There’s nothing quite like someone who wears their age with grace. While society often idolizes youth and promotes various treatments to “stay young,” some argue this might backfire—turning vibrant 20-year-olds into aged 30-somethings. Personally, I believe in embracing the beauty of aging gracefully. Fillers kind of terrify me, but will I regret not trying them by the time I hit 50? Curious, I decided to turn to artificial intelligence. After all, I’ve already used it to change my hair color, envision my future child’s face, and even create headshots. Surely, it can help me see a realistic version of my future self.
A quick search for “old age face app” in the App Store led me to FaceApp, a tool that’s been around since before AI was all the rage. Launched in 2017 by Cyprus-based FaceApp Technology, this app lets you transform your face using various old and young filters. While FaceApp is free, it has some feature limitations. If you want premium filters, no watermarks, and quicker processing times, you can upgrade to FaceApp Pro, priced at $10 per month (or $5 if you opt for a yearly payment). They even offer a one-week free trial!
I figured spending $10 is worth it if it means potentially avoiding a lifetime of wrinkles; however, I started with the free version.
Getting Started with FaceApp
Since I was not in a selfie-worthy state, I decided to choose a few photos from my camera roll. AI apps can be a bit picky about photo quality, so I selected four images to upload. As soon as I uploaded the images, I noticed the FaceApp watermark on each, a downside of my free plan. Still, navigating the app was a breeze, thanks to its straightforward banner of options. I could adjust my face size, skin tone, expression, hair, gender, and of course, age.
I clicked on the Age option and saw eight prompts ranging from young to teen to old. To ease into this, I started with the “cool old” filter. Baby steps!
First impression? Woah, I appear to be wearing too much makeup—and I bear quite a resemblance to my grandmother!
The original photo of me (far left), the AI-generated “cool old” version (middle), and AI’s “old old” version (right). FaceApp/Amanda Smith/CNET
Now, on to the second image.
Me now (far left), the AI-generated “cool old” version (middle), and AI’s “old old” version (right). FaceApp/Amanda Smith/CNET
This version highlighted the vertical line between my eyebrows and my crow’s feet beautifully. My dad has those lines, and at 70, he still boasts a fabulous head of hair, so thumbs up for my AI filter’s impressive locks!
Moving on to the third try. This one doesn’t look half bad.
Me now (far left), “cool old” (middle), and “old old” (right). FaceApp/Amanda Smith/CNET
Last but not least. Aging with that hair? Really not too shabby.
Me now (far left), “cool old” (middle), and “old old” (right). FaceApp/Amanda Smith/CNET
FaceApp Privacy Concerns
FaceApp promises users that it won’t use any of your photos or videos for anything beyond editing. Although they utilize Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services for processing, your media is only temporarily stored in the cloud, ensuring it’s encrypted and held securely on your device. They only keep it for 48 hours, meaning your data gets cleared from their servers post-edit.
AI Advice on Aging
It’s fun to see how AI imagines my future self, but I wanted to dig deeper for some practical advice. Could ChatGPT help identify my potential problem areas and suggest a skincare routine? I uploaded the four AI-generated images and prompted: “Here are four AI-generated old-age filter photos of me. Based on the visible aging in these pictures, can you identify my problem areas and suggest a personalized skincare regimen to prevent aging?”
ChatGPT offered the usual skincare tips but emphasized incorporating a vitamin C serum in the morning for brightening and vitamin A at night. For preventive treatments, it mentioned options like microneedling, laser therapy, chemical peels, and even Botox. I was curious whether Botox was necessary or if a solid skincare routine would suffice.
ChatGPT advised to monitor my skin’s response to a good regimen for the next couple of years. If those dynamic lines deepen, it might be time to consider Botox. Yikes!
Since I’m quite skeptical about toxins, I asked ChatGPT for natural alternatives to Botox. It provided several options, like facial acupuncture, natural wrinkle relaxers (bakuchiol, argireline, and aloe vera), a collagen-rich diet, and gentle treatments like microcurrent devices and LED light therapy. I even inquired about the most natural cosmetic procedures available and received a neat list.
To wrap it up, ChatGPT highlighted three top non-toxic treatments tailored to my images:
Screenshot by Amanda Smith/CNET
The Verdict on AI Predicting How You’ll Age
It’s incredibly helpful to use AI to envision how I might age and then consult a chatbot for preventive strategies. While AI-generated images may not always be accurate, they can certainly guide my skincare and hair care choices—though it’s always best to consult a dermatologist before making any decisions.
Perhaps the real answer is to embrace aging with dignity and shift my mindset, rather than feeling pressured to alter my face. Fingers crossed that by the time I’m 60, society will have evolved to appreciate the beauty present at every stage of life.
