Launch Date: December 2018
Geography: London, UK
Founder: Irene Forte, Founder + CEO
Executive Team:
Board Members:
Notable Investor: L Catterton
In 2023, L Catterton made a minority investment in Irene Forte to fuel global expansion.
2026 Full Year Projected Revenue: $10M - $20M
Primary Category: Skincare
Other Category: Bodycare
Funding: Private Equity
Primary Distribution Channel: DTC
Other Distribution Channels:
Key Retail Partners:
Key Markets:
2026 Projected Offline Distribution Points: 300
I grew up in a very entrepreneurial family, deeply rooted in luxury hospitality; my grandfather founded Trusthouse Forte and my father founded Rocco Forte Hotels. From early on, I knew I wanted to follow their path but create something of my own. While leading wellness at Rocco Forte Hotels, I saw an opportunity to unify the group’s spas with a product range that felt luxurious, natural, and experiential yet strengthened by real scientific research. Verdura Resort’s organic farm in Italy, where I had worked during my year out from university, became the perfect foundation. I felt deeply connected to the land, and the resort houses our largest spa, making it the ideal place to begin. To make “natural” genuinely effective, I needed an exceptional scientific partner. After extensive research, I met Dr. Francesca Ferri, a pioneer in plant-based dermatology with over 40 years of biomedical research. After years of collaboration and testing, we launched Irene Forte Skincare: natural, clinically proven formulations inspired by the Mediterranean diet, powered by Italian ingredients, sustainable, and crafted with scientific precision.
Insights: Irene Forte, Founder + CEO
Why now and why you?
We’ve come through a period dominated by trend-driven brands. I firmly believe the future belongs to brands with longevity—those built on substance, not cycles. Consumers want efficacy with integrity: clinically proven results without compromising safety, sustainability, or sensoriality. This is exactly where we thrive. Irene Forte Skincare bridges luxury hospitality, rigorous science, and a modern wellness lifestyle, all with an unmistakable touch of Italy.
What fuels your competitive advantage?
A unique fusion of organically farm-grown Italian ingredients and decades of biomedical research led by Dr. Ferri, resulting in innovative, even patented, extracts and clinically validated formulas that deliver measurable results. Our luxurious formulations have exceptional aesthetic qualities; they transport you to the Mediterranean with every application, while remaining gentle on the skin and certified for sensitive skin.
What’s your proudest accomplishment to date?
I’m most proud of our Series A with L Catterton. It was a pivotal milestone that validated our vision and enabled the brand’s first significant step-change.
What is the one thing you wish someone had told you?
Resilience matters more than speed of growth!
What would you tell your past self before starting this journey?
The road is long, and I still have a long way to go. Celebrate the wins, however small, and learn quickly from the failures/mistakes.
What does success look like in the next 3-5 years?
Becoming the global authority in science-backed Italian skincare—surpassing key revenue milestones with continued 80%-100% year-over-year growth, expanding our spa and retail footprint strategically, maintaining a strong 40%+ DTC business, and staying true to our B Corp certification and sustainability values.
What's one industry trend that is overhyped, and what's being overlooked?
It may not be a trend, but the focus on virality often eclipses what’s most important and most overlooked: long-term trust, credibility, and evidence-based results.
How do you think the industry needs to evolve?
We need stronger accountability: Scientific claims must be properly controlled, and sustainability must move beyond greenwashing to measurable action.
If you could wave a magic wand, what one wish would you make for your business?
I suppose the goal is simply to be successful, though the definition of success keeps evolving. For me, it means running a profitable business with integrity, building a unified and inspired team, and creating products that genuinely make people happy. And ultimately, to one day exit to the right strategic partner—someone who truly believes in our vision and will continue to build the brand with integrity.
