How to look older?

2

Replies

  • Serenstar75
    Serenstar75 Posts: 258 Member
    Other than the tips someone gave, enjoy it. I looked 13 when I was 19 and had a daughter, all that. People thought she was my mom's kid. I'm 37 now and still told I look in my early 20s. I'd take that over the opposite ANY day.
  • charelg
    charelg Posts: 599 Member
    Maybe if you had a pic we could give you tips
  • grrrlface
    grrrlface Posts: 1,204 Member
    I'm 23 this week and still get mistaken for being under 18 despite heavy tattoo coverage on my upper body... So even they don't help! xD
  • Dan112358
    Dan112358 Posts: 525 Member
    Poor you. My condolences.

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vN2WzQzxuoA
  • AimersBee
    AimersBee Posts: 775 Member
    You should get a really old boyfriend. Could help LOL.

    creeper hahaha
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    Find other things to worry about, then you won't care so much about how young you look.
  • DMZ_1
    DMZ_1 Posts: 2,889 Member
    1. Post a pic.
    2. Relax, enjoy being 19! It should be a worry free time.
  • AmberJo1984
    AmberJo1984 Posts: 1,067 Member
    I wouldn't be complaining. Looking younger than you are will come in handy when you are actually older.
  • algebravoodoo
    algebravoodoo Posts: 776 Member
    Yeah, okay, sorry, guys, I get it that when I'm old and grey, I'll appreciate looking young...

    It's just I don't find it particularly cool to look 12 when I'm actually an adult.

    So... Would make-up work? A more sophisticated hairstyle? Losing weight in my face?

    I actually understand what you mean... it is a curse for the moment but you will appreciate it when you are almost 50 and everyone thinks your eldest (30yo) daughter is your sister :)

    Demeanor has a lot to do with age perception. There are great make-up tips posted here as well, but I'd say ACT older. Hard to define since I don't know if you are a giggler or what, but take a look at how you carry yourself, little things you do. Combined with the outer appearance, this ought to make a difference.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Break up with him.
  • JenniBaby85
    JenniBaby85 Posts: 855 Member
    Ah, the cares of youth.

    Yet, somehow, I understand how you feel. When I was 22, people thought I was 18. I only just started looking my age when the kids came :tongue:.
  • SarahCW1979
    SarahCW1979 Posts: 572 Member
    I wouldnt worry about it too much, Im 33 and still get carded for booze :ohwell:
    It'll be a blessing when we hit our 40's!!!
  • Goal_Driven
    Goal_Driven Posts: 371 Member
    make up and hair can do wonders! also, the way you dress.. mature your look and you'll look your age.
  • Chinadorian
    Chinadorian Posts: 200 Member
    what kind of clothes do you wear, how do you wear your hair, what group of people do you hang out with, just some questions to consider...if you dress young, people will assume you are young. I have a VERY young looking face, and I have monster long brown hair. If I do any of these things-wear a braid in my hair, converse tennis shoes, high pony tail, no makeup, etc the list goes on- Im taken for a high schooler not an almost 30 year old professional lol...just dress a little older ! :) good luck.

    and ps, its not such a bad thing, i love getting carded!
  • stephdeeable
    stephdeeable Posts: 1,407 Member
    I know I look older, or more my age, when I have short hair rather than long.
  • alias1001
    alias1001 Posts: 634 Member
    I'm near thirty and still look like a young teenager.

    People will always think you're young, even with clothes/makeup/shoes.

    If you're looking to be treated as an adult, the point is when you speak sound like an adult. I find that the initial impression of youth dies quickly.
  • tommygirl15
    tommygirl15 Posts: 1,012 Member
    if anyone can tell me how to look 19, I'd appreciate it too.

