Our take
Why We Trust This Brand
Independence is strong and current: Susie Ma repurchased Lord Alan Sugar's long-held 50% stake in April 2023, so the company is now entirely founder-owned with no outside investors. The mineral flagship Skin Shade is 100% non-nano zinc-and-titanium, fragrance-free and Protect Land + Sea certified. The ingredient score is tempered because Tropic also sells hybrid mineral-chemical sun care (Great Barrier), so 'mineral' is true of the Skin Shade line specifically, not the whole range.
What's inside
Ingredients & Safety
Skin Shade Sun Cream (SPF 30/50) is 100% mineral: non-nano zinc oxide (an Everzinc 'Xperse' coconut dispersion) plus titanium dioxide, with no chemical filters and no added fragrance; percentages are not disclosed on the label. Inactives include jojoba oil and Kakadu plum and other botanical extracts. The Great Barrier line, by contrast, is a mineral-chemical hybrid.
Certifications
We read every line on this label. Nothing here is on our watch or caution list — no synthetic fragrance, no flagged chemicals.
Full Ingredient List
- Non-Nano Zinc Oxide
- Aqua also listed as Aqua, Purified Water
- Caprylyl Caprylate/Caprate
- Glycerin also listed as Glycerine, Vegetable Glycerin
- Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
- Titanium Dioxide also listed as Non-Nano Titanium Dioxide, CI 77891
- Terminalia Ferdinandiana (Kakadu Plum) Fruit Extract
- Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract
- Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
- Tocopherol also listed as Vitamin E
Prefer a spotless pick? Stream2Sea in Sunscreen & Sun Care is Clean Verified — every ingredient clean, with no recalls or lawsuits on record.
Who owns it
Ownership & Independence
Susie Ma began Tropic in 2004 at a Greenwich market stall; Lord Alan Sugar invested for a 50% stake around 2011. On 4 April 2023 Ma bought back his entire stake, returning the Croydon, London-based company to 100% founder ownership with no other investors.
Where to buy
Key Products
- Skin Shade Sun Cream SPF 50 View on Amazon →
- Skin Shade Sun Cream SPF 30 View on Amazon →
- Skin Shade Tinted Facial Sun Cream View on Amazon →
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