# I was just told I could pass for 30 years old :( **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620 "2009-02-13T01:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/1 "2009-02-13T01:03:30Z")
I know a lot of dopers are a lot more mature, so I don’t expect much pity. :rolleyes: I just met one of our distributors. He asked me, “So, what did you do before you got into the chemical business?” I told him, “Well, actually, this was my first job out of school. I’ve been at it for about four years.” He looked shocked. “What?! How old are you?” “Twenty-seven.” “You could easily pass for thirty.” Now I feel depressed. And old. I’ve done like 5% of what I want to in life, and here I am getting pegged for the big three-oh. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/2 "2009-02-13T01:05:52Z")
It won’t help much if I tell you I’m 20, and the difference between 27 and 30 seems awfully small to me, will it? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/3 "2009-02-13T01:10:16Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > It won’t help much if I tell you I’m 20, and the difference between 27 and 30 seems awfully small to me, will it? 😃 Don’t worry, honey, you’ll change your mind soon enough. 🙂 Next week I turn 29. I’m not sure exactly how I got here. I mean, college was _yesterday_. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/4 "2009-02-13T01:11:37Z")
I knew someone who, at 28, looked 40. Though on the upside, at 40, he looked 40. If he had not accidentally died, I expect that at 50 he would have looked 40. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/5 "2009-02-13T01:14:29Z")
I don’t know which is worse… That at 28, my husband keeps getting told he looks “About 16”. Or that at a month under 25, the hospital staff keep asking if I’m his mother… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/6 "2009-02-13T01:20:47Z")
Eh, think of it this way - on the one hand, you’re steadily marching closer to the grave, On the other hand, some of the hottest women I know are in their mid-thirties - so if you look older than you are, that may improve your dating prospects. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/7 "2009-02-13T02:41:14Z")
The difference between looking 27 and looking 30 is probably in large part to your demeanor. The rest is probably moisturizer and skin care. Wear SPF 30+ sunblock if you’re out in the sun. Get some noncomedogenic moisturizer, and use it religiously. If you’re _really_ bummed, find a spa and ask them about facials or other skin care treatments. Because I’ve had acne for the last thirty years, and had to do all that fussy skin care stuff, I look in my 30s while in my 40s. Although the silvering and slowly receeding hair is working hard to fix that. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/8 "2009-02-13T03:06:38Z")
I don’t see what’s wrong with looking 30. Doesn’t bother me in the least. ::walks off down the hall whistling innocently:: ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/9 "2009-02-13T05:04:22Z")
I suppose you wouldn’t want to hear that I got carded for a bottle of wine last week. I turn 33 next month. I was thrilled. She was embarassed. I told her she made my day. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/10 "2009-02-13T05:21:54Z")
My coworkers were shocked, _shocked_, when I told them I was 26. Friggin’ mother’s side of the family giving me a friggin’ bald spot before I’m 30… ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/11 "2009-02-13T05:27:06Z")
When I was 27, I had someone seriously guess my age as 45. You got a while to go. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/12 "2009-02-13T05:27:58Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > The difference between looking 27 and looking 30 is probably in large part to your demeanor. I hope so. I was long overdue for a haircut. I’m going gray prematurely (started at 23). I told the barber, “Cut it with a number 3 guard!” “Are you sure? That’s awfully short.” “Number 3, damn you! Number 3!” I have been told I look younger with shorter hair. The close haircut does hide the gray a lot better. I hope. I really hope. ---
**Author:** ![Paladud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Paladud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paladud)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/13 "2009-02-13T05:35:17Z")
I’m 23, balding, and pass for 35. It’s just appearance; if your work and romantic life don’t suffer for it, what’s the problem? ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/14 "2009-02-13T05:37:10Z")
I’ve had several students peg my age at 30 in the last couple weeks. I’m 22, only 4 years older than some of them, and due to stress, I even have acne. I have no clue what lead them to that conclusion, but I went home seriously questioning my fashion choices. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/15 "2009-02-13T06:14:13Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Don’t worry, honey, you’ll change your mind soon enough. 🙂 > > Next week I turn 29. I’m not sure exactly how I got here. I mean, college was _yesterday_. _I_ don’t turn 29 for a week and a half 😛 ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/16 "2009-02-13T10:44:12Z")
> [@whiterabbit](#): > > I suppose you wouldn’t want to hear that I got carded for a bottle of wine last week. > > I turn 33 next month. I was thrilled. She was embarassed. I told her she made my day. On my 27th birthday the clerk at the beer store demanded ID. I told him it was the best present ever. 😃 It’s kind of funny, when I was underage, I looked older, I was never carded until I was legal. I’m told I still don’t look my age, nor act it, I will be 50 next week. It really is just attitude, age is just a number. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/17 "2009-02-13T12:24:40Z")
I’m lucky as I’m the other way around - turning 30 soon but people frequently peg me at mid or occasionally early 20s. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/18 "2009-02-13T13:09:49Z")
I’ve always been on the other side of things. I’m now getting to be old enough that it isn’t a _complete_ insult. (I seriously hit my head laughing once because a woman thought I was 12. I was 16 at the time :smack:) ---
**Author:** ![Jimson\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@Jimson\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimson_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/19 "2009-02-13T13:29:32Z")
Perhaps this will help. On a good day I can still pass as being in my mid 30’s. Until my daughter was born I was always told I looked much younger than my age. Now I’m pretty much spot on. And yes shorter hair cuts do hide the gray (a little), especially if you have lighter brown hair. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620/20 "2009-02-13T13:31:10Z")
> [@St.Urho](#): > > _I_ don’t turn 29 for a week and a half 😛 My boyfriend will be a little over six - he doesn’t get a birthday this year. 🙂 He certainly doesn’t look his age. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-just-told-i-could-pass-for-30-years-old/485620.md?page=2)