In the beauty industry where competition is fiercer than before and elbows sharply push you out of the way (sounds a bit like blogging), it’s harder to stand out and shout unless there is a big budget behind a campaign. One brand which thankfully doesn’t rely on hype or imitation is Tropic, founded by Susie Ma who came third in The Apprentice in 2011.
I’ve grown fond of Tropic because of its ethics and simple philosophy to create products freshly made from sustainably sourced natural, cruelty-free ingredients (and I would hope, unlikely to cause irritation to those with sensitive skin woes). Everything I’ve tried so far is a winner – the haircare range, the body washes, So Sleepy Pillow Mist spray, Body Smooth Refreshing Polish, Face Smooth Brightening Polish, Smoothing Cleanser (and more), and all products are manufactured in the UK and very reasonably priced.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to the opening of Tropic’s new headquarters in Surrey along with brand ambassadors. To be exact, it’s a bigger place as the business has grown rapidly and needs more space to operate. All of Tropic’s products are created and packaged on the premises (in their ‘Beauty Kitchen’), and the brand’s marketing team sits on the first floor. There is even a lab on site.
A recognisable face also showed up – Lord Sugar, who is Susie’s business partner. I won’t lie, I was momentarily distracted by him. You see, without trying (and purely based on coincidence), I have seen so many ex-candidates from the Apprentice (and met a few), walked past Claude Littner on my local high street and sat next to Margaret Mountford on the district line tube so seeing Lord Sugar was kind of a big deal (for me). Ah, my dad would have been impressed. Any way, I am digressing…
There was a colourful and very healthy vegan buffet laid on, cocktails on the go and a chance to mingle. We then had a guided tour of the factory and shown how Tropic products are made, packaged and dispatched. Products are sold directly through Tropic’s website or via its ambassadors so without the middle man, the prices remain competitive. Batches are also staggered so they are as fresh as possible when they reach their final destination – there is no such thing as stock-piling.
While we were there, some exciting news was revealed: Tropic is expanding its repertoire with the launch of its make-up range including a foundation, blush, lipsticks, a brow pomade, mascara and more. For those of us wishing to use cruelty-free, eco and vegan friendly products, this is very much welcomed.
I will be bringing more news of Tropic’s cosmetic range very soon. In the meantime, if you would like to explore Tropic’s current range, visit www.tropicskincare.com.
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