Women Feel More Body Confident In Their Sixties Than Early Twenties, Says Study

Women Feel More Body Confident In Their Sixties Than Early Twenties, Says Study
|

Despite the visible lack of older women in public life - just 18% of TV presenter aged over 50 are female, despite the fact that women make up 53% of the 50+ population - ladies in their sixties feel the most confident in their appearance than at any other point in their lives.

In fact, according to a recent study, women feel more confident about their looks in their sixties than they do in their early twenties. Take that society!

Those aged over 65 report feeling the most confident in their appearance (81%), compared to younger women aged between 16 and 24 (70%).

Open Image Modal

However, female confidence dips between the 45-54 age bracket, with just six in ten (60%) saying they feel content with their appearance.

The L'Oreal Confidence Index, which polled 2,000 British men and women on their looks and when they feel most confident, revealed that confidence fluctuates as we age.

Unsurprisingly appearance affects women's confidence far more than it does men's.

For women, looks play the most pivotal role in boosting self-esteem - 70% say it is one of the areas that affects them the most significantly. This is followed by support from family and friends (62%), financial security (62%) and work (41%).

Men, however, tell a different story. The main source of male confidence is financial (67%), followed by personal supporters (55%) and work (48%).

Story continues below...

Celebrities Rocking Grey Hair
George Clooney(01 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Anderson Cooper(02 of26)
Open Image Modal
Helen Mirren(03 of26)
Open Image Modal
Pierce Brosnan(04 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Shutterstock)
Rihanna(05 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Instagram/Rihanna)
Meryl Streep in 'The Devil Wears Prada'(06 of26)
Open Image Modal
John Slattery(07 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Judi Dench(08 of26)
Open Image Modal
Lady Gaga(09 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Jon Stewart(10 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:AP)
Kelly Osbourne(11 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty)
Jeff Bridges(12 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Shutterstock)
Robert DeNiro(13 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
P!nk(14 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Harrison Ford(15 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Kate Moss(16 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Richard Gere(17 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Barack Obama(18 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Nicole Richie(19 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Hugh Grant(20 of26)
Open Image Modal
Steve Martin(21 of26)
Open Image Modal
Steve Martin attends the 2013 Drama Desk Awards on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) (credit:AP)
Tommy Lee Jones(22 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Bill Clinton(23 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Jamie Lee Curtis(24 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)
Mick Jagger(25 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:AP)
Kevin Costner(26 of26)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Getty Images)

In terms of appearance, women are most afraid of grey hair, dark eye circles and wrinkles. While men, not dissimilarly, are concerned about wrinkles, grey hair and hair loss.

As such 54% of women and 35% of men use anti-ageing products, L'Oreal report.

"It is clear that as a nation we approach ageing in very different ways," says Michel Brousset, from L'Oreal UK & Ireland.

"But it is brilliant to see that contrary to what people may think, we actually get better with age and gain even more confidence in ourselves and our appearance."

Tell us your age, together with a few lines on how you feel about your looks, in the comments below.