I’ve always wondered what antics Eloise would have gotten up to if she’d been allowed to spend her afternoons at the Plaza in the spa. Perhaps she would have started a skincare line?
After studying Italian literature at Oxford, Irene Forte—whose father, Sir Rocco Forte, built the Rocco Forte Hotels group—decamped to her family’s Verdura resort in Sicily and found herself drawn to the spa. “I loved hanging out there, watching the therapists,” she recalls. “I was fascinated with the rituals, but I wasn’t very impressed by the skincare options at the time.” So she launched her own line, incorporating organic botanicals—hibiscus, olive, pistachio—grown on her family’s nearby farm into scientifically rigorous, highly efficacious formulas, such as the award-winning Hibiscus Night Cream, a favorite of U.K. fashion editors and Milanese stilisti.
Forte has figured out how to bottle the elusive vacation skin, calm and plump and glowy, usually achieved only after a few days of good sleep, fresh air, and slow mornings. Skin functions differently when it’s well-rested, comfortably hydrated, and not constantly fending off stress. Forte’s formulas contain barrier-boosting, moisturizing, and calming actives that deliver the same effects.
Here, Forte shares her current obsessions with CULTURED, from Monet to Monreale.
THE BOOK
Il Gattopardo by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa: “I studied Italian literature at university, and while there are many novels I love, Il Gattopardo is the one I return to most often. It captures the soul of Sicily—its sensuality, elegance, and quiet melancholy. It’s a meditation on time, transformation, and legacy. Lampedusa writes about change with both reverence and resignation.”
THE PAINTING
Claude Monet, Water Lilies, 1906: “Art has always been a part of my life. I painted throughout my childhood, I was an art scholar, and both my grandmother and aunt are artists. I’ve always been drawn to texture in painting: brushstrokes, layering, surfaces you can almost feel. Monet’s water lilies are pure atmosphere: immersive, serene, and endlessly beautiful.”
THE BUILDING
Duomo di Monreale: “Just outside Palermo, Monreale cathedral and cloisters are among Sicily’s greatest architectural treasures. The intricate Norman mosaics are unlike anything I’ve ever seen—breathtaking in scale and craftsmanship. In the city itself, the Cappella Palatina is often called a ‘mini Monreale’—smaller, but equally exquisite.”
THE PLACE
The Top of Caltabellotta: “Caltabellotta holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I got married and where I’m now an honorary citizen. The town has recently been recognized as an emerging Blue Zone, home to longevity, beauty, and a deeply rooted way of life. At the very top of the town sits its cathedral, with 360-degree views across the Sicilian landscape. The first time I visited, I said I was going to get married here, and I did. It’s a place where you can really breathe—it’s quite magical.”
THE SCENT
Irene Forte Pistachio Body Oil: “I don’t actually use fragrance; I wear my body oils instead. My favorite is Pistachio. It’s beautifully scented with a delicate, allergen-screened fragrance. The scent captures the essence of a Sicilian summer night: warm, sultry, and just a little mysterious. It opens with jasmine, evoking long evenings where the air is thick with white florals, before melting into rich base notes of pistachio and vanilla—buttery, sweet, and utterly unforgettable. Plus, the oil is proven to deliver visibly younger-looking, plumper, more supple skin.”
THE CREAM
Irene Forte Hibiscus Rejuvenating Night Cream: “Morning and evening, every day. The texture and scent are just delicious. I genuinely love applying it, and best of all, it works. We saw outstanding consumer trial results in just 10 days—skin appeared more hydrated, looked years younger, healthier, and more restored. It’s powered by a neuropeptide to smooth wrinkles.”
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