Fear of aging has women in their 20s stressing about wrinkles

sublimemongrel · 2019-02-05T18:14:10+00:00

I don’t get what the paradox is. Being pro feminist doesn’t mean you have to want to look old or ugly or manly or whatever. I use skin products and one day want to start doing Botox as a preventative measure if I can ever afford it lol. I still want to look pretty and like a girl.

planejane · 2019-02-05T18:06:38+00:00

Does this support the TRP concept of "the wall?"

As in, women age? Who woulda thought.

I don't think the age is as significant to the idea of "The Wall" as it is that we have a zillion different kinds of media and Instagram that show rich 22yos with no job as the ideals for our presentation (and by this I mean not just appearance). Everyone (especially women) wants to be and look that age forever, more than they wanted to 20 or 30y ago both because they're beautiful and because there's often no responsibilities in that environment.

There's also the idea that our generation has gravitated to more age-preventative and health-conscious choices in general. It's not that weird to know 20-something-yos that mealplan or eat organic or keep a steady gym routine or fret about sedentary lifestyles much more than I ever recall hearing older folks do.

Millennials in general watch their drinking, smoking, carbohydrates, fats, reps, hormones, the chemicals that go into their makeup and plastic drinking bottles, etc. We're positively obsessed with our bodies. I think it's much more related to that than the idea that a woman is dried out by the time she reaches 27.

SmurfESmurferson · 2019-02-05T18:12:43+00:00

This is my industry - the survey is very true. Anti-aging products are being sold to a younger demographic more frequently than ever before

Interestingly, sales of sensitive skin products have shot through the roof, too. I guess everyone wants to claim they’re sensitive, when only about 2% of the population is

Personally, I’ve been using anti-aging products since I got into the industry (around age 21 or 22) - I had a few highly regarded dermatologists tell me that it’s one of the best ways to fend off fine lines and wrinkles later in life ... Along with using SPF every day (I’m infamous in my friend group for being a sunscreen addict)

I’m 38, and get frequent compliments on my skin. Was it bc of my decades-long skin care addiction? Who knows, could just be genes. But I’m happy I did it anyhow

petrichordium · 2019-02-05T18:11:54+00:00

We are all a bunch of increasingly vain people who conflate exterior surfaces with “wellness”. It’s a macro trend that has more to do with genderless society of the spectacle shit than specifically women.

Yes: Women are more prone to this (as they should be given men’s predilections for neoteny and the image arms race on social media). So I’ll give you one point for The Wall.

On the other hand, men are starting to care about this a lot more as well. I recently got back with my old high school friend Retin-A, but for preventative skincare rather than pimples. I know a vain little twink like me is a bad example, but I know PLENTY of women who are always encouraging their boyfriends to apply sunscreen so they don’t look like busted out leather goods by the time they hit 40. (Some women might want a walking wallet, but only figuratively).

For instance: men’s skincare is the fastest growing avenue of men’s grooming. (I’ll spare you the statistical pain of noting that a smaller population of existing users (men) have higher growth rates than the larger stabilized population).

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriacheng/2018/06/15/the-gift-your-dad-really-wants-this-fathers-day-anti-aging-cream/#55b73c0c33ba

So that’s at least one point deducted from the wall. Basically, as women’s SOCIAL autonomy increases, they get to be more shallow about their mates. (Surely you won’t disagree). The result is now men also have to worry about not letting themselves go.

[deleted] · 2019-02-05T18:36:00+00:00

Does this support the TRP concept of "the wall?"

More like the whole perspective about market forces in the TRP. As in its views, women are heavily interested in power, wealth and status. To achieve those, the easiest way is to get it from men. So losing attractiveness to men can be a great loss for them. Whatabout it?

What do you think are the factors that influence this paradox?

Just people wanting the best outcome for themselves, the rule of the least effort and plain old market forces. If I was a woman I would be worried about wrinkles too. If my beauty gave me that much power, status and resources, Why would I want to lose my biggest source of these things to time?

