I recently connected with Three Ships Beauty founders, Connie Lo and Laura Thompson, to talk about all things skincare, wellness, and entrepreneurship.
If you’re not familiar, Three Ships Beauty is a clean beauty brand making natural, science-backed skincare both effective and affordable. What started in Connie’s apartment kitchen with just $4,000 has grown into a global brand with over 13,000 five-star reviews and a loyal community.
In this interview, Connie and Laura share the inspiration behind Three Ships, their go-to skincare products, the wellness habits that keep them grounded, and honest advice for women starting businesses of their own.
Whether you’re interested in non-toxic beauty, founder stories, or simple skincare routines that work, you’ll love this conversation.
If you’re exploring simple, non-toxic skincare, I’ve also shared more about my experience using Frøya Organics and the results I saw after a few weeks, along with the non-toxic skincare products I actually use.
The Inspiration Behind Three Ships Beauty
Q: Let’s start at the beginning — what inspired you to launch Three Ships Beauty?
A: Three Ships was born out of our mutual frustration with the beauty industry—specifically how overpriced, greenwashed, and confusing the natural skincare market can be.
We wanted to create something different: a brand rooted in truly natural, effective, and accessible products. What began in Connie’s apartment kitchen with just $4,000 eventually evolved into the rebrand of Three Ships in 2020—and we’ve been on this journey ever since!
What Makes Three Ships Different
Q: What makes your approach different from what’s already out there?
A: Believe it or not, there’s still no legal definition of the word “natural” in beauty. This has created confusion and widespread greenwashing, with many brands appearing more natural than they actually are.
At Three Ships, we don’t claim that everyone must use natural products—but we strongly believe that if someone chooses natural skincare, they shouldn’t have to second-guess what’s in it. That’s why we’re fully transparent: every ingredient we use is 100% plant- or mineral-derived.
We also focus on ingredients that deliver results:
- All products are clinically tested, hypoallergenic, and safe for sensitive skin.
- We’re in the process of getting clinical efficacy testing for our best-sellers.
- To date, we’ve received 13,000+ five-star reviews from our community.
Founders’ Go-To Skincare Products
Q: Do you have a go-to product or offering in your line that you personally use every day?
Connie:
- Jelly Drops Serum: Hyaluronic acid serum I use every morning before moisturizer and SPF. Keeps my skin hydrated and bouncy all day.
- Restore Ceramides Cream: Extremely moisturizing without feeling greasy. Developed with one of Canada’s top dermatologists.
Laura:
- Purify Gel Cleanser: Gentle but effective. Keeps my hormonal breakouts in check and leaves my skin clean feeling clean without the tight, stripped feeling.
- Superfruit Exfoliating Mask: My weekly mini spa moment. This AHA and lactic acid exfoliating mask gives me an instant glow and keeps my skin smooth and bright.
Wellness Routines That Work
Connie:
I strength train 3–4 times a week, take one Lagree reformer Pilates class, and make sure I hit at least 10,000 steps a day. My walking pad has been a game changer. It keeps me moving and energized even on desk-heavy days.
This past month, in preparation of the busy holiday season, I’ve also swapped my daily coffee for matcha. I miss the taste of coffee, but not the jitters or anxiety. My energy is steadier and my sleep has never been better!
Laura:
Wellness, to me, means living with intention: entering rest, movement, nourishment, and presence as non-negotiables.
The most important habit is getting 8 hours of sleep every night. No matter how busy things get, I lean into sleep as my foundation.
Movement is also a daily rhythm and help me reconnect physically and mentally in a way nothing else does:
- Walks through my neighborhood (sometimes “phone-call walks”)
- Yoga and reformer Pilates twice a week (my goal is 100 classes this year!)
On the nutrition front, I prep meals each week and eat out just once or twice. It keeps things simple and intentional.
“Wellness is about staying grounded through the unpredictability of life and business. It’s a way to care for yourself and give yourself grace so I approach it with a flexible mindset.” – Laura
Finding Balance as Entrepreneurs
Q: How do you find balance when life gets busy? Any small rituals that help keep you grounded?
