I Tried TikTok’s ‘Aged’ Filter And Immediately Regretted It

But how accurate is it, really?

If you’ve had the misfortune of trying TikTok’s ‘Aged’ filter, I’m sorry. So far, the filter has been used over 15 million times (and counting), and while some accepted their AI-generated ageing journey, many were left horrified by their appearance.

As a beauty editor, I’m pretty well-versed in how the ageing process affects our skin and the effects that gravity has on skin laxity, so I wasn’t too worried about trying the filter for myself. But as soon as I saw the comparison between my current face and the predicted face of my future, I was taken aback. I looked exactly like my grandmother, except much, much older. It was shocking – and I hated that I reacted so negatively to my own face.

There is nothing wrong with ageing naturally – in fact, ageing is a privilege, and it’s beautiful. If you want to intervene with an active skincare routine and anti-aging treatments, there is nothing wrong with that either. And while the jury is still out on exactly how accurate the filter is, many users of the filter were left confronted after seeing themselves looking “older.” Even celebrities struggled with their appearance after using the ‘Aged’ filter. Kylie Jenner reacted by saying, “I don’t like it, I don’t like it at all. No… No.” Courtney Cox was also concerned by the aged version of herself, asking, “Wow… how many more years is this!?”

via TikTok @kyliejenner

But the reactions weren't all bad. TikTok creator @yazzy_so_c00l accepted her AI-generated older self saying, “She looks so fun and full of life! I can’t wait to meet her.” Now this is the reaction I wish I’d had when looking at my own appearance.

Whether you’ve tried the filter or not, the ‘Aged’ filter made one thing abundantly clear: most of us fear the effects of ageing. “The average age of our new clients is around the late 20s when they start to notice changes in the texture and tone of their skin,” says Joe Fenech, Senior Registered Nurse at The Clinic Bondi. “These are the early signs of sun damage, and we typically start off by establishing a treatment regime based on the individual’s needs,” she explains. According to Joe, other common concerns from her clients include crow's feet, glabella and jowls, which can be addressed with professional treatments like Level 1 Ultraformer and Thermage. In terms of slowing down the effects of ageing, the best course of action is to protect yourself from sun damage. “Wearing SPF every day will help decrease the ageing process. This also includes wearing a hat whenever outside for long periods of time,” says Joe.

Since we can’t stop the ageing process – and nor should we want to – we can embrace our ageing journey on our own terms, whatever that looks like.

Personally, I choose to invest in active skincare products and professional treatments because it makes me feel more confident. Here’s what I’m using in my current beauty regimen.

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