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Behind the Brand with Three Ships Beauty Co-Founders Laura Thompson + Connie Lo

By Charlotte Fortier

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Connie Lo and Laura Thompson, the dynamic duo behind Three Ships Beauty, are on a mission to make clean beauty affordable, transparent, and effective. Together, they’ve built a brand rooted in sustainability and simplicity, crafting products that combine natural ingredients with science-backed formulations. Their journey from bootstrapping Three Ships to becoming industry leaders is a testament to their shared commitment to creating accessible beauty solutions without compromising on quality or the environment.

In this edition of Behind The Brand, Connie and Laura reflect on their entrepreneurial partnership, the challenges of breaking into a competitive market, and what’s next for their innovative brand.

1.  What’s your earliest memory of “beauty”?

Laura: Growing up my mom rarely wore makeup so it wasn’t a big part of my life as a child. I think I was around 5-6 years old when I was was in my mom’s bathroom with her when she was getting ready and saw her using mascara for the very first time! Even now, the most that she’ll wear is usually some lip gloss. I think this is a large part of why I rarely wear makeup myself and focus more on the health/balance of my body + skin as a whole. 
 
Connie:  My earliest memory of “beauty” was when I was around six. My grandma made a soup with Chinese herbs, lovingly telling me it would help me gain weight (I was a skinny kid!), while telling my sister it would help her lose weight. That moment made me realize how confusing and subjective beauty and wellness can be.

2.  What inspired you to launch your brand?

Laura: I was in my final year of school (studying Chemical Engineering) and started to get more into natural beauty as a consumer. The more that I learned the more frustrated I felt about the state of the options available. Everything was either too expensive, over-promised and under-delivered and was full of ingredients that I didn’t want to use on my skin! This is when the idea for Three Ships was born. 

 

Connie: My passion for natural skincare began when I was 10, struggling with pre-teen acne. I tried everything at the drugstore for my irritated, breakout-prone skin. Finally, out of desperation, I asked my mom for help. She suggested we visit the local farmers market and Whole Foods for ingredients to soothe my skin. I started making face masks with oats, green tea, banana, and egg white – and my skin cleared up dramatically.
 
Years later (over a decade later!), a mutual friend introduced me to my co-founder, Laura, who was developing a natural makeup remover and wanted feedback. My childhood friend remembered me as the girl who made her own skincare and recommended we speak. Laura and I instantly bonded over our frustrations with the overpriced, greenwashed beauty industry. Driven to make a change, we launched our brand with just $4,000 CAD in savings.

3.  How have your personal values shaped your brand?

Laura: Immensely. I was diagnosed with brain cancer when I was 26 so making sure that I’m taking good care of myself by watching what I eat and the products that I use every day as been even more important to me now post diagnosis. This is definitely part of the reason why I’m so obsessive with our ingredients when we are developing new products.
 
Connie:  Laura and I connected the first time we met over our shared values, which include Hustle, Curiosity, Integrity, and Compassion. These values have become the foundation of Three Ships and guide us every day – they shape our team, as we hire, fire, and recognize members based on alignment with these principles. They also guide our products and how we engage with our customers. For instance, we’re committed to using only natural ingredients, never cutting corners even if other brands do (Integrity). And with our “Beautiful Before, Beautiful After” photos, we emphasize self-compassion and confidence (Compassion).

4.  What was your greatest hope for your business when you started out?

Laura: When we first started Connie and I were focused solely on the finish line of getting acquired. Our goal was to sell for $10M by the time we are 30. Needless to say we’ve grown a lot as founders since then and no longer care solely about an acquisition. We’ve already learned a ton including that brands are rarely acquired for anything less than $50M! I think that we are way more patient now than we used to be when we were first starting out.

 

Connie: When we first started, our ambitions were much smaller than they are today. I remember hoping to secure a major North American partnership, which we achieved with our Whole Foods partnership, expanding to every store across the U.S. and Canada. We also initially thought about selling the company for a modest sum by the time we turned 30 – a goal that has evolved as our business has grown!

5.  What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an entrepreneur?

Laura: Being diagnosed with brain cancer 6 months before Three Ships launched. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through and my entire world seemed to crash down around me in that moment.
 
I’m thankfully doing well and the cancer is stable but it’s still a massive battle to balance a growing company alongside all of the Dr appointments and side effects of my treatments. I dealt with a serious bout of depression after I was diagnosed as well and honestly having the business was one of a few things that kept me going. It gave me a sense of purpose and something to look forward to each day which was and still is such a blessing. 
 
Connie: Navigating a rebrand including a name change during the pandemic in the same year that my co-founder was diagnosed with a brain tumour was by far the biggest challenge we’ve faced. It was an incredibly uncertain period, both professionally and personally. We were already managing the complexities of rebranding under tight deadlines, but Laura’s diagnosis added a layer of emotional weight and unpredictability that affected us deeply.
 
Balancing the demands of business with our personal well-being during such a tough time taught us resilience, strengthened our partnership, and gave us a renewed sense of purpose for Three Ships.
 
"We're also here to break the stereotype that natural products don't work, it just isn't true and this is why we have placed such a focus on having all of our products clinically tested."

