Interview: Susie Ma of Tropic

At just 15 years old, Susie Ma launched Tropic with £200 and a few homemade scrubs inspired by her grandmother’s botanical recipes. Two decades on, she has transformed that teenage venture into one of the UK’s largest privately owned beauty companies, with 1.3 million customers, more than seven million products sold each year, and a growing international presence. Along the way, she became the youngest-ever candidate on BBC’s The Apprentice and the only runner-up to secure Lord Sugar’s backing — before regaining full ownership of Tropic in 2023.

Under her leadership, Tropic has expanded into skincare, hair care, body care, sun care, and makeup, while also introducing an ambassador model that now supports over 20,000 women across the UK. The company has funded more than seven million days of schooling and helped build schools in Nepal, Cambodia, and Madagascar. Susie’s achievements have been recognised with honours including Forbes 30 Under 30 and EY Entrepreneur of the Year. As Tropic enters its third decade, she continues to guide the business with a focus on growth, purpose, and responsibility.

We recently caught up with Susie to discuss the origins of Tropic, her proudest milestones, and what’s next for the brand.

What inspired you to create Tropic?

My grandma! She was a medicinal chemist and toxicologist who taught me from a young age to care for my body inside and out with the freshest, most natural ingredients. Growing up in Cairns, Australia, we were surrounded by exotic fruits and plants, so wellness and nature went hand in hand.

When my mum and I moved to London, life was tough. At 15, I decided to help by recreating my grandma’s homemade body scrub, pouring it into jam jars, and selling it at Greenwich Market. I had no idea that this little scrub would go on to spark Tropic’s entire journey!

What product makes the best introduction to the brand?

Definitely our Smoothing Cleanser. It’s our hero product for a reason — a spa-in-a-bottle that’s dermatologist-approved for all skin types. It melts away makeup and daily grime while leaving your skin buttery soft and hydrated.

The eucalyptus and rosemary oils make it smell like a mini facial, but if you prefer, we’ve got a fragrance-free version too. It’s the one product I recommend to absolutely everyone, because it never fails to impress.

What has been the biggest highlight?

Honestly, it’s the people. I started Tropic so young and never imagined it would grow into a community of over 20,000 ambassadors. Seeing them find purpose, flexibility, financial freedom, and real friendships through Tropic — that’s my proudest achievement.

On a personal level, regaining full ownership of Tropic in 2023 was huge. It was something I’d dreamed of and worked towards for years, and it felt so empowering to bring the brand fully home. But truly, I feel like the best is yet to come.

What advice would you give to someone launching their own beauty business?

Know your why. That purpose becomes your compass — if an idea or opportunity doesn’t tie back to it, it’s probably not worth your time. The beauty industry is noisy, so having a crystal-clear mission is what will set you apart and keep you going through the hard bits.

What’s next for Tropic?

More skin-first innovation! We’ve got some really exciting launches coming that blend natural potency with serious results.

We’ve been proudly UK-focused for 21 years, but with so many global fans asking for Tropic, international expansion is definitely on the horizon. Watch this space — Tropic is going global.

What does your daily skincare routine look like?

Mornings: I kick off with our Hydrating Cleanser to refresh and rebalance, followed by Juicy Greens and Rainforest Dew for a hydration boost. Then it’s Skin Re-Leaf Moisturiser to lock everything in and, of course, SPF — either Sun Day Dewy Facial SPF or our new CC Cream Satin Skin Tint with SPF 50.

For a quick pop of colour, I love dabbing our Butter Tint Lip & Cheek Balm in shade Loved across cheeks, lips, and even eyelids. It’s five seconds to looking alive!

Evenings: No matter how tired I am, I always double cleanse — Smoothing Cleanser or Radiance Cleanser to remove the day, followed by Hydrating Cleanser Refreshing Gelée. Then a mist of Morning Mist (yes, it works wonders at night too), a serum or oil depending on my skin’s mood, and a mini face massage to unwind.

What are three beauty products you can’t live without?

• Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers: my daily non-negotiable. They make me look instantly more awake.
• Organic coconut oil: the ultimate multitasker. I use it as a conditioning hair mask and I love the scent of coconut.
• Pure aloe vera gel: I have an aloe plant at home, so I scoop it straight from the leaf. It soothes, hydrates, and feels instantly refreshing on my skin.

What’s the biggest skincare lesson you’ve learned?

That skincare isn’t just about looking good — it’s about feeding your skin with the best nature has to offer. My grandma always reminded me that skin is both our first impression and our strongest form of protection, so we should nourish it with the freshest, most potent plant extracts. At Tropic, we use maximum concentrations of natural botanicals and make our formulations fresh for optimum potency and antioxidant activity. For me, healthy, radiant skin is the direct result of giving it the very best ingredients.

What person or brand would you love to collaborate with?

Sir David Attenborough, without question. His lifelong dedication to protecting our planet mirrors everything we stand for at Tropic. We’ve already planted over half a million trees around the world, built a coral nursery on the Great Barrier Reef, and contributed hundreds of thousands to conservation and carbon offsetting. To join forces with him on a community sustainability project in the regions where we source our ingredients would be incredible. He’s been a tireless advocate for reforestation, ocean health, and biodiversity, all causes at the heart of our mission, and together we could inspire lasting change for both people and planet.

What’s not getting enough attention in the beauty industry right now?

The skin microbiome. We’re just beginning to understand how the billions of microbes living on our skin influence sensitivity, ageing, even acne. Instead of chasing single “hero” ingredients, the future of skincare lies in creating balance — nurturing our skin’s ecosystem so it can thrive. At Tropic, we’re investing heavily in this area because it’s the key to long-term, truly healthy skin.

Tropic is available in the UK at tropicskincare.com. The brand is not currently available in the US.