    ^ the winning answer
  • Aviva92
    Aviva92 Posts: 2,333 Member
    I wouldnt worry about it too much, Im 33 and still get carded for booze :ohwell:
    It'll be a blessing when we hit our 40's!!!

    i'm pretty sure that everyone gets carded for booze. i don't take that as looking young.
  • Bahet
    Bahet Posts: 1,254 Member
    I wouldnt worry about it too much, Im 33 and still get carded for booze :ohwell:
    It'll be a blessing when we hit our 40's!!!

    i'm pretty sure that everyone gets carded for booze. i don't take that as looking young.
    I think if you are OBVIOUSLY over 21 you don't get carded. I'm 43 and haven't been carded in about 6 years (I am the one who was carded for cigarettes on my 32nd birthday.) Looking young is a great thing for the most part but even at 43 it still causes me some problems. I was 27 when my first son was born. I was college educated, married for 4 years, a homeowner, financially stable, etc. We did it all the right way. My son is 15 now but as he's also about 6'1" tall and has a deep voice people think he's older than he is. I still look younger than my age. When people see us on first impression I can often tell that they are doing the math in their heads and assuming that I was a teenager when he was born. One person later even confessed that at first sight they thought I might have been around 14 when he was born! :noway:
  • gingerveg
    gingerveg Posts: 748 Member
    I do understand how you feel. Wish I had advice, but I don't. This was how it always was for me. It still is and I still get carded (I'm 34), but I like it now. When I was 24 I was purchasing groceries in the store and the sales clerk was very concerned and he asked me how I got a bank card, turned out he thought I was 12, the bagger tried to stand up for me and said he could see that I was 16...lol. When I was pregnant at 26, people were always giving me teenage pregnancy lectures and people would shout "Babies having babies" at me...lol.
    Omg wow how horrible!
  • gingerveg
    gingerveg Posts: 748 Member
    I do understand how you feel. Wish I had advice, but I don't. This was how it always was for me. It still is and I still get carded (I'm 34), but I like it now. When I was 24 I was purchasing groceries in the store and the sales clerk was very concerned and he asked me how I got a bank card, turned out he thought I was 12, the bagger tried to stand up for me and said he could see that I was 16...lol. When I was pregnant at 26, people were always giving me teenage pregnancy lectures and people would shout "Babies having babies" at me...lol.
    Omg wow how horrible!

    OP, this used to happen to me when I was younger too. The only time it became a problem was when I had a city government job and I had to stop in people's homes. After I had been at the job a while I just expected I would hear something like this "how can you possibly be with the city xxx office, let me see your badge again?" and "You look about 16 are you sure you are qualified for this job?" Interestingly, they never said that to my co-worker a gentleman (younger than me) who was doing the same job. So maybe there was a little sexism there but yeah definitely the fact that I looked younger was a problem. Since I heard this constantly I had an opportunity to practice how to react to this statement numerous times. I finally learned the best response. So instead of explaining my age, my qualifications, etc. I would just say thank you, show them my badge again and move on with business. That job made me realize several things that ended up becoming immensely valuable in my life:

    1. You are not obligated to answer people's questions at all, but if you feel inclined less is always more
    2. If people engage you in conversation you have the right to control where it goes. The way to do this is by being assertive (something every young women needs to master)
    3. Realizing it is sometimes best to just let things go. Being called 18 when I was 25 was actually not the worst thing that could happen. I have known people who have been mistaken for way older than they actually were--I think that is worse.
    4. You can't control what people initially think about you but you can change your body language and the words you use so that their lasting impression is that you are a competent adult.

    So start using your more sophisticated vocabulary words. Work on your communication skills (pubic speaking, body language, sentence structure etc) so that you sound highly educated (most teenagers don't have this). In business, a neutral face is best (rather than an overly smiling or overly giggling one). Walk upright and with purpose. Wear well fitting clothes that reflect what you want to achieve not who you want to shag.

    But with all that said, what will help you keep looking younger in your older age is flexibility and laughter so don't lose those two things because you were so focussed on the above.

    Good luck darling!
  • nphect
    nphect Posts: 474
    if anyone can tell me how to look 19, I'd appreciate it too.

    yea keep doing whatever it is your doing. DAYUM
  • MrsWilsoncroft
    MrsWilsoncroft Posts: 968 Member
    Enjoy looking youthful while you can :) x
  • oregonzoo
    oregonzoo Posts: 4,251 Member
    Enjoy looking young. It's a good thing.

