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AGEING WITH CONFIDENCE
A Valentine to Real Beauty
This Valentine’s season, I wanted to shift the conversation. Not away from love, but towards a deeper, more honest kind of it. For years, Valentine’s Day has sold us a very narrow idea of beauty: youthful, flawless, filtered, frozen in time. And while there’s nothing wrong with enjoying beauty at any age, there is something quietly damaging about pretending that ageing is something to hide, fix, or apologise for.
As a confidence coach, I see every day how powerful it is when someone stops fighting who they are and starts standing fully in it. That’s why this Valentine’s, I chose to focus on beautiful people who are embracing their natural beauty as they age. Because confidence doesn’t come from looking younger. It comes from feeling at home in yourself. In the piece below you will find stories of woman very close to me, and those who are new to my community too.
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Ageing with confidence is about presence, not perfection. It’s the lines that tell stories, the softness that comes with self-acceptance, the strength that only time can give you. It’s knowing who you are, what matters to you, and refusing to shrink yourself to meet outdated standards. There is something incredibly attractive about someone who is comfortable in their own skin, not despite their age, but because of everything it has given them.
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This is a love letter to that kind of beauty.
The kind that isn’t chasing approval.
The kind that doesn’t disappear with time.
The kind that grows richer, bolder, and more magnetic with every year lived.
This Valentine’s Day, let’s celebrate confidence as it really is: earned, embodied, and deeply beautiful.
Kay, 72
​1. How do you feel turning up in your natural skin and owning your ageing?
I have never been one for using alot of makeup, probably a result of years at boarding school. I am lucky to have freinds who accept everyone as they are, some immaculately turned out every day and others like me who are happy to go out everyday as we are. It is important we don't judge others and knowing that we are not judged we can be ourselves.
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2. Why is it important to you to love your journey with ageing?
Our aging journey begins earlier than we think with a changes in our bodies from childbirth, hormones or lack of and the results of our lifestyles. Our bodies are all different and it is my choice to remain as active as possible by keeping up an exercise routine and enjoying the outdoors by walking both by myself with a podcast or with friends. I am hopeful my aging journey will be a long one so I don't get stressed about it but do pay attention to what is going on and when appropriate will seek advice about my health and take advantage of any free health checks. With age I have had the joy of seeing my children develop and create their own futures and also the arrival of grandchildren, something for everyone to look forward to.
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3. How can we empower more women to embrace their natural skin with ageing with confidence?
Pay less attention to social medias depiction of life and look more at friends and family to see how to age well in our natural state. Take notice of your emotional wellbeing and get involved with groups to enjoy a hobby or just tea and a chat. I sew with friends, am part of a culture group, a book group and several walking groups. These activities keep my mind busy, give me confidence, keep me active and best of all I have fun.
Jo, 48
​1. How do you feel turning up in your natural skin and owning your ageing? ​
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I am quite honestly grateful to have even reached this age when so many don’t have that opportunity. I’m very comfortable with the fact that I’m going to change as I grow older. I very much want to protect my skin as I grow older, but have no desire to to anything more than SPF and naturally derived skincare. Oh and I know that smiling means I get more wrinkles on my face, but there is no way I’m stopping that …! I know that I’ll never be the most glamorous person, and I’m ok with that! As long as I am happy in myself and treat myself with kindness then that’s enough for me.
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2. Why is it important to you to love your journey with ageing?
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​Because if we’re constantly trying to change, or improve, we surely can’t be enjoying living our life! Also, I don’t want to pretend I’m something/someone that I’m not … I’m very content to be 48 and doing my best to look after myself and my body. I think as with anything in life, if we resist then its going to make things harder, and I don’t want to be working against my body … I’d much rather go with the flow! Yes, I’d love to look as young as I did ten years ago, but to be honest, I didn’t realise how lucky I was then! It’s only when I look back that I think I looked alright!!
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3. How can we empower more women to embrace their natural skin with ageing with confidence?
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Not make it wrong to choose against procedures and also to embrace the reality that we aren’t young forever. I think that the media and social media does a better job now than 15 years ago at celebrating women accepting and being proud of their ageing and I think that there are many role models out there who help with this. To be honest, we are all so different and so if someone wants to embrace being natural, then I celebrate that, and yet if someone feels more comfortable to not do it naturally then that is their choice and decision. We all have different priorities, experiences and pasts and I think this is why we choose to go one way or the other.
Elle, 41
​1. How do you feel turning up in your natural skin and owning your ageing?
​In many ways, the industry I work in has almost forced me to turn up in my natural skin, and I’ve actually loved that. Leaning into skincare has really helped me own the ageing process. It’s shifted my focus from hiding imperfections to caring for my skin properly. And the more I’ve done that, the more confident I’ve become turning up without makeup. I genuinely don’t think people notice our skin the way we think they do, everyone is far too busy worrying about themselves. Now, 99% of the time, I’m in my natural skin. I stick to a consistent morning and evening skincare routine, and I feel like I’m ageing in a way that feels intentional and supportive rather than something I’m fighting against. For me, that’s what owning ageing looks like.
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2. Why is it important to you to love your journey with ageing?
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​Because how we feel about ourselves becomes the energy we put out into the world. If I’m constantly fighting ageing or seeing it as something negative, that shows up in how I move, how I speak, and how I show up for other people. Loving my journey with ageing allows me to show up grounded, confident, and at ease, and that matters to me. Enjoying the journey is important because what you put in is what you get out. When you approach ageing with curiosity, care, and self-respect, you gain confidence, calm, and freedom. For me, loving the journey isn’t about pretending ageing is effortless, it’s about choosing to engage with it positively and intentionally, rather than resisting something that’s completely natural.
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3. How can we empower more women to embrace their natural skin with ageing with confidence?
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It starts with showing up. Showing up as someone who has actively chosen to embrace their natural skin and their ageing process with confidence. You can’t be what you can’t see, and when women see others turning up honestly — without hiding, apologising, or over-explaining — it gives them permission to do the same. Representation is powerful, especially when it’s real. Confidence doesn’t come from luxury products; it comes from understanding, consistency, and self-trust. When women are supported with representation and education, embracing natural skin and ageing with confidence becomes something that feels achievable — not aspirational.