Why We Chose Natural Skincare: The Three Ships Founding Story

The Three Ships founding story

Why choose natural skincare?

For us, natural skincare was never a trend. It was deeply personal.

Three Ships was built on a simple belief: skincare should use real, effective ingredients, be fully transparent, and actually deliver results.

This belief didn’t come from a mood board or a market trend. It was shaped by lived experience. Two founders, two very different journeys, and one unwavering commitment to what we put on our skin.

This is our founding story, and the reason we chose natural skincare.

Laura’s story: Learning to trust your gut

Hi, I’m Laura, co-founder of Three Ships.

In November 2019, at 26 years old, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

For three years before that, I experienced moments when it felt like my mind was disconnecting from my body. Multiple tests and doctor visits showed nothing abnormal, but my instincts told me otherwise.

When my doctor suggested medication without a clear diagnosis, I pushed back. I asked for an MRI multiple times. It was denied until I insisted that I would not leave without one being ordered.

Two months later, the scan revealed a tumor the size of an egg in the center of my brain.
On March 4th, 2020, I underwent a 10-hour surgery, removing about 70 percent of the tumor. Recovery involved relearning everyday skills, including reading clocks, following calendars, and rebuilding routines. Over time, I regained them and returned to daily life.

Throughout that period, Connie held the business together. She managed operations, supported me through recovery, and showed up in ways that went far beyond what you expect from a co-founder.

I am not sharing this for sympathy. I am sharing it because it changed how I approach everything.

It taught me to ask questions, to trust my instincts, and to avoid accepting “that is just how it is done” as a final answer.

That mindset did not stop at healthcare. It carried over to skincare. I became more conscious of what I put in and on my body, and more committed to understanding ingredients instead of simply trusting labels.

That principle continues to guide Three Ships today.

While my experience shaped how we think about transparency and questioning ingredients, Connie’s story shaped what we chose to include in our formulas.

Connie’s story: Heritage brought to life through ingredients

Hi, I’m Connie, co-founder of Three Ships.

My connection to natural skincare did not start with products. It started in my mom’s kitchen.

Growing up, she would make a traditional Chinese soup with Tremella Mushroom, also known as snow mushroom, telling me it would keep my skin hydrated and glowing. At the time, it was simply part of our daily routine.

Asian skincare practices have existed for thousands of years, rooted in the belief that consistent use of natural, plant-based ingredients supports long-term skin health. Those traditions stayed with me, shaping how I think about skincare: gentle, intentional, and rooted in heritage.

When Laura and I began building Three Ships, we wanted ingredients that were both effective and meaningful.

Tremella Mushroom was an obvious choice.

Tremella Mushroom benefits for skin

Tremella Mushroom, also known as snow mushroom, has been valued in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Today, modern research is catching up, recognizing its exceptional ability to hydrate and support healthy skin.

Here’s what makes Tremella Mushroom such a powerful skincare ingredient:

• Deep hydration: A natural source of hyaluronic acid, Tremella helps retain significant moisture, making it ideal for dry or dehydrated skin.
• Collagen support: Polysaccharides in Tremella help improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines over time.
• Rich in antioxidants: Protects the skin from free radical damage, a major contributor to premature aging and uneven skin tone.
• Soothing and anti-inflammatory: Helps calm redness and irritation, making it suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
• Vitamin D support: Supports healthy skin cell turnover and aids in repairing damage from environmental stressors.

What sets Tremella apart from standard hyaluronic acid is its unique molecular structure. Its smaller, more flexible molecular structure allows it to penetrate deeply, hydrating from within rather than just resting on the skin’s surface.

At Three Ships, we use Tremella Mushroom as a hero ingredient in our Jelly Drops™ Mushroom Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C Serum, working alongside Kakadu Plum to visibly hydrate, brighten, and support healthy-looking skin.

For me, this ingredient represents more than performance. It reflects a connection to heritage and a belief in combining time-honored ingredients with modern science to create effective, natural skincare.

Why natural skincare matters

Natural skincare is often used as a catch-all phrase, which can make it feel vague or overused. For us, it has a clear and intentional meaning.

It reflects how we think about ingredients, how we formulate products, and how we believe skincare should support your skin over time.

What is natural skincare?

