A force for good
beyond beauty

Susie Ma is the Founder and CEO of Tropic Skincare, a natural beauty empire reshaping the industry with products that are both ethical and effective.  

Founded at her kitchen table when she was just fifteen, Susie recreated and sold her grandma’s body scrub recipe at London markets to help her mum pay the bills.  

Driven by her knowledge of powerful tropical ingredients, hunger for impressive clinical results, and commitment to truly sustainable beauty, Susie’s side-hustle soon transformed into one of the UK’s fastest-growing skincare companies.  

Early inspirations

Susie was first introduced to the antioxidant powers of tropical botanicals by her grandma.

A medicinal chemist, surgeon and toxicologist, Susie's grandma taught her about the importance of nourishing her skin (and body) with fresh, natural ingredients from a young age.

Tropical roots

Born in Shanghai, Susie spent her childhood in tropical Cairns, Australia. 

Surrounded by leafy rainforests, vibrant fruits and exotic flowers, she was in awe of the natural world around her. 

Little did she know, this sun-soaked equatorial region would later become the origin of her brand’s name, and its ingredients.

Business beginnings

After moving to London in 2002, Susie’s mum found herself struggling to make ends meet. 

Determined to help her mother pay the bills, Susie, now thirteen, started recreating the body scrub that her grandma had formulated back in Cairns.

Originally used to soothe mosquito bites, Susie loved how the scrub softened and nourished her skin – and she knew others would too.

Success in a jam jar

Susie gathered 50 empty jam jars, glued on a homemade label, and filled them with the tropical blend.

Aged fifteen, she pitched up at Greenwich Market and started selling. In just one day, Susie sold out.

Over the next six years, Susie studied full-time while using her evenings and weekends to formulate recipes, make products in her mum’s kitchen, and sell them across London.  

Open for business

After appearing on BBC’s The Apprentice in 2011, Susie secured investment and led the business through exponential growth.

In the same year, the first-ever Tropic HQ opened.

All product formulation moved from Susie's mum's kitchen table, to a new, state-of-the-art beauty kitchen.

A leader in natural beauty

With Susie as CEO, Tropic has gone from strength to strength, consecutively ranking as one of the UK’s fastest-growing skincare brands for the past six years. In 2023, Susie regained full ownership of the business.

“There is one driving force behind everything I do, personally and professionally – the desire to help create a healthier, greener, more empowered world. That’s the Infinite Purpose which defines Tropic’s brand DNA, guiding every decision and product launch.”  

Awards & Press

Susie's achievements and accolades haven't gone unnoticed by the media. Read, and hear, all about her road to building an ethical, planet-protective beauty business, and beyond.

The Times - Read Susie's latest monthly column.

High Performance podcast - Listen to Susie explain our Infinite Purpose.

Glamour- Find out what Glamour has to say about Susie.

Charity

From donating 10% of Tropic’s profits to charities and good causes, to making trailblazing eco-conscious choices, and empowering thousands of women to build their own beauty businesses, Susie never loses sight of the reason behind her hard work.

Personal challenges

Each year, Susie participates in the STRIVE Challenge, an epic endurance event organised by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin. Alongside an inspiring group of global business leaders, they take on grueling physical battles to raise vital funds for Big Change, a charity empowering young people to thrive in life, not just exams.   

From climbing Mont Blanc and snowshoeing across the Arctic Circle, to treacherous coastal cycles and exhausting sea kayaks, Susie has helped to raise over £7.75 million for Big Change.   

Susie’s daily routine

Indulge in the delicious textures and uplifting fragrances of lush tropical formulas. Susie’s signature routine nurtures fresh-faced dewiness and an illuminating glow. 

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