Tropic Skincare — the natural, cruelty-free, and quite affordable direct-to-consumer brand — has changed my mind about vegan beauty. As someone who is all for lasers, acids, and chemical peels, the words "clean" and "natural" haven't really been at the top of my agenda when it comes to skin care. (In fact, sometimes it's even a turnoff for me.) But Tropic, which is made fresh in a rather large Surrey kitchen, is not just good for the environment, it's been really good for my skin as well — shifting my whole mentality on the natural beauty category.
Tropic is based on a direct sales ambassador programme, founded by Susie Ma. The brand lives and breathes by what it refers to as "green science innovation," which is applied to every aspect of the business — from the vegan and sustainably sourced ingredients (which they get from areas like the Amazon rainforest and Australia), to the recyclable packaging (even the packing material in the shipping boxes can be recycled), and on top of that, the actual production of the products. The company is now certified carbon-neutral, which means the carbon emissions caused by Tropic have been balanced out by its efforts in environmental projects elsewhere in the world.
In my opinion, the brand does all of this without compromising on quality. I always see great results with the skin care and thoroughly enjoy using the masks and oils in particular. Tropic is constantly innovating to come up with affordable beauty tools, such as the scalp massager, which doubles as the best shower accessory.
But like a lot of brands, there are a lot of products to choose from, which often aren't super cheap. To take the time and guesswork out of reading reviews (there are hundreds and all are singing the praises of each product), we've rounded up 11 of our editors' absolute favourite Tropic Skincare products that we urge you to try for yourself.
Tropic Skincare Smoothing Cleanser Complexion Purifier and Bamboo Face Cloth
Tropic Skincare Smoothing Cleanser Complexion Purifier and Bamboo Face Cloth (£16) does everything a good cleanser should do: it removes makeup (although I don't use this to take eye makeup off), leaves skin feeling superclean but not dry, and it doesn't cause irritation (in fact, this is the face wash I always go back to when I've gone over the top with too many other ingredients). The bamboo cloth is a bonus, removing all traces of foundation, bronzer, and blush without scratching or pulling on the skin.
Just a few drops of Tropic Sun Drops Gradual Tanning Facial Serum (£22) added to your moisturiser gives your skin a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow without the worry of breakouts or clogging pores. If you're not convinced, let these before-and-after pictures persuade you that you need these in your life.
A multipurpose, do-it-all skin salve is exactly what Tropic Skincare Mini Tamanu Balm (£16) is. You can use it on your lips when they're chapped, use it as a rich facial moisturiser in the winter, or, you can even dab it onto your cheeks to prevent windburn when skiing or snowboarding. I personally like to use this on my driest patches of skin — like my elbows and ankles — and to throw it in my beauty stash when travelling to give flight-ravaged skin some much-needed TLC.
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Tropic Skincare Deep Hydration Soothing Cooling Mask
Tropic Skincare Deep Hydration Soothing Cooling Mask (£20) is the mask I reach for when my skin is irritated, sore, and in need a big boost of hydration. It's mess-free, smells deliciously like berries, and leaves my skin feeling comfortably moisturised without clogging my pores. Come Summer or Winter, this mask is a staple in my weekly beauty routine.
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Tropic Skincare Mask Spatula
OK, the Tropic Skincare Mask Spatula(£6) might not look like something you absolutely need in your routine, and to be honest, you don't. But it's truly one of the best things I use in my skincare regime. It makes any mask totally mess-free to apply (particularly when it's a clay mask), ensures even coverage of product, and it's supereasy to clean.
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Tropic Skincare Summer Goddess Shimmering Body Oil
Need a sunny holiday with cocktail in hand and a good book on the beach? Tropic Skincare Summer Goddess Shimmering Body Oil (£28) might not be able to give you exactly that but what the oil-based, shimmery-golden formula will give you is a glow that'll have people believing you just spent a week lounging on the beach in Mallorca.
The Tropic hand wash cleans the hands (always great for a hand wash!), leaves them feeling supersoft, and smells like a delight. Buy the bottle of hand wash the first time, then when that's finished, pick up the Tropic Skincare Signature Hand Wash Refill Pouch (£24), which contains two bottles-worth of soap and saves you from purchasing and throwing away yet another plastic bottle.
Tropic Skincare Scalp Massager (£8) is my number one favourite shower item. The silicone bristles get right into your roots to clean the scalp and gently exfoliate dead skin cells. Bonus: I swear it's the reason my gel manicure's been lasting longer these days.
If I can't decide what cream or lotion to use because my skin is looking, well, like it's in need of all of the products, I grab Tropic Skincare Super Greens Nutrient Boost Oil (£42). It's an all-in-one oil that hydrates, provides antioxidant protection (Bye, free radical damage!), and most importantly, doesn't break me out.
I use the Tropic Skincare Lip Fudge Plumping Lip Conditioner (£12) every night before bed without fail. The thick salve coats my lips without feeling too goopy or sticky, doesn't have a strong scent, and even though the jar's small, it seriously lasts forever.
The Tropic Skincare Colour Palette Case and Trays (£16) renders makeup palettes with three untouched pans a thing of the past. Choose from the vast selection of Tropic's makeup offerings (so the price will vary depending on what you choose) and create a completely personalised palette with the exact number and shades of blush, bronzer, highlighter, and eye shadow that you want.
Cleansing powders are nothing new but many of them tend to be a little harsh. The Tropic Skincare Clear Skies Cleansing Powder (£18) on the other hand, couldn't be more gentle. The water-activated power is super fine. It contains plant enzymes to gently slough off dead skin cells, blue spirulina to refine the pores, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin. Plus, the blue foamy powder makes it a really fun product to use.
Like a lot of people, sometimes I just hate the thought of putting sunscreen on my face because it's heavy, tacky, and can smell unpleasant. That was until I found Tropic's Skin Shade Tinted Facial Sun Cream (£24). It has a mineral formulation which doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, is tinted enough that it gives a nice glow to my skin, and smells coconut-y and delicious. However, while I absolutely love this product for my skin tone, it does not have a universal tint, which is disappointing to say the least. An alternative product, should the tint not work for your skin tone, is Tropic's Sun Day Facial UV Defence (£24) as it has the same skin-care benefits without leaving a white cast.
"Tropic Kiss Me Quick Lipstick in shade Guavaberry (£20) is by far my favourite lipstick in my collection," says POPSUGAR editor Ange. "It's super moisturising and has the consistency of literal butter." In addition to that, it doesn't bleed and wears off evenly, so you can be confident that it won't wear off unevenly when out to dinner.
