Utu
Utu engineers the world’s most efficacious, nourishing and clean SPF skincare for active outdoor lives. Utu is an innovative premium skincare-suncare hybrid for all those who don’t want to choose between SPF performance and advanced skin-nourishment. They know skincare without suncare isn’t skincare at all. Utu’s mission is to protect, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin and planet, while ultimately nurturing people’s connection to nature.
Richard Welch is a nature enthusiast who was born and raised in the United Kingdom, and credits summers spent in the English countryside as sparking his passion and love of the outdoors. A veteran brand strategist, Welch got his start in London’s nightlife scene, launching Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx, and Fabric as a PR consultant, before coming to New York to pursue strategy, working with brands including Tom Ford, Nokia, Estee Lauder, Axe, Diesel, REN, and The North Face.
In the summer of 2020, while rafting the Deschutes River during harsh wildfire conditions, Welch came across an eddy brimming with plastic. That moment catalyzed Welch to change course and explore merging his personal passions and professional skills into a pursuit that was more in harmony with the natural world he so loves. The idea for Utu was born.
Welch is an LGBTQ+ business owner and member of Founded Outdoors, an active community of entrepreneurs dedicated to breaking down barriers to access in the outdoors industry.
The Utu product array is completely non-toxic, chemical-free, water-resistant, reef-safe, cruelty-free, aquatic-friendly, USDA Biobased, and developed with the planet in mind at every step. Featuring 100% recyclable aluminum packaging and zero plastic alongside refillable product options, it stands out as one of the most eco-friendly options for suncare.
Utu engineers the world’s most efficacious, nourishing and clean SPF skincare for active outdoor lives. Getting active outdoors means we expose our skin to sunlight, wind, pollution and temperature extremes. These elemental conditions can cause sunburn, skin aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer, not to mention skin irritation and dryness.
Utu is an innovative premium skincare-suncare hybrid for all those who don’t want to choose between SPF performance and advanced skin-nourishment. They know skincare without suncare isn’t skincare at all. Taking care of your skin with Utu helps to protect it from UVA/UVB damage and work to actively nourish and rejuvenate its radiance and appearance.
