Looking at self in mirror & forgetting as one ages?

A narcissistic question :rolleyes:

Maybe it's semi-denial of not wanting to examine too closely the effects of aging:

But honest, in the past decade I spend less and less time, looking at myself in the mirror. One of the reasons is probably because I rarely wear any make-up anymore. Yup, I don' wear make-up at work. I work with women and men equally daily.

Whereas 20 years ago I took way more care in my clothing and wearing some make-up several times per month. But then, I worked in more formal biz attire organizations.

Is it something to do with age or is it me?

As a result, then I suddenly notice...oops, oh another white hair strand or 2. :)

I don't really see myself in the mirror either.

I still look at myself in the mirror a lot b/c I have to put on sunscreen daily living where I do. I wear makeup only on the rare occasions when we go out in the evening, and much less than I wore when I was younger. It's just not appropriate living in the tropics.

My problem with mirrors is that when I look now I am astonished to see this 50-year old looking back at me. I still feel a lot younger and sometimes my reflection catches me by surprise! :eek:

Unfortunately I find myself looking in the lighted, magnified, make-up mirror everyday. I have dark, stray hairs showing up everywhere!

I still see a young me in the mirror, however photographs can really shock me!

Smitty

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

My problem with mirrors is that when I look now I am astonished to see this 50-year old looking back at me. I still feel a lot younger and sometimes my reflection catches me by surprise! :eek:

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Yep, that sounds very familiar. :rolleyes:

I think when it takes me by surprise the most is catching my reflection out in public. Like a store front window, or randomly placed mirror.

It seems that lighting in the store is also the worst. The natural light in my little car vanity mirror is a bit softer to look at:o.

edit add: I think on the make-up our skin is different. What works before doesn't so well now. Meaning, powders and dramatic colors just seem to draw attention to the lines. I still wear make-up. Just creamier, softer, more natural matching palettes.

The bathroom at my job has the most horrible mirrors - lighting is awful and you can see every flaw. I can't help but look up at my reflection when I'm washing my hands and then, when I catch sight of myself, I'm always sorry I looked up!

I can't really see fine detail unless the light is just right. It's nice to be ignorant of gray hairs and acne scars but a little annoying when I want to pluck my eyebrows (one of them is almost impossible to see individual hairs) or if I have to wear makeup (rare). So I don't pay much attention to my face in the mirror. I do usually check how my clothes look and double-check my cowlick if my hair is pulled up or back.

The only thing about my appearance that really surprises me is how big my hair can get if I run with it down :) We took a group photo after the run this morning - YIKES! Now I remember why I prefer it shorter!

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Originally Posted by jessmarimba

The only thing about my appearance that really surprises me is how big my hair can get if I run with it down :) We took a group photo after the run this morning - YIKES! Now I remember why I prefer it shorter!

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Running cap.

My short, curly hair gets HUGE if I run without a cap. I wear Halo sweatband under it as well since I sweat a LOT on my face.

My hair quit being so frizzy when I switched to washing it with baking soda & vinegar, and only every few days.

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Originally Posted by Miranda

I think when it takes me by surprise the most is catching my reflection out in public. Like a store front window, or randomly placed mirror.

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Oh boy, this is true for me too. My bathroom lighting is flattering, so when I go out and catch my reflection :eek:.

Does anyone remember the tv show Soap? Katherine Helmond played Jessica Tate, the older woman with the red hair - I always remember a scene where she was explaining the importance of, as you age, keeping your head leaning back. She explained that, because your shin was getting loose, if you leaned forward, all your skin would fall forward and you would look old and wrinkly; but, if you leaned back, all you skin would fall back and the wrinkles would flatten out & you would look younger.
As she was explaining this, she held her head almost upside down over the man she was talking to, then flipped around so her head was almost laying in his lap looking up at him, and said See? I look younger! :p

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Running cap.

My short, curly hair gets HUGE if I run without a cap. I wear Halo sweatband under it as well since I sweat a LOT on my face.

