Introduce yourself.
My name’s Jarrad Butler and I founded Sportskn Skincare back in 2023, a year before retiring as a professional rugby player. I have been sports mad for as long as I can remember, from a child growing up in New Zealand, to my early teens living in Australia, and now in Ireland. As time has gone on, I have become increasingly motivated by health and wellness, and the benefit that it can have on not just your physical health, but your mental health as well. I love the community that is wellness and am so passionate about developing products that are reflective of the values of people who care about their body, and care about their wellbeing.
What inspired you to join the natural health sector?
Being involved in sport for a long time, it always frustrated me that big brands were quick to put ‘sports’ on their products, but the ingredients weren’t reflective of the values of people who were actively looking after their bodies. That was the catalyst for me to start seeking out natural ingredients, that were effective in helping refresh, rehydrate, and revitalise, but also weren’t compromised by chemicals and other additives.
Where did you get the idea for your brand?
I have exercised in the 40-degree heat of Australia, to the freezing rain of the west coast of Ireland, and everything in between. These are harsh conditions for the skin, not even taking into account the sweat, the dirt, or the friction that also comes into play. I wanted to find a product that was formulated with this type of lifestyle in mind. That is, works in repairing my skin after exercise, works in rehydrating my skin, and works in making me feel better. When I couldn’t find anything suitable, I started working with dermatologists and laboratories in the EU, and created Sportskn was born.
What makes your brand unique?
- Sportskn is formulated and tested by professional athletes, bringing nearly 40 years of experience in the elite sporting environment into the development of each product we design.
- We use time-tested natural ingredients to create products that reflect our communities shared commitment to health and wellness.
- We are proudly Galway owned and operated, with a vision to grow alongside our community.
What are your company’s core values?
At Sportskn we are committed to delivering natural skincare solutions that refresh, restore, and empower active living. To accomplish this, we have three values that drive us forward.
The first is growth; we are constantly looking to develop, redevelop and continue to provide our community with the best possible products. The second is responsibility; we understand that our community trusts us to have their best interest at heart, and to be delivering them with the highest quality product. The third is community; we are nothing without our community, and we take huge pride in working alongside like-minded individuals or businesses to spread the message of health and wellness.
How do you support your community?
We take huge pride in supporting community as often as we can. In 2024 we have donated prize packs and product samples to a number of events around Galway and Ireland, including cross-fit games, swimming meets, fun runs, and local sports team’s fundraisers. Recently we partnered with The Jack and Jill Children’s Association to raise funds for the crucial work they do all around Ireland, and recently partnered with the Irish Wheelchair Association, and their IWA fitness inclusion project.
What has been the most rewarding part of your brands journey?
Without a doubt the most rewarding part of our brands journey so far, is being able to connect with the community. Being a small business, we don’t have a huge budget to sponsor events, but even being able to donate a few prizes, and then come along and be involved in the event has been extremely rewarding, and is a driver to continue to grow, so that we can do more.
What in your opinion makes Irish brands unique?
Irish brands have a real sense of authenticity and connection to their communities. There’s a strong focus on quality, natural ingredients, and sustainability, but also a genuine care. You see it in the way brands engage with their customers and the pride they take in their products. It’s not about mass production, it’s about creating something that actually adds value. That’s something I really respect and something we strive for with Sportskn, keeping things simple, effective, and made for people who live active lives.
What is your favourite product from your brand?
My favourite product is our Skin Recovery Gel. It was the product I most wanted to develop when envisioning Sportskn, and I am so proud of how it materialised. I love the light cooling effect you feel when you apply it, and the freshness of the mint and citrus scent. I used to use it only after I had exercised, but I find myself using it in the evenings as a nice way to wind down and relax after a long day on my feet.
Tell us about something that has shaped your brand?
Sportskn was shaped by my own experience as an athlete and the gaps I noticed in skincare for people who train, compete, and stay active. Playing professional rugby for over a decade, I was always looking for ways to recover better and take care of my body, but skincare was never part of that conversation. It was either products that weren’t made for active skin or ones that felt overly complicated. That’s what led me to create Sportskn, something simple, effective, and built for people who want to live an active lifestyle.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
I want to keep growing Sportskn, not just as a brand but as a platform for something bigger. Skincare is where it started, but my goal is to build a community around health and wellness. Something that brings people together. I’d love to run Sportskn events focused on movement, recovery, and overall wellbeing, creating something that’s not just about products but about helping people feel their best. The more we grow, the more we can do, whether that’s supporting local initiatives, collaborating with like-minded brands, or making wellness more accessible to everyone.