This is equivalent to how some men are going so far to achieve things which attract women, to the point of even some getting to the stupidity side of things, and risking their lives. If they receive sex by this behavior, why would he even want to leave it? This turns what we see, the paradox of some men dying stupid deaths like taking too much steroids just for sex.

damaskrose · 2019-02-05T19:00:11+00:00

People SHOULD start using anti-aging products at 26 if not earlier. It's much easier to prevent wrinkles than get rid of them once they happen.

reluctantly_red · 2019-02-05T20:17:58+00:00

Not really about The Wall its about social media society. Image is almost everything today. This is increasingly true for both genders hence the huge increase in guys having cosmetic surgery.

321PK · 2019-02-05T18:13:57+00:00

women have, in many respects, increased their desire to fulfill a female gender role - especially one of beauty.

I doubt Dermastore is your best bet for determining this. I don’t see any paradox at all. I medan, who wants to be ugly? Basically all you have to do is wear sunscreen and use retin a. The rest of the “products” are just fun to use, smell good, and have fab packaging. Literally the hottest hair trend right now is silver.

superioritycompl3x · 2019-02-05T18:58:58+00:00

One factor is female susceptibility to bullshit. The television set told her to be thin.... so durrrrr... it must be true. The media wouldn't like, lie, would they??

And like, men have it so easy. Gender studies prof told her so.

hshsvdhsiabs · 2019-02-05T19:07:36+00:00

Here’s my weird two cents. People in general can’t handle the affects of aging on our bodies. Hell, once we die we often remove the blood and embalm the body, filling it with harmful chemicals that endangers the mortician and the soil all to delay the body from decaying. The idea of “The wall” makes me wonder if the reason we find younger adults more attractive is actually just because we are afraid of being closer to death. I mean, I suppose it makes sense if we are made to want to reproduce and men can reproduce their whole life while women will eventually hit menopause. From a survival standpoint, men being attracted to fertile women makes sense. But I do think our relationship with signs of aging is weird and we should accept our fate. I’m all for taking care of your skin and what not, but we have an irrational fear of aging.

HonestyOverCivility · 2019-02-05T19:19:18+00:00

In a world where social media and endless selfie posts dominate our attention, is it any surprise that a greater emphasis is being placed on a woman’s looks

GBBL · 2019-02-05T21:11:06+00:00

Disagree with your cherrypicked conclusion. We can share photos with each other in an instant now; of course people are competing with all the tools at their disposal. Increased access, awareness, and competition lead people to try to look more beautiful, not necessarily feminine or traditional.

Men look better and more groomed than they ever have and I’d wager they are buying these products at a higher rate as well.

Almondxxx · 2019-02-05T21:35:40+00:00

“The wall” can kiss my ass. Men and women can both look like garbage if they don’t take care of themselves.

Or if they are lucky they have good genes. I’m sick of this wall BS. People get old.

“The wall” is a term used by insecure young men in their 20s.

Looks.arent.everything.

blackedoutfast · 2019-02-05T21:45:37+00:00

maybe starting to wear makeup at an earlier age is fucking up their skin earlier?

but probably its just capitalism/marketing/science getting better at convincing younger women that they need to take care of their skin too instead of just plastering over their flaws with makeup.

we-are-men-with-ven · 2019-02-05T22:39:05+00:00

You know what's strange? The top porn catagory in the UK is 'milf' I think that it's also the second or third on the USA.

What is the reason behind that?

Willow-girl · 2019-02-06T05:14:17+00:00

Oh good grief; just grow old gracefully, ladies. I earned every one of these wrinkles! They don't bother me a bit.

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Lil_KINJA · 2019-02-05T18:26:16+00:00

Does this support the TRP concept of "the wall?"