    When I was your age, it was annoying as well. But now, at 33 it's freaking awesome to be told I look younger.
  • Lift_This_
    Lift_This_ Posts: 2,756 Member
    smoke and eat ****ty food.
  • ILoveFroggies
    ILoveFroggies Posts: 120 Member
    Poor you. My condolences.

    http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vN2WzQzxuoA

    Wow. Far out. There's really no need to respond like this. I'm not feeling sorry for myself or wallowing in misery or anything like that in the slightest. I'm merely stating a potential area for improvement and asking around for ways of going about that.
  • ILoveFroggies
    ILoveFroggies Posts: 120 Member
    Break up with him.

    Break up with who?!
  • ILoveFroggies
    ILoveFroggies Posts: 120 Member
    Aww, thank you so much for the advice! Much appreciated!
    I do understand how you feel. Wish I had advice, but I don't. This was how it always was for me. It still is and I still get carded (I'm 34), but I like it now. When I was 24 I was purchasing groceries in the store and the sales clerk was very concerned and he asked me how I got a bank card, turned out he thought I was 12, the bagger tried to stand up for me and said he could see that I was 16...lol. When I was pregnant at 26, people were always giving me teenage pregnancy lectures and people would shout "Babies having babies" at me...lol.
    Omg wow how horrible!

    OP, this used to happen to me when I was younger too. The only time it became a problem was when I had a city government job and I had to stop in people's homes. After I had been at the job a while I just expected I would hear something like this "how can you possibly be with the city xxx office, let me see your badge again?" and "You look about 16 are you sure you are qualified for this job?" Interestingly, they never said that to my co-worker a gentleman (younger than me) who was doing the same job. So maybe there was a little sexism there but yeah definitely the fact that I looked younger was a problem. Since I heard this constantly I had an opportunity to practice how to react to this statement numerous times. I finally learned the best response. So instead of explaining my age, my qualifications, etc. I would just say thank you, show them my badge again and move on with business. That job made me realize several things that ended up becoming immensely valuable in my life:

    1. You are not obligated to answer people's questions at all, but if you feel inclined less is always more
    2. If people engage you in conversation you have the right to control where it goes. The way to do this is by being assertive (something every young women needs to master)
    3. Realizing it is sometimes best to just let things go. Being called 18 when I was 25 was actually not the worst thing that could happen. I have known people who have been mistaken for way older than they actually were--I think that is worse.
    4. You can't control what people initially think about you but you can change your body language and the words you use so that their lasting impression is that you are a competent adult.

    So start using your more sophisticated vocabulary words. Work on your communication skills (pubic speaking, body language, sentence structure etc) so that you sound highly educated (most teenagers don't have this). In business, a neutral face is best (rather than an overly smiling or overly giggling one). Walk upright and with purpose. Wear well fitting clothes that reflect what you want to achieve not who you want to shag.

    But with all that said, what will help you keep looking younger in your older age is flexibility and laughter so don't lose those two things because you were so focussed on the above.

    Good luck darling!
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    What? You are f'ing nuts. I'm 26 and people still think I look under 18. I always say THANK YOU. Be grateful.

    Okay, may I reiterate... I understand that when I'm old, being told I look 12 may be a compliment. At the moment, however, I would rather look my age, which is 19... There's no need to make suggestions along the lines of smoking cigarettes, etc... I don't want to look 50, only 19.

    I'm a medical student, undertaking clinical placements, which is why it's not favourable for me to resemble a young child, that's all.
    Lab Coat, Garter and Stockings, thick rimmed glasses and not very much else. Problem solved.
  • ILoveFroggies
    ILoveFroggies Posts: 120 Member
    Thank you for the reply! Very helpful! :):) I have a baby face, which I can't change, but I'll work on the clothes, make up, etc!
    what kind of clothes do you wear, how do you wear your hair, what group of people do you hang out with, just some questions to consider...if you dress young, people will assume you are young. I have a VERY young looking face, and I have monster long brown hair. If I do any of these things-wear a braid in my hair, converse tennis shoes, high pony tail, no makeup, etc the list goes on- Im taken for a high schooler not an almost 30 year old professional lol...just dress a little older ! :) good luck.

    and ps, its not such a bad thing, i love getting carded!

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