Botox @18? Is the anti-aging pressure insane?

I have felt similar to the gal who said she felt slightly over the hill upon turning 21. I just turned 22 and although I am a confident gal with a wonderful supportive fiance, I feel like once I hit 30 Im doomed. Sometimes I think I would rather die younger than get old enough to see myself deteriorate physically and mentally. I know thats out there but I have had that thought sometimes as insane as it is. If you wait in line at the grocery store or anywhere you can observe people and you see a mom and a daughter, you can just see the big difference, how the vibrance of youth gets warped into wrinkles, age spots, and other unpleasant stuff. I admire the people who are proud of their wrinkles, but for me I am just terrified!

I am 36. I had once dated a guy who's 40, who thinks women whose age bracket is 18 to 25 year old are always more beautiful than women who are 26 and above. I dumped him after a few months because I realized that he has a problem with reality / self image. He never new why I dumped him. I should never be compared with anyone, with only age as a major factor, I am way better than that. I want to be appreciated for me, me and me. I don't have to please anyone except myself. I am enough, wrinkles and all.

I don't want to be "underage" (@ Z) I just want the outside to reflect how I feel on the inside. I still feel young and beautiful inside...I just wish the mirror agreed! What we are talking about is Biology. Woman will always try to look as beautiful as they can to attract the male with the most viable sperm. It may never be our intent to get pregnant...but we are animals designed to procreate like any other animal. On some level we want to attract the most potent seed from those 20 something males. The irony is that males are in their sexual prime in their 20's and us in our 40's. I assume that increased drive in our 40's is that last ditch effort to lure the 20 something male. What really is sick is I rarely find men my age (late 30's) who are attractive. Balding and beer guts. Makes me wonder why WE try so hard.

what in the h*** does a girl of 18 or younger need with botox?? I sincerly don't get it the only thing I can see it used for at that age would be in your pits if you sweat a lot but other then that sorry no idea what's going on there.

Age we say in our culture is a number. But definately its really ridiculous to be using all these age enhancing treatments at such tender age. Nature cannot be defeated and no matter what is used to hide the lines and the age it definately will show at a period of time. I am 34 but don't look it one bit. Its all about taking care of oneself and taking a day at a time.

BTW there IS a name for men that is comparable to cougar: older men looking for younger women are "rhinos", since most of them are ugly and horny. In the old days they would just be DOMs, but that's revealing *my* age ;-)

Botox is such a temporary "fix" why bother? Join a gym work on yourself from the inside out learn to relax and destress stop over dramatizing everything to the point it shows on your face. I am 51 and more fit than people half my "age" get over it.

First of all, the more botox you get, the more you need it. The wrinkle gets deeper very fast if you dont continue to inject it. I am 35 and never had botox, I take care of my self, and am very proud and happy with my looks - and especially my BRAIN. I would never want to go back to 10 years ago, when I was 'clueless' - compared to my mind now! I am an educated, successful woman, fully independent and one who knows what she wants out of life, and where she is going. ...As for those who are still obsessed with looks - make sure to exercise, drink plenty of water and eat right. You'll be fine.

Puma's are actually women in their 30's.

f--- you

Weirdos with a fake plastic face..ugh...so cheap and tacky

I just turned 50 and I'll tell ya--I would NEVER go back to being 20, 30, 40 (well, 40 WAS a lot of fun!). You make the most out of what you have, where you're going and what you've done. I started college at the age of 45; I have a GORGEOUS rock-star boyfriend, a lovely PAID FOR house and who knows what the next ten or so years will bring? Look FORWARD--joyously!

Why is everyone trying to look younger? I'm fine with looking older. Does everyone want to be underage again or something?

Im a guy and 45, before age 30, it was you look so young! I looked early 20's at 28. or younger to some people, then after 30 it was you 'don't look old' now in my 40's..wow, your THAT OLD??
or you LOOK GOOD/OR YOUNG FOR "YOUR AGE" i THINK THAT is NOT a compliment, however intended, might as well say you look good or younger for an OLD person!
it takes away the 'compliment' making you FEEL 100. I say..thanks..but is 45 supposed to look like a MUMMY??? AND TRUST ME, if you always looked younger than your age, old friends check carefully to see how you are aging, they have you under a microscope. america is too youth obsessed for me..it demeans you, even if you LOOK GOOD FOR YOUR AGE. PEOPLE guess me on average of 10 years younger than my real age, sometimes more..genes, I guess. cause I have not had nor will EVER BOTOX. one lady told me, im watching and hoping you age more.

well i think all those lines shows expressions,and its kinda cute!!!

I'm with omerlm- though I have to say, there is ONE place where "for your age" works, and that's when someone very young is doing/wearing something that is not appropriate (brace for it!) for their age. Best example I can use to describe such a scenario is some of the things junior-high-school girls wear; oversexualized to a disturbing level, extremely inappropriate 'for their age'.

so what do we call the woman who is not "on the lookout for way younger men"...but finds herself dating one through HIS initiation and persistence...would I be an older cub,then?...do I really give a rat's a**?...am I happy and confident in my own skin and experiencing pleasure that was long overdue and is hurting no one?...see, that cougar term I find offensive as it depicts one ready to pounce and go in for the kill...and I fail to see myself as a predator...I am a lover, that's all....screw anyone who need label me and my actions...I am enjoying life as I never have before:)

Great article! I wish society would start teaching that maturing is a good thing and women need to be proud of themselves no matter what. I hate pet names like MILF and cougar. It is just another way to insult women and I am tired of it.

Finally! Something worth reading and definitely has me (& hopefully others) thinking. Our culture is way too youth-obsessed. For example, I just turned 21 and a very tiny part of me couldn't help but think that I'm now over-the-hill. Why do we allow this type of pressure to be placed upon eachother? Everyone wants to feel/be beautiful but we must re-focus our fixation on youth to a healthier vision of gracefully aging and being happy with who we are.

Life is beautiful.. whatever makes you happy, "Go for it."