Why Did Men Used to Look Older? | Make It Make Sense

Summary

This video explores why men today often look younger than men of the same age in past decades. Using examples from movies, celebrities, and historical photos, it highlights how men in the 70s and 80s appeared older due to factors like sun damage, smoking, formal fashion, and societal norms. Modern men benefit from better skincare, sunscreen, healthier lifestyles, and casual fashion, which preserve youthfulness. While declining testosterone is noted, the main reasons are cultural and lifestyle changes. The video balances humor, pop culture references, and scientific insights to show that looking younger today is a result of better self-care rather than conspiracies.

Takeaways

• 🧔 Men from previous decades often appeared older in their 30s and 40s compared to men today.
• 🎬 Celebrities and movie actors from the past sometimes looked much older than their actual age due to lifestyle factors.
• 🧪 Testosterone levels in men have dropped approximately 1% per year since the 1970s, influencing masculine physical features.
• ☀️ Excessive sun exposure in past generations caused premature skin aging, while modern sunscreen use protects against UV damage.
• 💆‍♂️ Modern skincare routines with products like retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C help reduce wrinkles and maintain youthful appearances.
• 🚬 Widespread smoking in the past damaged skin elasticity and accelerated aging; decreased smoking today contributes to healthier-looking skin.
• 👔 Fashion and clothing choices affect perceived age; past formal attire made men look older, while casual modern clothing makes adults look younger.
• 💪 Cultural shifts in masculinity have led to leaner, less hyper-masculine men, who appear younger and less physically intimidating.
• 🍎 Improved diet, exercise, and cosmetic interventions have further contributed to a younger-looking male population today.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Conspiracy theories suggest external forces are feminizing men, but rational explanations based on lifestyle, health, and social norms better explain the trend.

Q & A

Why do men today often look younger than men of the same age in past decades?

Men today look younger due to a combination of factors, including better skincare, reduced smoking, healthier lifestyles, improved diet and exercise, and cultural shifts in fashion and masculinity.

What role does testosterone play in how men look as they age?

Testosterone affects masculine features such as jawline, facial hair, and muscle mass. Lower testosterone levels, which have declined over the decades, can lead to weaker jawlines, less body hair, and reduced muscle tone, affecting appearance.

How did men’s grooming habits in the 1970s differ from today?

In the 1970s, men had minimal grooming routines, often limited to a bar of soap and a splash of aftershave. Today, men use multi-step skincare routines including SPF, retinol, hyaluronic acid, and other anti-aging products that maintain a youthful appearance.

How did fashion influence perceptions of age in past decades?

Men in the 1960s–1980s wore suits, fedoras, dress shoes, and other formal attire that made them appear more mature, even if they were young. Modern casual clothing, like hoodies and sneakers, tends to make men look younger.

What impact did smoking have on men’s appearance in past decades?

Smoking caused wrinkles, sagging skin, discoloration, and dullness by damaging key skin proteins and reducing blood flow. Widespread smoking in past decades contributed to an older appearance among men.

Are conspiracy theories about men being feminized accurate?

No, such conspiracy theories about reptilian overlords or chemicals feminizing men are baseless. The observed differences are mainly due to lifestyle, skincare, and societal changes rather than secret plots.

How has modern society redefined masculinity?

Modern masculinity emphasizes emotional intelligence, self-care, and relatability over hyper-masculinity. Action stars and cultural icons now often appear younger and less physically intimidating than past generations.

Why did celebrities in past movies often look older than their actual age?

Factors include heavy sun exposure, smoking, formal attire, and cultural grooming norms. For example, Christopher Reeve was 24 in the first Superman movie but looked older due to styling and societal standards of the time.

How does sun exposure affect aging?

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun cause premature skin aging, including wrinkles, sagging, and uneven skin tone. Past decades lacked widespread use of sunscreen, which contributed to older-looking appearances.

What lifestyle changes have contributed to men looking younger today?

Reduced smoking, regular exercise, healthier diets, widespread use of sunscreen and skincare products, and less formal fashion all contribute to men maintaining a younger appearance today.

Why do some people perceive older action stars as more masculine?

Older action stars were often hyper-masculine, muscular, and physically intimidating, which reinforced traditional ideals of adulthood and masculinity. Modern actors emphasize relatability, emotional depth, and fitness over sheer muscle mass.