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Discover the story behind Irene Forte Skincare in our exclusive Q&A with founder Irene Forte, where she shares how Sicilian botanicals, cutting-edge science, and a commitment to sustainability come together to create luxurious skincare designed for long-term skin health and radiant results.

    What is the core philosophy behind Irene Forte Skincare? 

    We’re a natural Italian luxury skincare brand, backed by over 40 years of biomedical research led by our Scientific Director, Dr. Francesca Ferri. At the heart of everything we do is a marriage of science and the senses. Science gives us the clinical proof and the biomedical rigour behind every formula. The senses come from our connection to Sicily and Italy, and the beautiful sensorial side of the products themselves - that’s what turns a formula into an experience, and creates the emotional pull. We create formulas designed to promote long-term skin health rather than quick fixes, certified for sensitive skin, and formulated to support and strengthen the skin barrier, so results are both visible and sustainable over time.

    Why is Sicily such an important source of ingredients for the brand?

    Sicily is the inspiration behind everything we do. It’s first and foremost the source of our principal ingredients - the island’s climate, volcanic soil and sun make our ingredients genuinely stronger, the way terroir shapes a great wine. We source from our own organic farm, work closely with local farmers and artisans, and support the Sicily Environment Fund. That’s why many of our product names lead with the Sicilian ingredient, and why it’s shaped our visual identity too - the colours of our packaging mirror the landscape itself, from terracotta sunsets to volcanic stone-finish bottles.

    How do you balance natural ingredients with scientific innovation?

    It's not a balance so much as a partnership - we use science to get the best out of nature. We start with the best Mediterranean ingredients and combine these with cutting-edge, naturally derived actives, such as our patented Phytomelatonin technology known as Dr. Ferri APM™, Myoxinol™ - a neuropeptide derived from hibiscus seeds - and Phyto-Exosomes from licorice root. Every active earns its place in a formula; nothing goes in because it's trending, and everything is put together in a scientifically balanced way, chosen because the biology of the skin points to it.

    What changes would you like to see across the beauty industry when it comes to sustainability? 

    Packaging is the biggest problem. The beauty industry produces over 120 billion units of packaging every year, and around 95% of it is discarded, with only about 9% actually recycled - packaging alone accounts for roughly 70% of the industry’s waste. Brands need to design for circularity from the outset: refill systems, mono-materials, recycled content, rather than end-of-life fixes bolted on afterwards. Our packaging is largely refillable, as well as being recyclable, with many elements made from already-recycled content, and we run a take-back recycling scheme with First Mile. Upcoming regulation - Extended Producer Responsibility and the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation - will help push this forward by making circularity a legal requirement rather than an aspiration.

    I’d also like to see more local sourcing across the industry, since producing closer to home reduces emissions and builds real supply chain resilience. And I’d like to see more brands pursue genuine, third-party accreditation - like B Corp certification and the Positive Luxury Butterfly Mark - so claims are verifiable, not just marketing. Ultimately, sustainability needs to become a baseline expectation for every brand, not a differentiator for a few.

    What's your advice for achieving healthy, glowing skin year-round?

    It starts before skincare: good sleep, a healthy diet like the Mediterranean one, regular movement, and consistency above all. Then, a proper routine morning and night - cleanse, tone, one or two serums, eye cream, moisturiser and SPF, which is completely non-negotiable for me. I also make sure to exfoliate and mask regularly to support cell renewal and keep skin looking fresh. I adjust textures with the seasons - lighter in summer, richer in winter - but the routine itself never really changes. Consistency, more than any single product, is what makes the biggest difference over time.

    Which Irene Forte Skincare product best embodies the brand's values, and which is your personal skincare staple?

    The Hibiscus Rejuvenating Night Cream embodies the brand best - it delivers real results but in a beautifully sensorial, rich texture. It contains Myoxinol™, a neuropeptide from hibiscus seeds that relaxes muscle cell contractions, alongside lifting peptides from green peas and ceramides to support barrier strength. It's proven to deliver younger-looking skin in just 10 days, and honestly, I can't live without it - I use it both day and night because it doesn’t contain anything photosensitising.

    The Phytomelatonin Rejuvenating Eye Cream is another personal favourite. It contains our patented Dr. Ferri APM™ technology, developed by our Scientific Director, shown to triple skin cell vitality and support regeneration. It also contains Green Pea Bio-Peptides, Phyto-Exosomes, Ceramides and a Centella Longevity Complex that helps boost telomerase activity. It's clinically proven to target multiple signs of ageing around the eyes, hydrates for up to 48 hours after a single application and is ophthalmologist-tested for sensitive eyes - which matters to me, since my own eyes are sensitive too. It also doesn’t pill under make up!