Naturally you will hit the wall at 30 when you spend your whole 20s getting that "golden" tan.

babyfaceshine · 2019-02-05T19:24:40+00:00

Being whores takes a toll on your body.

kandyapplez · 2019-02-05T21:19:38+00:00

You may recognize this paradox as a common theme: despite the perceived dismantling of gender roles, rise in equality, feminism etc...

which has coincided with a rise in social media, photo taking, and better understanding of skincare and anti-aging techniques

not seeing how this is a paradox. mainstream feminism has always operated within a conventionally attractive beauty standard lol

officerkondo · 2019-02-05T21:41:47+00:00

n=1, but my girlfriend is 25 and just last night she was stressing to me about a few needle-fine wrinkles that appear on her forehead if she makes what appears to be the face of the most surprised person in the world. She has a rather robust skincare routine and frankly she is the one who got me started on mine.

esiemualB · 2019-02-05T22:06:43+00:00

The desire to look young and attractive is not an exlcusively feminine phenomenon. Did they do a study on men's usage of skincare? I bet that young men care more about skincare nowadays as well. I think that one reason of this is the internet. On the one hand, people compare themselves more to each other, they post no-make-up selfies, they see the "no-make-up" selfies of celebrities, and so they try their best to take care of their skin. Another thing is that there is a lot more information easily accessible through the internet. A person stressing about ageing 30 years ago would probably have had to reveal this to another person in order to get help. They would have had to go to the store in person, and interact with a cashier in order to get their product. They maybe would have even had to ask a person about skincare recommendations, and they would have been embarassed about being so obsessed with their looks and insecure about aging. Nowadays, a person worrying about aging can research skincare recommendations online and order a product off amazon, without anyone ever finding about about how much they worry about aging. People can also build communities where they talk about skincare, and their insecurities.

Another factor is probably research and general knowledge. When I listen to what my parents and grandparents thought was okay to do to their skin when they were my age, and compare it to what we know now, there is definitely a difference. My parents didn't mind getting a sunburn when they were younger, but now that they know the health issues it can cause, they stress a lot about using sunscreen, for example. The same thing is also true for other areas of people's lives. Smoking cigarettes used to be a lot more fashionable as well, for example.

i_have_a_semicolon · 2019-02-06T00:12:33+00:00

I mean, why one can't aim to be as sexually attractive as possible while also not wishing to adhere to specific arbitrary gender expectations.

Nodoxxintoxin · 2019-02-06T01:42:31+00:00

And yet here is an article from WWD saying the exact opposite https://wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/skin-care/millennial-beauty-antiwrinkle-baby-boomer-10419202/#share-more

🤔

Stevefr0mYellowstone · 2019-02-06T05:06:05+00:00

I don't see the paradox. Feminism is about power for women. Youth and beauty for women is power. There are significant benefits a woman will get when she is young and attractive that she will not get when she is older. I am not making any statement to the effect that a woman's value is solely tied to her youth and beauty, but make no mistake of it, an attractive woman in her late teens and 20s has significant advantages in current western society, which will fade as she gets older. Of course attempts are going to be made to elongate that as much as possible. And I don't see any problem with it. I view it is as good that people are paying more attention to it at earlier ages. For example, its driven me crazy for years how many people will totally destroy their skin (not to mention increasing their risk of cancer) by tanning so much, which will significantly age one's skin. More and more makeup, moisturizer, etc... products are out there with sunscreen now to help reduce aging.

Mr_Smoogs · 2019-02-06T12:19:41+00:00

I'd consider looks as something distinct from other gender aspects thus I see no paradox there.

Littleknownfacts · 2019-02-05T18:00:58+00:00

I don't think this is necessarily a paradox, but maybe an imprecision from the survey. A lot of the anti-aging products are probably sun screen or at least include a sun screen which would also be used to prevent sun damage and skin care in addition to preventing wrinkles. I think this could probably be chalked up to a more health conscious lifestyle.

Title	Fear of aging has women in their 20s stressing about wrinkles
Author	Mr_Smoogs
Upvotes	14
Comments	154
Date	February 5, 2019 5:51 PM UTC (7 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/angnp7/fear_of_aging_has_women_in_their_20s_stressing/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/fear-of-aging-has-women-in-their-20s-stressing.257424 https://theredarchive.com/post/257424

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