30 Year Olds Looking Younger Than Ever: Here’s Why

In 2024, no one seems to know what millennials are supposed to look like. TikTokers asking, “How old do I look?” have been shocked by the answers: some look too young, others too old, and the internet can’t agree on what’s worse. From Botox-frozen foreheads to makeup debates, millennials are caught in a weird age limbo.

Pop culture hasn’t helped. Earlier this year, a viral video pointed out how Cheers cast members in their 20s and 30s looked decades older than we expect today. Jason Alexander? Balding at 29 as George Costanza. Meanwhile, Nicola Coughlan stunned fans by revealing she’s 37, while Miley Cyrus, at 31, was praised for “aging like fine wine.” If millennials are aging more gracefully than previous generations, what’s the secret?

 

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According to Dr. Karyn Grossman, a cosmetic dermatologist, it comes down to lifestyle and tools. Compared to decades ago, millennials know to avoid two major skin enemies: the sun and cigarettes. Studies link 80% of visible skin aging in Caucasian skin to UV damage, and smoking wreaks havoc on collagen. Thanks to this awareness, millennials are more proactive. “It used to be that people waited until they got really old-looking to do something. Now, people are more proactive in not getting there,” Grossman says.

And boy, do millennials have options. Beyond sunscreen and retinoids like tretinoin, there’s an army of products: exfoliating acids, serums for redness and spots, and in-office treatments like Botox, fillers, microneedling, and lasers. Millennials have embraced these tools—strategically. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a 70% rise in 30-somethings using injectables like Botox post-pandemic. Millennials are playing the long game.

 

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Yet Gen Z, the generation set to look forever 21, may be aging faster. Why? Overdoing it. Dr. Shereene Idriss, a cosmetic dermatologist, notes that teens are jumping on “anti-aging” routines they don’t need. “Their skin has lost its luster,” she explains, from too many products and early Botox. It’s a cautionary tale for millennials: starting too young can make you look older. Remember when a plastic surgeon guessed Love Island contestants in their 20s were 40? Ouch.

To put millennials’ “youthful glow” to the test, one writer underwent VISIA Skin Analysis—a machine that scans your face to determine its “tru age.” Despite a diligent SPF routine and a skincare lineup most would envy, the results were confusing: her left cheek came in at 36, her right at 31.

 

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While experts confirm millennials are aging well, it’s worth asking: is it enough? With every tool at our disposal, millennials may still be chasing an impossible ideal—a target that resets every time the clock ticks forward. As Dr. Daniel Barrett puts it, “Pump the brakes.” We’ll keep applying our SPF and acids, but the truth is, time comes for us all. And honestly? That’s okay.