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I think a ponytail holder would probably be a better solution for me :)

One thing for certain, I can't spend much time at all beyond brushing my teeth, brushing my hair, apply moisturizer or sun block (sometimes I can't seem to get my sequence right) before jumping onto the bike.

I take a shower after work. I don't take a shower before I leave home for work.

That's when if I get around to it, might look at myself more closely. (Usually though I want to prepare supper, talk to my partner or do something on the computer afterwards.) Early morning is just too rushed in pulling all my stuff/act together to get out the door, onto bike for work.

Yes despite moisturizer, makeup can accentuate creases, etc. Oh well, at least I'm not having a heart attack at my age ...yet.

I think the dressing room mirrors in department stores are rigged to make me depressed so I'll utilize retail therapy to recover. I shouldn't have any muffin top at all as hard as I work out. Either that or all the pants are made wrong. Also the silver hairs and facial wrinkles are surprising. But I have to say I wouldn't trade the wisdom that comes with them for anything in the world.

Heh - talk about a mirror shock. I do see myself every morning, and then I really rarely look most of the day until I'm getting ready for bed. I think that's mostly because as my eyesight degrades, I can't really see details anyway so I don't bother with any more than a glance to make sure my hair is reasonably in place or that I haven't tucked my skirt into my tights....

Two days ago, I got my new glasses. Holy cow, I'm amazed at how much I was missing! Not just in the mirror, but everywhere. Anyway, now a glance in the mirror shows way more wrinkles and flaws. Ouch! ;) At least I look cute in my glasses, so I can focus on that and not all the flaws that were so softly muted by my failing eyesight!

Hmmm, maybe that's intentional? Mother nature takes away our ability to see clearly at the same time that she starts aging us so that we don't get too worked up over it? :p

I love this thread. I have decided to attempt to let my hair go gray, not so easy as now, to avoid the skunk stripe, my stylist weaves my more natural color in at every cut instead of doing an all over color. Has been ten weeks and I am very undecided.
Depending on the mirror and the light there are days I think I should just wear a hat :)

I don't need a mirror to see age changing my body :( but I hate looking at how my skin's changing, and most of all the texture of my hair. I would look at pictures from even 5 years ago and I see a huge difference. It's all frizzy and dry looking now.

And I take objection to the fact I'm fighting pimples and wrinkles at the same time; that's just wrong!

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Originally Posted by badger

And I take objection to the fact I'm fighting pimples and wrinkles at the same time; that's just wrong!

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I hear you! Me too. :mad:

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Originally Posted by badger

I don't need a mirror to see age changing my body :( but I hate looking at how my skin's changing, and most of all the texture of my hair. I would look at pictures from even 5 years ago and I see a huge difference. It's all frizzy and dry looking now.

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Yep, I went from smooth and lightly wavy to CURLY with a strong tendency to frizz. Not fair t'all! :mad:

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

Two days ago, I got my new glasses. Holy cow, I'm amazed at how much I was missing! Not just in the mirror, but everywhere. Anyway, now a glance in the mirror shows way more wrinkles and flaws. Ouch! ;)

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Ha - that reminds me of what my mother said after she had cataract surgery - everything was so clear, but she was shocked at the old lady looking back at her in the mirror.

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Originally Posted by Sky King

the skunk stripe,

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Can someone explain what the "skunk stripe" is? I saw it mentioned in this group before, but never heard it anywhere else.

This:

https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/im...Vy53S4Nk2RKTaQ

I gotta jump in on this one. This fall I was at a bridal shower for my 25 yr. old niece. I looked up and saw this old woman among a bunch of 20 something’s...I was the old woman....talk about reality hitting one in the face. I am 57 and in my head I am still 28, well maybe 38 but in no way do I think of or feel 57.

Deany

The woman in the photo can wear her natural skunk well... her eyes look bright and energetic. She has good natural facial bone structure that will carry age well into the decades ahead.

**Anyway... what bothers me more: is that I simply look more tired. That probably jumps out the most in recent photos of self. Alot has happened in the past 2 yrs. And more to come.

