Beauty myths, real talk: an interview with gloss etc

When two of Australia’s most trusted beauty voices speak, we listen. In this candid chat, Sarah Tarca and Sherine Youssef-former beauty editors turned co-founders of gloss etc – share their insider take on the ever-changing world of skincare and cosmetics. From the myths they wish would disappear, to the ingredients they swear by (spoiler: humble heroes like urea and glycerin get their moment), Sarah and Sherine offer a smart, refreshing perspective on what really matters in beauty today.

Key Takeaways

• “Clean” and “natural” are marketing terms, not guarantees of safer or better skincare.
• Humble workhorse ingredients like urea and glycerin deserve more attention for barrier support and hydration.
• Real innovation fills genuine gaps, not “me too” launches with the same claims.
• Consumers are more discerning and want the how, the results, and the limits explained clearly.
• Age and stage matter: texture, shape and gentle flavours help guide healthy habits from the start.

1. The Big Picture

What are some of the most persistent beauty myths you wish would finally be busted?

That “clean” and “natural” ingredients/skincare/formulas are better for your skin. To be clear, “clean” is a marketing term, and one pretty much everyone can claim because it’s unregulated. There is persistent fear-mongering in this space and to be honest, it’s boring and old.

Are there any popular trends right now that you think are more hype than help?

A lot of what is trending that does our head in can be linked to the clean/natural movement we briefly ranted about above. Please, do not make your own sunscreen, do not tan because you need the vitamin D (!!!), and do not use beef tallow as a face moisturiser (this is why).

2. Industry Insight

Having tested and trialled so many products over the years, what really sets a good product apart?

True innovation, or something that genuinely fills a gap in the market. If we had a dollar for every press release we get that says “XX founder couldn’t find this in the market so they created it”, when literally we could name 10 products already in that space, well, we would be retired by now, preferably at George Clooney’s house in Lake Como. The market is really full and the gaps are miniscule, so it’s impressive when someone genuinely identifies that.

And yes, innovation. This is why we’ve stayed in the industry so long; it’s incredibly fast-moving and we love the constant influx of ingredients, technology and research. Beauty is fast adopting and always innovating, and it’s exciting to be a part of.

What beauty ingredients or innovations do you think deserve more attention?

Urea! We love urea! (So do all of you, apparently: one Dermal Therapy Lip Balm sells every nine seconds. Wild.) And glycerin, too. They’re not as sexy as, say, peptides, so people often overlook them, but really whenever we see them on an ingredient list, the product is well on its way to winning our hearts.

What shifts are you seeing in how people approach beauty? Are we getting smarter?

It’s less about being smarter (we’ve always been smart) but more discerning. We expect more now from our ad campaigns and our marketing, so it’s not just about a sexy celebrity and a catchy headline, or an overarching promise like “anti-ageing.” The consumer wants to know HOW. How does it work? Where are the results? What are its limitations? They want products explained to them more by people who they can trust (and hey, that’s where we step in!).

3. Personal POV

What’s one product or ingredient you personally swear by, and one you just can’t get behind?

Sherine: Vitamins C and A. I use both religiously (C in the morning, A in the evening) and have done so for something like two decades. They’ve both been enormously beneficial when it comes to the texture of my skin. It’s not so much that I can’t get behind bronzer as I don’t know how to use it. Still. After all this time. I just can’t seem to apply it without making my face look muddy.

Sarah: Marine collagen. I’ve taken it every day for the last seven or so years and it makes such a difference to the quality and firmness of my skin, the strength of my nails, and even my hair. Also, sunscreen, forever and always, AMEN. What I can’t get behind is artificial vanilla-fragranced anything – I still have PTSD from the ‘90s Impulse that everyone wore – and I think vanilla is often done more wrong than right. This may be an unpopular opinion but I think all body lotions should be fragrance-free. Let your perfume be free! It’s got a job to do.

What’s something you’ve changed your mind about over your time as a beauty editor?

Sherine: The regular use of body moisturiser. I haven’t changed my mind about it so much as been forced to use it more regularly because ageing is not kind on shins. 

Sarah: I’ve changed my mind a lot and upgraded my thinking as more evidence becomes available! For example, there was a time where I would’ve told people that mixing sunscreen with your makeup was fine and adequate protection. We now have plenty of resources that tell us otherwise, and that most people are not using enough sunscreen (a teaspoon on your face) and you’re certainly (hopefully) not using that much foundation on your face. As new information becomes available, I’m always upgrading my thinking, that’s the way science and innovation works! Sherine has still yet to convince me on the double cleanse though.

4. Behind the Scenes

What’s something readers might not realise about how beauty journalism works behind the scenes?

It’s actually really bloody hard to find new and fun ways to say “bright lipstick” and “mascara that won’t flake.” We may not be saving the world, but there is a lot of creativity that goes into coming up with ways to describe beauty products, and to communicate the benefits in a fun and approachable way. Also, sadly, not every product that is written about has been extensively (or at all) trialled by the person writing about it. This is why we had one rule when we started gloss etc: every product we write about is personally tried and tested by us, or one of our “etc.” It’s how we’re built such a loyal community that trusts we are always serving the truth.

What makes a beauty story worth telling?

Beauty is entirely subjective and universal. We all want to feel beautiful, whatever our definition of that is, and we all participate in beauty rituals and routines, whether we’re aware of it or not. Do you brush your hair before you leave the house? You have a beauty routine.

5. Quickfire

• Most underrated beauty hack? Double masking saves time and targets different areas of skin. So do an eye mask and a face mask.
• One trend you secretly love. The return of the French mani. Again, we have PTSD from the chunky ones that reigned in the 90s, but modern versions feature whisper-thin white lines, and they’re kinda elegant?
• The best beauty tip you’ve ever received. Do all your hairstyling the night before (hot tools, texture sprays, all of it), so that the next morning, it looks mussed-up and not too perfect.