6.  What makes your brand different? 

Laura: We believe that natural should mean something and are on a mission to push for greater regulation over the beauty space. There should be a legal definition of what natural, clean and sustainable means. We’re also here to break the stereotype that natural products don’t work, it just isn’t true and this is why we have placed such a focus on having all of our products clinically tested. 

Connie: Our approach to “natural” means using only ingredients that are fully plant- or mineral-derived. We avoid over 1,900 potential toxins and irritants, and we meticulously vet each ingredient, down to its sub-ingredients, to ensure our formulas are safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

 
Natural beauty can be confusing – surprisingly there’s no legal definition for “natural,” so our goal is to help customers navigate the world of natural beauty confidently. We’re even advocating for legislation that would require brands to meet a consistent standard if they label their products as “natural.” Plus, we believe natural ingredients can be as effective as synthetic alternatives, so we use only the most efficacious plant-based ingredients.

7.  How has beauty evolved since you started, and where do you see it heading?

Laura: When we first started natural was a unique value proposition whereas now it’s an entire category. I think this is going to continue as the consumer appetite for better for you products just continues to grow.
 
Connie: Natural skincare products were extremely expensive when we first started, with few brand players in the market charging upwards of $100+ for a single product. Now, with more brands entering the space each year, we’re seeing a democratization of beauty, with more affordable and transparent products available to consumers. I believe the future of beauty is natural. Just as consumers began prioritizing healthier, organic foods, they’re increasingly interested in plant-based skincare ingredients that are safe for their bodies. This shift is leading to a beauty industry where natural products are the standard.

8.  What advice would you give to aspiring beauty entrepreneurs looking to create their own brand?

Laura: Don’t compare yourself to other companies. Especially early on – it’s not fair to yourself to compare your brand to a company that’s 5, 10, 15 years into their journey. Also, learn how to sell! It’s an essential skill for all founders to have and is so often overlooked as a skill.
 
Connie: My advice to aspiring beauty entrepreneurs is to focus on what makes you unique and tune out the rest. When we first started, we were inspired by the many brands in the market, which initially made it hard for us to define a clear brand voice or value proposition. Over time, we learned to put on “horse blinders” and concentrate solely on our mission and unique selling points. Stay true to your vision – that’s what will set you apart.

9. How do you navigate the complex relationship between beauty and self-esteem?

Laura: To me, it starts with recognizing that beauty is subjective and external appearance is only one aspect of who we really are.

True self-esteem comes from internal qualities like self-acceptance, confidence, and self-compassion – all of which have nothing to do with what we look like! Try to view yourself as a complete person and go through your days with compassion towards yourself. 

Connie: Navigating the relationship between beauty and self-esteem is something we take seriously, as it’s deeply woven into our brand philosophy. We aim to create products that enhance natural beauty without feeding into insecurities. For instance, we use “Beautiful Before, Beautiful After” imagery to remind our customers that skincare should be about self-care, not achieving perfection.

We also avoid terms like “Anti-Aging,” and instead encourage our audience to implement rituals and routines that aid them in healthy aging. We also prioritize transparency in our messaging, avoiding exaggerated claims that can create unrealistic expectations. Our goal is to empower customers to feel good in their own skin, helping them view beauty as a form of self-expression and self-respect, rather than a measure of self-worth. By focusing on education, transparency, and authenticity, we’re working to build a more positive and inclusive beauty space.

 

10.  What’s a line you love besides your own?

Laura: Ilia – their formulas are great and they have the best clean mascara I’ve ever tried. 
 
Connie: I love Crown Affair, a beautiful haircare line that encourages customers to slow down and appreciate the ritual of haircare. I’m a big fan of their hair towel and leave-in conditioner.

11. What is your most essential self-care ritual?

Laura: Getting lots of sleep! This is something that I never ever compromise on. I need at least 8 hours to feel like myself and be my most productive and creative. 
 
Connie: Daily physical movement is a non-negotiable for me. This can look like squeezing in an hour of walking on Zoom calls with my walking pad, or scheduling in workouts at the nearest fitness studio to my hotel when traveling. Working out is essential for my physical health, but more importantly, it’s an amazing form of therapy and clears my head.

12. What’s something Canadians in particular need to consider when it comes to skincare?

Laura: Remember that you can and should rotate your skincare routine between seasons. The products that you’re going to need in the summer when it’s hot and humid are very different from what you’ll need suring the winter when it’s cold and dry. Think of it how you change out your closet with the seasons, you should be doing the same for your skincare routine!
 
Connie: I recommend focusing on products that protect your skin barrier in the drier winter months. When it’s cold out and we’re cranking up the heat, our skin barrier can become damaged and dry, leading to breakouts, redness, and irritation. Using products like the Three Ships Restore Ceramides Barrier Repair Cream and Replenish Ceramides Serum can really help!

13.  What excites you most about the future of beauty?

Laura: I’m really excited about the innovative ingredients that are coming out. Each month I get newsletters on the latest and greatest ingredients to hit the market and I can’t wait to see what’s next! 
 
Connie: There’s no longer just one standard of beauty (i.e. white, thin, young). We’re seeing much more diversity which as a Chinese Canadian, is music to my ears!

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