However......I tell myself my aging is very different than my mother at the same age, who had 6 children. So really, I can't spend too much energy on what aged me in a way that surprises myself alot.

While yes, I have more freckles, etc. white hair strands creeping in, etc. because of cycling alot..despite sunblock, aging has solved/helped:

*just less shaving of leg hair, pits. I'm getting more hairless naturally in those areas. It's genetic tendency from mother

*my skin has become drier, less oily and very rare I get pimples. I had bad case of acne as a teen to a point where I did take oral and topic prescription drugs under dermatologist care.

*my hair texture isn't as a oily ...as when I was a teen.

*so far, no frizzier hair. My hair actually has abit more body and natural hold...because I live in a drier air climate now /combined with the natural aging.

And other things both good and not so good with aging in term of physical features.

The only way for me to counteract with "looking" tired (short of botox which I have zero interest of acqiring stiff facial areas)...is that more than ever it's quite important that I do some daily activities I really enjoy now, that I am with people are also curious, learning, creative and care about others. ***********But I can't see the good stuff happening around me and enjoy it, if I spend too much time in front of the mirror looking and trying to fix every imperfect pore, white hair strand.

In response to aging: Every day is gift.

Gosh, this thread has received over 400 views. :eek::rolleyes:

The only thing I hate when I look in the mirror is my laugh lines. I've had them for a long time, both parents have (had) them, and I seriously want to do a dermal filler. I barely have any gray hair; it's probably only visible to me when I look closely. But, I have no intention of going gray. I already color my hair... I had enough trouble not being a blonde anymore! Sure, I have some lines around my eyes and my skin still breaks out, but other than that, the only thing I would change about myself is my hair. I wish it were straight, silky, and I wasn't a head sweater. The reason I have it short is to not have to deal with it when riding. I had it permed for like 15 years to deal with it, and when I stopped that, I cut it short. But, this has nothing to do with being older. I've had ugly, frizzy, bendy, twisty hair since I was about 12. I am good with paying a lot of $ to keep it styled and trimmed so it looks stylish, yet functional, as I have no tolerance or ability to use styling implements.
I have pretty good genes on both sides of my family. But, being active is my insurance that I will keep looking younger than I am. I was thinking about this as I trudged my azz up a black diamond nordi ski trail yesterday. If I can do this at age 58, then I feel pretty good that I am doing the best I can to stay young.
I wear make up. Again, this is not age related; I've worn make up since I was 13 or 14. My mom wore make up and so did both of my grandmothers. Both of my daughter in laws wear make up, and they are young (25 and 32). Somehow, makeup seems to be associated with caring too much about one's self. I don't know, I've always enjoyed fashion, make up, etc and being older or athletic hasn't changed the way I feel. Well, except now I spend more on my riding and other athletic apparel than regular clothes :).

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

I still look at myself in the mirror a lot b/c I have to put on sunscreen daily living where I do. I wear makeup only on the rare occasions when we go out in the evening, and much less than I wore when I was younger. It's just not appropriate living in the tropics.

My problem with mirrors is that when I look now I am astonished to see this 50-year old looking back at me. I still feel a lot younger and sometimes my reflection catches me by surprise! :eek:

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You live in an awful place too!

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Originally Posted by badger

I don't need a mirror to see age changing my body :( but I hate looking at how my skin's changing, and most of all the texture of my hair. I would look at pictures from even 5 years ago and I see a huge difference. It's all frizzy and dry looking now.

And I take objection to the fact I'm fighting pimples and wrinkles at the same time; that's just wrong!

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You,me, two pea's in a pod! Learn to love non frizz product is all I can say on the hair thing. But zits and wrinkles not a clue. Just went through an outbreak last week.

You know, I realized I'm experiencing this from a completely opposite direction.

I don't wear makeup, but I do wear contact lenses, so I get a good close look at my face every morning. I'm used to it. I'm fine with it.

But my friend the race editor, often when he's sorting through old photos of an event, he'll find a snapshot of me that he took, and email it to me. It makes me wistful and a little sad to see how young and pretty I used to be.

But it only takes me about five minutes to get over it. :p