6 Controversial Skin Truths a Celebrity Facialist Wants You to Know
Sharon McGlinchey of MV Skintherapy shares six skin truths for holistic, natural, and mindful skincare practices.
Sharon McGlinchey is one of Australia’s most sought-after celebrity facialists, yet she’s not a household name, at least not in the way the beauty industry usually promotes its stars. Her client list reads like a who’s who of Hollywood: Sienna Miller, Emma Watson, Harry Styles, and many others who trust her honest, ethical approach to skin health. Sharon is a pioneer in the green beauty movement, focused on sourcing the highest quality raw ingredients rather than flashy marketing campaigns. Her skincare line, MV Skintherapy, reflects this philosophy: products designed for real skin health, not passing beauty trends. Here, she shares six skin truths she wishes everyone knew, some might surprise you.
Truth #1: Less product is often better for your skin
The modern skincare landscape behaves like a blockbuster franchise: sequels upon sequels until no one remembers the original plot. Skin, especially sensitive skin, thrives on quiet, not chaos. Most skin health woes, from acne, eczema, and sensitivity, to hormonally influenced issues like PCOS or menopause, stem from an impaired skin barrier. Overburdening the skin with multiple products often fuels inflammation and disrupts the microbiome, rather than creating a happy, healthy complexion. “When clients come to me with a skin concern and I examine what they are using, I almost always reduce the load,” Sharon explains. “Keeping it simple and skin-centric is key. Using multi-functional products that perform many functions is not only a smarter choice for your skin, but also more sustainable and economical. Win, win, win.”
Truth #2: Do you really need an eye cream?
The beauty industry has done a brilliant job carving the face into micro-zones, each conveniently requiring its own $120 solution. The skin around the eyes is delicate, yes, but not magically disconnected from the rest of your face. Sharon recalls meeting an industry-leading formulating chemist almost three decades ago, who casually remarked, “An eye cream is like a cash cow: dilute the formula, pop it in a tiny, fancy jar, and slap a hefty price tag on it.” She left the meeting repulsed, not just by the deceit, but by the waste it created. In reality, a lighter touch with your favourite facial cream or oil, blended with a spritz of hydrating mist and gently applied around the orbital bone, gives the area exactly what it needs. The skin naturally pulls the product close without irritation, much like blotting paper absorbs oil.
Truth #3: Essential oils are not the enemy
In recent years, essential oils have been unfairly cast as villains, often incorrectly lumped together with synthetic fragrances, or misused in formulations. High-quality essential oils, however, are therapeutic and powerful, so much so that they are expensive and rarely suited for mass-market, profit-driven products. When used thoughtfully, they can soothe even the most sensitive skin and form part of a sensory ritual that calms the nervous system, showing benefits on the skin itself. Sharon says, “it is about harnessing nature’s potency to support both skin and wellbeing simultaneously.”
Truth #4: Natural skincare is not created equally
‘Naturally derived’ has become a marketing carnival. Two products can claim to be natural yet behave entirely differently on the skin. Efficacy depends on raw ingredient quality, potency, extraction, and small-batch manufacturing. Take lavender oil, for example: just because an ingredient list reads Lavandula angustifolia does not mean all versions are the same. Multiple grades exist, with prices and effectiveness rising accordingly. Most brands opt for cheaper grades or even completely synthetic versions, known as ‘nature identical’- which shockingly, are legally allowed without disclosure. Truly artisanal brands, able to carefully choose each raw ingredients and blend them in micro batches to ensure potency, stability, and real results, are incredibly rare in an industry that has been guilty of favouring profits over people.
Truth #5: The beauty industry is creating problems and selling you the solutions
A quiet tragedy of modern skincare is that many people are treating issues they did not have until the industry convinced them they did. Over-exfoliation, excessive cleansing, chasing porelessness, even the natural progression of wrinkles, are all problems framed to sell products. Sensitive skin often becomes collateral damage in this quest for instant perfection. “As a sensitive skin specialist with over four decades of experience, I wish we would all be kinder to our skin barriers and to ourselves,” Sharon says. Awareness and restraint are revolutionary acts in today’s landscape.
Truth #6: Skin health should be approached holistically
Skin is a mirror of your lifestyle. Stress, sleep, hormones, diet, and even your breathing show up on the surface. Topicals matter, of course, but they are only one instrument in a larger orchestra. Viewing skin as part of the whole system shifts the conversation from “How do I fix this?” to “What is this telling me?” It opens the door to ritual: skincare as grounding, not just grooming. When skincare becomes self-care, it not only nourishes the body, it centers the mind and soul, too.
Sharon’s approach reminds us that great skin is not about endless products, miracle serums, or the latest trend. It is about understanding your skin, respecting its natural balance, and using high-quality ingredients thoughtfully. Whether it is rethinking unnecessary products, embracing natural oils, or approaching skincare holistically, these truths challenge conventional wisdom and empower you to make informed choices. As Sharon puts it, real beauty begins with real skin health, and sometimes, less really is more.
You can find Sharon’s iconic skincare line MV Skintherapy at www.mvskintherapy.com
