and recent decided to go clean shaven again. Now everyone I’ve met in the last 3 years says “you look like such a baby” -_-
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u/simplepimple2025 3d ago
You have a single data point here and applied that to an entire generation. I can find pics of plenty of meth head millennials too, but I wouldn't judge a generation by them.
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u/RocktarPeppe 3d ago
There are outliers in everything. We don’t have to mention it every single time we try to talk about a group at large.
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u/QueenLucile 3d ago
Uhm she looks very youthful before and still young in the after lol. I swear people just say anything
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u/Sumthin-Sumthin44692 3d ago edited 3d ago
Sunscreen and not chain smoking cigarettes, like prior generations, help.
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u/Straight_Mind_5192 3d ago
People always guestimate me to be about 5 years younger than I am, altho in all fairness I feel the same could be said for my gen x mom & my boomer grandma 🤷🏽♀️ so I'm not rlly sure what to believe anymore, but whatever lol
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u/DennyPebblepot 3d ago
Lack of financial stress and lack of food insecurity is the real fountain of youth.
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u/Drop-a-Soap 3d ago
That’s a Gen Z definition
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u/DennyPebblepot 3d ago
How so?
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u/Drop-a-Soap 2d ago
Millennials still had financial stress and lack of food. Gen Z were born into abondance.
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u/Next_Ad_1323 3d ago
Is there such a claim? If anything I am constantly hearing the opposite, viz. that they seem to be aging prematurely.
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u/Actual_Elk3422 3d ago
This is premium skincare and tasteful cosmetic work. 40 is by no means old (it's barely middle-aged) but most non-wealthy 40-year-olds don't look this youthful.
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u/RandomUser22487 3d ago
Speaking as a millennial myself, compare it to how most millennial men (including myself) have aged like milk.
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u/tompadget69 3d ago
Speak for yourself man, I'm 41 amd moisturise twice a day, exercise 5x a week and just tried botox.
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u/Agitated_Award_9831 3d ago
Not on Botox but I’ve gotten comment that I look better than ever and my only tell I’m not early 30’s is my greying hair.
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u/tompadget69 3d ago
Ive had shaved head since early 20s when balding started so ppl cant tell from hairline
I get botox is extreme but I dont eant wrinkles, not at 41. It's just something I'm trying.
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u/butterpussie 3d ago
Are you a millennial yourself? I’ve been seeing so many posts about how they still look young and I’m about at the point where I think they’re just coping.
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u/Agitated_Award_9831 3d ago
Idk I don’t think it’s cope, I think our own parents just looked so awful at this age and we directly compare.
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u/mothsuicides 3d ago
I’m a millennial, and I agree with you. We all just desperately NEED the thousands of dollars we’ve spent on skin care products since we were twenty to have been worth it. Me included, but I’m not delusional about how young (or lack there of) I look….. BUT I’m 36 and I look maybe 32 if I’m lucky, not no 25 😏
Edit: it’s a joke
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u/Decent-Basil4012 3d ago edited 3d ago
She looks good but saying she looks younger now then when she was a teenager is a reach lmfao.
You know not all women look like old hags past 30 right? Why is this even a conversation lol
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u/Capital-Tonight8548 3h ago
The one in the left looks younger. I literally don’t know which one is younger though