Laura Thompson and Connie Lo are on a mission with their brand, Three Ships Beauty, to encourage the idea that beauty comes from within. It’s defined by what makes us who we are, and the journey we take in life. Sometimes that journey isn’t easy – Thompson was diagnosed with cancer and underwent brain surgery at just 26 years old – but she uses her journey as fuel for the brand and, more importantly, for the way she moves in the world.
“What drives me is the awareness that no one’s future is guaranteed. Going through my cancer journey, and facing brain surgery at just 26, brought that reality into sharp focus,” Thompson says. “It’s impossible to come out of an experience like that without reevaluating how you spend your time. I want to maximize my life so that, years from now, I can look back with as few regrets as possible.
“For me, that means making the most of each day. Whether that’s pushing forward on a big business goal, having a meaningful conversation with a team member, or simply showing up fully for friends and family. Knowing I’ve had a positive impact on those around me, even in small ways, is what fuels me. It’s the lens through which I make decisions and the reason I strive to align my time and energy with what truly matters.”
Aligning her values with her brand was key, and Three Ships was born out of equal parts frustration and inspiration, as Thompson noticed that there were no truly clean products at affordable price points on the market. So she and Lo set out to change that, intending to share their ethos – true clean beauty at affordable price points with an emphasis on natural, sustainable practices – with the world. It’s that mission, that intention to share goodness with others, that keeps them going.
“Success is living in alignment with your values, and putting your whole heart into the things that are meaningful to you. One moment that recently stood out to me was reading a touching customer review. It was from a 45-year-old woman who, after being at her wits end with her skin and distrusting all brands she came across, decided to give our products a try,” Lo says. “After only six days, her skin had cleared up and given her a boost in confidence, so much so that she went out for dinner with her husband for the first time in a year. Our mission has always been to help people navigate natural with confidence, and this review felt like a direct reflection of that. Knowing our skincare products and brand can positively impact someone’s confidence makes all the hard work worth it.”
Sticking to values, for Lo and Thompson, goes beyond beliefs around beauty and wellness. It also applies to the financial aspect of the Three Ships brand. “When we were fundraising in early 2022, many investors scratched their heads at our repeated emphasis on profitability,” Lo says. “At the time, the prevailing narrative was to chase topline growth at all costs – funding was abundant, market conditions were hot, and profitability was almost an afterthought. Several investors passed on Three Ships because they preferred higher growth rates over sustainable growth paired with a healthy path to profitability.
“By the time we went out to raise our Accelerator round in 2024, the tide had completely turned. The same investors who once questioned our strategy now applauded our financial discipline. We closed a $3.5M round, secured a larger line of credit from our bank, and weathered peak recessionary times when many other brands were going bankrupt. In hindsight, ignoring the advice to focus solely on aggressive topline growth enabled us to control our destiny and survive these recent tough market conditions.”
So far, what’s inside Lo and Thompson has worked: The brand secured a $350,000 grant from Jim Treliving on Dragon’s Den in 2020, and its founders haven’t looked back – Three Ships is now stocked in stores across North America. And its all driven by a desire to look, feel, and do good.
“We hope people feel confident when they use Three Ships skincare – knowing they’re making a healthy choice for their long-term skin health with ingredients that truly deliver results,” Lo says. “Beyond that, we want them to feel empowered and proud to support a brand that champions sustainability and protects the environment. Ultimately, our goal is for every product experience to be more than just a step in a routine; it’s a small act of self-care that’s good for them and good for the planet.”
