Our Story

Susuli Skin began long before it became a business.
It began with a little girl, a loofah sponge, and a memory of home.

In 2007, founder Milena Ocon carried a quiet dream to build something natural, meaningful, and rooted in her heritage. However, her relationship with loofah started much earlier.

Growing up, Milena struggled with dry, irritated skin. While others credited her clear skin to “good genes,” she knew the truth — relief came from a simple, natural ritual. When her parents returned from their discreet trips to Nicaragua they always brought back bundles of fresh, sun-dried loofah.

Those loofahs were different.

Softer. Stronger. More fibrous. More revitalizing.

They transformed her skin. Bath time became healing time, and an everyday plant became something sacred. Restoring confidence, comfort, and glow.

As a young adult in Los Angeles, Milena experimented with every loofah she could find — store bought versions from ethnic markets, high-end natural boutiques, and even premium natural and organic supermarkets. None compared. Nicaragua’s loofah was fuller, more resilient, longer-lasting, and gentler, yet more effective. It felt alive, natural, and intentional.

That contrast sparked curiosity and research. In 2007, Milena traveled to Nicaragua to learn directly from farmers and artisans. What began as curiosity turned into purpose.

This wasn’t just skincare.
This was culture, sustainability, and opportunity. 

Milena imagined a business that could grow loofah organically, process it by hand, and reinvest into local communities. Susuli’s mission was born.

Life, however, had its own timeline.

As a single mother, Milena chose to focus on raising her daughter first. The dream waited patiently — tucked away but never forgotten.

Fast-forward to 2023.

Her daughter Jasmine Mejia, a second-generation entrepreneur with an MBA in marketing, rediscovered the plan and said:

“Let’s do this. For real.”

Together, mother and daughter launched Susuli Skin.

Today, they work hand-in-hand with farmers and artisans in Nicaragua. Every loofah is grown without chemicals, harvested by hand, sun-dried naturally, and prepared with care.

Because Susuli isn’t mass-produced.

It’s personal.
It’s heritage.
It’s a promise.

From volcanic soil to your skin, Susuli Skin reconnects people with simple, honest self-care, and healing not just bodies, but communities too.

And for Milena, every loofah packed is still a little reminder of that young girl who found confidence through something nature quietly provided.

A small plant.
A big story.
A legacy passed from mother to daughter.