SOSU Cosmetics

SOSU Cosmetics is an Irish beauty brand founded in 2015 by Suzanne Jackson, a qualified makeup artist who became one of the country's best-known beauty bloggers before launching her own line [2][7]. Headquartered in Ashbourne, County Meath, the company describes itself as Ireland's first influencer-led beauty brand and has grown from a single product into a range spanning makeup, self-tanning and skincare.

The brand remains active. Its e-commerce site carries current stock and pre-orders, and founder Suzanne Jackson returned to the company as Creative Director in October 2023 after stepping back from day-to-day leadership [7].

Jackson built an audience as a beauty blogger and influencer before moving into product development. According to the company, SOSU launched in 2015 with just one product and has since expanded to more than 400 products across several sub-brands. The first item to reach the market was the Contour Palette, which the brand says sold out on release.

There is a minor discrepancy around the starting date. The brand and independent coverage agree that SOSU itself was founded in 2015, while a separate 2014 date refers to an earlier nail polish line Jackson introduced as a precursor to the brand rather than the founding of SOSU [9].

Irish national broadcaster RTÉ reported that over roughly eight years the company released more than 100 products and, at the time, was stocked in around 1,000 pharmacies across Ireland alongside Penneys (Primark) outlets [7]. In 2018 the brand established Dripping Gold, a self-tanning line that became one of its most successful ventures.

In 2022 Jackson stepped down as chief executive, saying she had "done all I can" with the brand; Caroline Dalton, formerly head of buying at Primark, took over as CEO [7]. Jackson returned in October 2023 as Creative Director following a period away that she attributed to recovery from burnout.

SOSU's catalogue covers complexion, cheeks, eyes, lashes, lips and nails, alongside its Good Prep skincare line and its tanning brands. Self-tanning is a core strength: the Dripping Gold sub-brand includes products such as the Luxury Mousse and Express Tanning Serum, and a separate Bahama Body line is presented as a tanning collection fronted by Terrie McEvoy. According to RTÉ, the Dripping Gold "Wonder Water" product has sold over one million units [7].

Editorial coverage of the Dripping Gold range cites ingredients including hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, coconut oil and shea butter, and notes the products are marketed as cruelty and paraben free [8]. Across its lines the company states that its products are cruelty-free and vegan, and displays PETA certification. Manufacturing is described by the brand as Irish, framed on its careers page as "proudly Irish made and globally loved".

The company positions itself as bridging everyday beauty shoppers and professional makeup artists, offering products it describes as accessible and affordable. Its stated purpose is to "create products that empower individuals to express themselves confidently," and it trades under the tagline "The good stuff, minus the guesswork". Pricing sits in an accessible tier, with most Bahama Body tanning formulas around €14.95 and Dripping Gold serums and mousses around €24.00.

Distribution is multi-channel. The company says its products are sold across more than 2,000 stockists in EU and UK markets, in Irish pharmacies and Primark, and through its own online store, with worldwide shipping [2].

The Dripping Gold line has been named in coverage of celebrities including Winnie Harlow and Jesy Nelson [7]. In a 2019 reader trial run by the Irish magazine Stellar, six testers rated the tan between 7 and 10 out of 10, with most scoring 9 or higher [8].

SOSU Cosmetics is an active direct-to-consumer and retail brand. It ships internationally and maintains a live online store with new products and pre-orders, and Suzanne Jackson resumed an active role as Creative Director in October 2023 [7].