Connie: Self-care shifts depending on the season of life. I have a long list of practices that bring me peace like working out, meditation, hot/cold therapy, or trying new recipes. But when life gets busy, I narrow it down to one or two non-negotiables. Right now, that’s daily movement.
I also remind myself during intense times: “This too shall pass.” It helps me move through challenges with calm and perspective.
Laura: I don’t think balance truly exists, at least not long-term. It’s more like a teeter totter between work and personal life. I think approaching those periods with compassion is essential and that’s normal to feel out of balance sometimes.
Rituals that keep me grounded:
- Weekly calls with my parents
- Quiet time reading in bed before sleep (keeps me off my phone and away from doom-scrolling before bed)
Favorite Meals & Rituals
Q: Do you have a favorite meal, snack, or drink that gets you through a hectic day?
Connie: On hectic days, I grab quick protein like Chomps beef sticks to stay fueled. No matter what, I always make time for my matcha ritual. Preparing it forces me to pause, and that grounding moment changes how I feel for the rest of my day.
Laura: My mornings always start with a coffee, it’s my little ritual before the day kicks in. I’ve been adding a scoop of protein powder to it, which has been a game-changer for keeping me full during early meetings. Other staples:
- Overnight oats (easy prep, steady energy)
- Blume’s SuperBelly in water before workouts or on the go. (refreshing + gut health support)
Lessons From Building a Business
Q: What’s something about building your business that has surprised you the most?
Connie: I thought imposter syndrome would fade after a few years, but it never fully goes away. Even when you’re learning and feel confident is some areas, new problems and challenges emerge. I keep a screenshot folder of wins both big and small, that I revisit when I feel stuck. It helps me see progress isn’t always linear. When I’m feeling stuck or discouraged, I review those wins to see how far we’ve come.
Laura: What surprised me most is how much time and energy goes into team culture and leadership. I thought my role would focus more on product development, finance and marketing. But aligning and motivating a team takes constant attention especially when your business and team are growing quickly.
Culture isn’t set once, it’s nurtured daily. Leading people with clarity and consistency has become one of the most important parts of my role.
Three Ships Beauty Founders Advice for Women in Business
Connie: Embrace the unknown, get comfortable with uncertainty, and launch before you feel ready. Perfectionism often leads to procrastination, but it’s okay to start with something imperfect. You’ll learn as you go. When Laura and I launched from my kitchen, we gave ourselves three months. Our first product embarrassed us, but testing it with real customers taught us that imperfect action always beats waiting for perfection
Laura: Learn how to sell. Both Connie and I came from sales backgrounds, and that has helped us immensely. As a founder, you’re always selling: to employees, investors, retailers, or customers. Sales isn’t about being pushy, it’s about listening, building trust, and clearly communicating value. Mastering that unlocks doors you never thought possible, and I know we wouldn’t be here without it.”
How the Founders Recharge
Q: When you’re not working, how do you like to recharge?
Connie: A fellow founder once told me: “Don’t let being a founder become all that you are.” I recharge by:
- Trying new fitness studios in the city with friends or solo
- Spending time with friends and family
- Exploring new restaurants, hosting people over or traveling
Laura: I focus on activities that bring joy and expose me to new ideas or experiences:
- Yoga and pilates helps me to take care of my body and reconnect with my breath
- Date nights with my husband
- Traveling and prioritizing time off (this year I visited Poland, Sweden, the French Alps, and Malta)
- Watching NFL football. I never miss a Cowboys game!
What’s Next for Three Ships Beauty
Q: Finally, what’s next for you and Three Ships? What can we look forward to?
We’ll be launching a new highly-requested hydrating product the first week of October, so definitely stay tuned for that! Of course, Black Friday is coming up, so we’re heads down planning for another amazing holiday season.
Next year you’ll be seeing us in more retailers. Follow us on IG @threeshipsbeauty if you want to stay in the know!
Wrap Up With Three Ships Beauty
It was such a treat getting to chat with Connie and Laura and hear the story behind Three Ships Beauty. Their journey is a great reminder that you don’t have to wait for “perfect” to start, you just need to begin.
P.S. I’ve tried some of their products and currently obsessed with the Bio-Retinol Smoothing Eye Cream and their super gentle Superfruit Exfoliating Mask.
