Gen Zs have a bright future ahead of them, but why do they seem to be “ageing like milk”?
Gen Z, the generation born between 1997 and 2012, has been gaining attention from netizens for looking visibly older than their real ages, as explained by The Style Theorists on YouTube.
@taylordonoghuee Bye digging my own grave never ask social media ur age lol
Causing both confusion from older generations and consternation from Gen Z themselves, this hot topic is sparking intense debate on how Gen Zs manage their appearances.
So, we’ve broken down the main reasons why Gen Zs might look older than they really are and uncovered the truth on whether they’re actually ageing faster than previous generations!
Makeup Trends
When we see photos and videos of Gen Zs online, they’re often sporting surprisingly flawless makeup for their age, which might come as a shock to older generations.
Then again, studies have shown that Gen Zs have been practising for a long time – they started wearing more makeup earlier than previous generations!
On average, Gen Zs start wearing makeup at just 11 years old, as compared to the average millennial who started at 14.
The rise of the Internet and the subsequent popularity of beauty influencers also mean that Gen Zs now have much easier access to makeup tutorials and product recommendations online, helping them hone their skills.
Plus, Gen Zs tend to be influenced by celebrities and influencers online who are significantly older than them, and end up mimicking their style.
Celebrities we see on Instagram and the red carpet are often seen with bold makeup like thick lashes and sharp contour, features that are often picked up by Gen Zs watching them.
As it turns out, despite being incredibly popular among celebrities, contouring, in particular, can actually age us significantly!
Plump and supple skin are easy visual indicators of one’s age, but heavy contouring ends up reducing the appearance of baby fat, creating the illusion of defined features at the cost of a more youthful look.
Cosmetic Procedures
When it comes to achieving clear skin, Gen Zs are also holding themselves to a higher standard than ever, since they’re used to the “perfect” skin we see online.
In a bid to conform to current beauty standards, more Gen Zs are attempting to convert Instagram filters into their real-life appearances, only to end up looking older in the long run.
Studies have shown that Gen Zs are starting to get cosmetic surgery and procedures at an unexpectedly young age – according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of people 19 and younger undergoing cosmetic procedures increased by 75% from 2019 to 2022.
Some common procedures for Gen Zs include Botox, filler, and the notorious buccal fat removal procedure. All of these procedures can give you that coveted “Instagram model” look in the short term, but could also serve to age you even faster!
For example, Botox can lead to atrophy of the muscles in the long term, causing the skin to lose its elasticity and become less firm.
Buccal fat removal is another potentially ageing procedure – the removal of cheek fat at a younger age can cause your face to look more “hollowed out” as you age.
Increased Stress
@jordan_the_stallion8
Of course, Gen Zs have grown up in a particularly unique environment, which could end up giving them more stress as compared to other generations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely done damage to this particular generation during a key developmental point in their lives. It’s caused Gen Zs to be largely disconnected from their peers, and hindered the development of a strong sense of self in these crucial younger years.
Plus, the unrealistic beauty standards that have been normalised online are another heavy burden for Gen Zs to bear.
Having grown up on sites like Instagram and TikTok, this generation is more visible than ever. They face immense pressure to look like gorgeous celebrities or content creators who have already been Photoshopped to perfection, which ends up influencing their self-perception and damaging their self-esteem.
It’s no surprise that this is taking a toll on them – after all, stress is widely known to have significant negative effects on our appearance.
From thinning hair and acne to increased fine lines and wrinkles, there are a multitude of ways in which stress can age us prematurely. Stress also causes our bodies to produce more cortisol, a hormone that can block collagen production!
What Are Experts Saying?
Credits: Getty Images
Skincare experts have long warned that an overload of anti-ageing procedures or treatments, from Botox to creams and serums, can lead to unwanted side effects.
Dr Helen He, a dermatologist and researcher with Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, tells WebMD that overusing anti-ageing products like retinoids can increase your skin’s UV sensitivity and even lead to eczema.
Gen Zs, in particular, have skin that is already more sensitive due to their young age, which only exacerbates these skin issues and prematurely ages their skin.
Plus, treatments like Botox can actually end up making fine lines and signs of ageing worse in the long run.
“It can cause other surrounding muscles in the face to compensate for the loss of muscles and the loss of action of the muscles that are being frozen by the Botox,” explains Dr He.
@drmichaelrusso 50 is truly the new 40! So is #genz really #aginglikemilk and dealing with more societal pressures than we ever did when we were younger or are older generations just looking and feeling more youthful? Or both? Share your thoughts below! @The New York Times #genzaginglikemilk #youthfulskincheck #aginglikemilk #aginglikefine🍷
It’s also important to consider that our perception of age can easily be influenced by others!
“Older generations are seeking out anti-ageing treatments much more aggressively and trying to look younger”, shares Dr Michael Russo, a bariatric surgeon on TikTok.
This trend could give rise to the biased perception that Gen Zs are ageing faster, as those from older generations have started to look younger in comparison.
@shereeneidriss Why does Gen Z look old?… A derm’s take #genz #genzlife #millenial #millenialsbelike #aging #antiaging #aginggracefully #agingwell #old #dermatologist #shereeneidriss #dridriss @ShereeneIdriss
Board-certified dermatologist Dr Shereene Idriss also shares on TikTok that with an increased focus on skincare, many Gen Zs have been blindly experimenting with skincare products that aren’t suitable for them.
“The worst thing you can do for your skin in the long run is chronic inflammation”, says Dr Idriss.
She explains that Gen Zs are piling on products that they don’t actually need at their young age, running the risk of irritating and damaging their skin instead!
Gen Z Ageing Faster: Myth Or Reality?
@jhenleybrown #stitch with @Taylordonoghuee #greenscreen this is why *I* think Gen-Z looks old
At the end of the day, Gen Zs aren’t really ageing faster than everyone else.
A combination of factors like their personal style, choices of cosmetic procedures, and even the COVID-19 pandemic can all influence how they’re perceived.
According to experts, there isn’t any actual evidence that Gen Zs are ageing any faster or slower than usual, so there’s no need to panic about developing imaginary wrinkles.
Additionally, how we perceive age is never completely accurate, as it’s difficult to identify someone’s age without the right context clues.
So, whether you have a baby face or look mature for your age, there’s no end in sight to this generational debate.
After all, the Internet is sure to rinse and repeat this discussion in a few years, when Gen Alpha’s “Sephora kids” come of age!
Featured image credits: @taylordonoghuee/TikTok, @shereeneidriss/TikTok, @@jordan_the_stallion8/TikTok.