Natural skincare uses ingredients derived from plants and naturally occurring sources that are selected for their compatibility with the skin.
At its best, it brings together traditional ingredient knowledge and modern clinical testing to create formulas that are both gentle and effective. It is not about avoiding science. It is about applying science thoughtfully to ingredients that have proven their value over time.

What are the benefits of natural skincare?

The benefits of natural skincare go beyond avoiding certain ingredients. It’s about choosing formulations that actively support your skin’s health, balance, and resilience over time.

From hydration to long-term resilience, natural skincare works on multiple levels. Here’s how it helps your skin thrive:

• Strengthens the skin barrier: Helps maintain hydration, improve resilience, and reduce sensitivity, creating a strong foundation for healthier skin.
• Works with your skin, not against it: Uses gentle, plant-derived ingredients that support your skin’s natural processes instead of disrupting them.
• Delivers gentle, effective results: Formulations are suitable for sensitive, reactive, or stressed skin without compromising on performance.
• Ensures full ingredient transparency: Every ingredient has a purpose, so you know exactly what you’re putting on your skin and why.
• Promotes long-term skin health: Focuses on balance and consistency, supporting skin that looks and feels better day after day, season after season.

There is also a long-term perspective to consider. Skin does not respond well to constant disruption. Thoughtfully formulated natural skincare helps maintain balance, which can lead to fewer sensitivity flare-ups, improved hydration, and more consistent results over time.

It is not about avoiding science. It is about applying it thoughtfully.

A brand with purpose beyond products

Laura’s diagnosis did more than shape her personal outlook. It clarified what Three Ships should stand for as a brand.

From the beginning, we knew this could not just be about creating effective natural skincare. It had to reflect a broader sense of responsibility in how we formulate our products and how we show up beyond them.

We donate a portion of our profits to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, supporting children and young adults diagnosed with brain tumors and cancers. This is a cause that is deeply personal to us, and one that continues to guide how we think about impact.

For us, purpose is not a separate initiative. It is part of how we build the company.

We believe that hope, possibility, and a sense of normalcy can make a meaningful difference during difficult moments. Supporting these experiences is one small way we can extend the impact of our brand beyond skincare.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded Three Ships Beauty?

Three Ships Beauty was founded by Laura Thompson and Connie Lo. Laura’s personal health journey and Connie’s heritage with plant-based ingredients shaped the brand’s philosophy from the ground up. Together, they created a natural skincare line rooted in transparency, effectiveness, and tradition.

Why did Three Ships choose natural skincare?

Three Ships Beauty founders chose natural skincare through lived experience. Laura valued ingredient transparency and safe formulations, while Connie brought centuries-old plant-based skincare wisdom, like Tremella Mushroom. Their shared philosophy focuses on gentle, effective skincare that supports long-term skin health.

What is Tremella Mushroom and why is it used in Three Ships products?

Tremella Mushroom, also called snow mushroom, is a natural hydrating ingredient long used in Asian skincare traditions. Rich in natural hyaluronic acid, Tremella Mushroom helps retain moisture, provides antioxidant protection, and soothes irritation. It is a hero ingredient in Jelly Drops™ Mushroom Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C Serum, reflecting co-founder Connie Lo’s heritage and the brand’s focus on effective, natural skincare.

What does clean skincare mean at Three Ships?

Clean skincare at Three Ships means naturally derived ingredients, full transparency, and clinically tested formulas. Every product is EWG Verified®, proving that natural, safe, and effective skincare can coexist without compromise.

What are the benefits of natural skincare ingredients?

Natural ingredients like Tremella Mushroom, Kakadu Plum, and Ceramides hydrate, strengthen the skin barrier, and protect against environmental stress. They work with the skin’s biology rather than against it, delivering gentle, effective, and long-term results supported by both tradition and science.

Explore Three Ships

If you’re looking for natural skincare that is simple, effective, and made with real ingredients, then you’re in the right place.

Discover our best-selling products, including the Jelly Drops™ Mushroom Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C Serum, formulated to hydrate, brighten, and support your skin’s natural balance. 

Not sure where to start? Take our Skin Quiz to find a routine tailored specifically to your skin type and concerns.

No pressure. No perfect routine needed. Just skincare you can trust, backed by science and tradition.