Irene Forte

The Irene Forte Skincare approach is synonymous with the very best that breath-taking Sicily has to offer, distilling the benefits of the Mediterranean diet into sustainable, natural skincare that nourishes the skin from the outside in.

Irene Forte has worked with Doctor Francesca Ferri to create biocompatible and exceptionally skin-friendly formulas, using over 75 of the finest Mediterranean and biomimetic ingredients.

The line is vegan-friendly and uses naturally derived alternatives to petrochemicals, synthetic colours, harsh surfactants and preservatives. The products are lightly fragranced with beautiful scents, specially formulated and screened to avoid the most common fragrance allergens.

We believe our ethics are as important as the products themselves. We ensure that every single stage of our manufacturing, development, distribution and recycling process is considered for its impact on the planet.

It’s for this reason that we’re launching even more eco-friendly packaging from November 2020. Our new and unique stone finish glass jars and bottles will be refillable. The eco-plastic inner cups and bottles can be recycled and customers will have the option to re-purchase this refillable part on its own. We are also launching new reusable spatulas made of sustainable Italian olive wood for our products in jars. All of these items will be produced in Italy. In addition to this, our boxes will continue to be made out of 100% recycled fibres with vegetable and soya-based inks, and no plastic wrapping.

In terms of new products, we are launching six 15ML boosters in November 2020. More on these products will be revealed soon… We are also currently doing some exciting clinical trials on our two Hibiscus heroes (Hibiscus Serum and Hibiscus Night Cream).

Irene Forte Skincare is handmade in small batches in Italy, following the principles defined by Doctor Francesca Ferri in her research on the Organic-Cosmetic matrix, coupled with the knowledge Irene has obtained working in spas and her passion for healthy, clean living following the traditional Mediterranean way.

Over a 35-year period, Doctor Ferri has researched the benefits of a number of natural, organic ingredients and their potential for skincare. This includes the use of grape extracts to treat dermatitis and how naturally extracted resveratrol can work as a ‘super anti-ager’. She also discovered the benefits of vegetable melatonin – phytomelatonin – and it was this that defined the concept of ‘psico-cosmesi’ for her. This means cosmetics that help both mind and body, and it’s a concept that both Irene Forte, and Doctor Ferri held close to their hearts during the three years it took to develop our range.

These are the pillars upon which each of our products is formulated. This means they must meet stringent standards for delivering a beautiful experience, have proven efficacy, be natural and organic where possible, and remain true to the principles of the Mediterranean skincare diet – which we know to be the ideal balance for the body inside and out.

We manufacture in small batches to the exacting standards you’d expect from Italian formulation houses, considered some of the best in the world for their rigor and attention to quality and detail.

Each of our approximate 75 active ingredients are chosen to work in harmony with one another, but also to complement the body’s natural biochemistry. We look for actives already naturally present in the skin or biomimetic ingredients, making them biocompatible and exceptionally skin-friendly. The combination and weight of ingredients in each product have been carefully formulated to create the most effective benefits on the skin, following the Organic-Cosmetic matrix.

We are passionate about provenance. We grow our own fruits, herbs and flowers in the gardens and orchards of the organic farm at Verdura Resort in Sicily. Then we control the harvesting and processing so that we can extract our ingredients in the best possible way for maximum potency and purity. This allows us access to unrivalled provenance and quality.

The Mediterranean Diet for Your Skin  

The Mediterranean diet is widely considered the cleanest, healthiest and most balanced in the world and is the inspiration for our products. Far from faddy trends, the diet is enjoyed by those who want to benefit from increased longevity and the wonders of a diet rich in healthy oils, and unprocessed goodness. In the same way that the Mediterranean diet promotes good health from the inside out, Irene found the nutrient-dense ingredients to be deeply beneficial when applied topically; supplying the skin with a wealth of vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants to help enrich, rejuvenate and protect.

Nature Shaped By Science  

Our formulations are as delicious as they sound, but it’s research carried out by EffegiLab in Trento with globally renowned Doctor Francesca Ferri that elevates them to Spa Grade skincare solutions that really make a difference. Working with her team of biologists and pharmacologists, her philosophy is the development of performance natural formulas that are exceptionally skin-friendly and clean. All Irene Forte Skincare products are used in Rocco Forte Hotel Spas and have evolved through feedback from Spa professionals. These Spa Grade products offer professional levels of potency for home use. Doctor Ferri’s continuing research means we are able to constantly evolve, using ingredients at the most efficacious levels and pushing the boundaries of performance naturals.

We believe our ethics are as important as the products themselves. Our commitment to sustainability is demonstrated by the fact that we have been awarded the Positive Luxury Butterfly Mark and the Eco-Age Brandmark for sustainable excellence. But in short we ensure that every single stage of our manufacturing, development, distribution and even recycling process is considered for its impact on the planet, the user and the Sicilian community in which it originates.