For decades, the beauty industry has preyed on the insecurities of women, using language that reinforces the idea that beauty is something to be fixed or fought against. The term ‘anti-ageing’, a staple in countless beauty product descriptions, epitomises this mindset, suggesting that ageing is something to be feared, avoided, and reversed. At MV we have rejected the very idea of ‘fighting’ age, in favour of embracing the wisdom, beauty, and vitality that come with life experience.

“I have been pro-ageing since I formed MV back in 1999 and more so since 2001 when I lost my best friend to ovarian cancer. There is no greater reminder of how precious life is than when confronted with death.

Some years after my friend’s death, a mutual friend pointed out to our close circle that our friend would never go grey or have to worry about wrinkles reflecting her time on earth. That is when I made the decision to stop dying my hair. This was at a time when ‘silver’ was not on trend in any way, shape, or form. My hairdresser raised an eyebrow, she thought I had gone mad, while many of my friends repeated, ‘Are you really sure?’

Never one to swim with the current personally or professionally, I have been outspoken about the anti-ageing marketing machine within the beauty industry for more than three decades.”

You can read more about my stance on ageing here.

To understand why this shift is so important, we need to take a step back and look at the origins of the beauty industry. While beauty rituals have always been part of human culture, the commercialisation of beauty products in the 19th and 20th centuries was largely shaped by men. Figures like Max Factor and Charles Revson, founder of Revlon, turned beauty into a multi-billion-dollar industry, but they did so with one glaring focus: selling solutions to perceived problems, namely women’s ‘flaws’.

This commercialisation was built on the idea that women needed to be ‘fixed’ to fit a very narrow ideal of beauty. Advertisements pushed the notion that to be beautiful, women had to look young, flawless, and free from any imperfection. This is where the term ‘anti-ageing’ first began to gain traction, encouraging women to view ageing as something to be avoided at all costs. These messages, deeply ingrained in society, often undermined women’s sense of self-worth by equating their value with their physical appearance.

At MV, we are not just rejecting the narrow, exploitative definitions of beauty. We are also advocating for a return to ancient beauty practices, rituals that women have been passing down for centuries, focused on holistic care and self-love. These practices were often rooted in self-nurturing and cultural meaning rather than the idea of fixing flaws.

Across history and cultures, beauty rituals were less about erasing time and more about honouring it. In ancient Egypt, both men and women applied kohl around their eyes, not as a way to enhance appearance but as a powerful multi-purpose ritual. The dark pigment reduced the sun’s glare, protected against eye infections, and was believed to ward off evil spirits. In India, Ayurvedic traditions used turmeric masks, sandalwood pastes, and daily oil massage as sacred acts to nourish both skin and spirit. In China, powdered pearl was prized for its brightening qualities, while jade rollers stimulated circulation and balanced qi. In Japan, rice water rinses softened and illuminated the complexion, while camellia oil kept skin and hair supple and resilient.

These were not quick fixes or ways to erase imperfection, but intentional, grounding rituals that connected people to the rhythms of nature and the wisdom of their own bodies. Sharon’s creation of Skin Rituals was born from this same understanding. She saw skincare not as a chore or a cosmetic correction, but as an essential, mindful practice, a ritual that nurtures both body and mind.

By embracing these ancient traditions, we are not only rejecting harmful industry norms, but also reclaiming something that was once ours: a holistic, mindful approach to self-care that honours the natural beauty of every stage of life.