TheFountain: I did specifically mention East Asians, which you will see if you re-read my post. I stated that *collagen* also plays a crucial role in the aging process, so even in the East and North Asian populations, where complexions can approach milk-white, the physical signs of aging are tempered because Asians have higher collagen levels relative to their European counterparts. Collagen and elastin are the scaffolding that keeps the skin plump, wrinkle free and youthful-looking. Higher collagen level translates to skin that is plump, elastic, and younger-looking for longer periods of time. Additionally, Asians (whether East, West, North or South) have higher levels of melanin than White Europeans, even in cases where phenotypically, they are similar in terms of complexion. To be sure, "genetics" play a role, but frankly, what are collagen and melanin if not products of genetics? I DO think nutrition, diet, exercise, lifestyle, and beauty regimen play important roles. I never said they do not. For that matter, air quality, the amount of stress hormones being dumped into our bloodstream, and radiation also play a role in how we age. But I think it's a pipe dream to think that diet, exercise, and beauty products can make a marked difference. My sense is that there is a base we each start from, and that base makes it comparably easier for some groups to keep/maintain their youthful looks than others. In other words, there are some whose genetic underpinnings will have them looking 60 at 45 no matter how much astaxanthin, vitamin C, and krill oil they consume. No matter how much sunscreen, retin-A, or egg membranes they slather on. No matter how much yoga, meditation or voodoo chants they do. There is a point of limitation. When I visited West Africa (Ghana) I saw 70+ year-old women with completely wrinkle-free skin, firm boobs and tight buttocks! When I visited Guang Zhou, I saw Chinese women and men in their 60s with poreless, beautiful, wrinkle-free skin. I have travelled to Amsterdam, Paris, Spain, Italy and, on this side, Canada. I have seen BEAUTIFUL men and women in each place. But I have never ever seen a 70-year old White European with wrinkle-free skin, despite knowing many health-conscious White Europens who have stellar diets, who take meticulous care of their skin, and who purchase the highest-end caviar products money can buy. So I'm a bit incredulous about the proposition that a healthy lifestyle, exercise, diet, and beauty products can work wonders. It DOES help, that I do not dispute, but I believe the genetic lottery plays a much much more significant role. As you travel through life, be an active observer. Look around. What do your eyes tell you?
East Asians do have more pigment in their skin than Nordic whites. And perhaps the same amount, or less than mediterranean whites do do age better among the white subgroups. that isn't to say that blondes/nordics can't age well if they take exceptionally good care of their skin.Also have you seen the complexion of a lot of chinese japanese and korean people? They are arguably more ghost like than whites in complexion, because their culture supports that beauty standard, particularly in females, whereas, lo and behold, western caucasians LOVE tanning.
Too bad you are missing the fundamental life-style choice many western caucasians make, to pathologically tan, and to visit tanning salons as well. It is quite an irony when Korean and Chinese people opt to avoid sun exposure in favor of the palest complexions.
http://p1.pichost.me/i/29/1522410.jpg
Here we have the perfect example of a Korean model who likely both avoids sun exposure as well as uses skin lightening solutions regularly.
http://media.sheknow...an_life30-1.jpg
And here we have an example of the tendency many caucasian western females have toward keeping a tan complexion because they believe it looks 'healthier'. But here you can clearly see fine lines and wrinkles already developing.
Let's pay great attention to lifestyle choices when making all encompassing determinations shall we?