In the dating game a lot of coaches talk about the long game, and I think attractiveness is the apotheosis of long game thinking. I don't drink at all (haven't for years), don't eat processed sugar, work out/meditate regularly, etc and sometimes people think I am ten years younger than I am (very similar with other men in their 30's I know). I also have been seeing a couple of women who are thought to be much younger as well. But the thing is, most people have no sense for the long term ramifications of their actions.
Have 9 beers in a weekend? Meh. Have 9 beers every weekend for 5-7 years after the age of 22? Good luck when you're 32. So it works both ways and I think too many people fall into the fallacy of incremental change, and by the time they've realized what's happened, they look like the second coming of the Crypt Keeper.
But, Mikey is right, most people in general fall off with father time. But if you find the women who stay attractive...they can be some true gems.
And as man, man, if you take care of yourself, women LOVE older men. Even if it's just late 20's/Early 30's, women love a mature man who is in shape. You can get women of any age. Literally any age. 20. 35. 50. It doesn't matter. It's a reverse bell curve that can really work in our favor
Oh. And as for the ugly duckling. If you lay the right game on them, they usually are stuck in the mindset of being the "ugly" girl. I've seen STUNNING women who think they're ugly. So you may have to get through that barrier, but if you can, you can change the world of someone like that