IRENE FORTE TALKS 2020

Heading into a new decade, we spoke to Rocco Forte Hotels’ Wellness Director, Irene Forte, to find out what is on the horizon for her, both personally and professionally.

What were your highlights last year?

“I soft-launched my skincare brand, Irene Forte Skincare, in December 2018. Therefore, 2019 was really about building this new brand. So, I’m proud of having done just that. I’m also proud of opening two beautiful new hotels, Masseria Torre Maizza and Hotel de la Ville, and having built wonderful spa teams and services within them.” 

Can you share your goals or resolutions for the coming year?

“I’m not the best at setting goals or resolutions, however, this year I’m definitely looking for more of a work-life balance. I had a very busy year in 2019 with work and was travelling most weeks. I would like to have more time to spend with the people I care about and doing things I’m interested in outside of work.” 

What are you most looking forward to accomplish professionally?

“I’m excited to build upon our Rocco Forte Wellness brand.  For example, we are launching Mindfulness videos with Terrence the Teacher on our in-room televisions in London. We are also constantly improving on the Sustainability front across our properties. 

I’m looking forward to opening Villa Igiea in Palermo in June. I’ve very excited about the Irene Forte-inspired spa concept there. The design of the spa is exactly how I always dreamed to have a spa. 

On Irene Forte Skincare, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow the brand, build my team, and launch across various retailers.” 

The Irene Forte Skincare line is going from strength to strength. Will we be seeing your products in new markets?

“Yes, I’m launching across numerous retailers, which is very exciting. I’m launching the brand at Niche Beauty (Germany) and Shen Beauty (New York) in January. I’m then launching at The Beautyaholics in February, which has a store in Rome, store-in-store at Coin Milano, and store-in-store at Rinascente Turin. 

I’m also launching in February at Naturismo (UK), Reve-en-Vert (UK) and an iconic London department store (which is currently confidential).” 

What would you recommend to those looking to start a new skincare regime?

“I would recommend starting off with a few simple steps. Start with a cleanser (such as our Almond Cleansing Milk or Lavender & Rosemary Foam Cleanser), follow with our Hibiscus Serum and finish with the Hydrating Aloe Vera Face Cream, Balancing Lavender & Rosemary Face Cream or the Age-Defying Prickly Pear Face Cream, depending on your skin type.

Once you have mastered the basics, you can then add in a few extra steps for maximum results. I would recommend adding our Lemon Toner or Helichrysum Hyaluronic Toner to your steps, applied after cleansing, as well our Almond Eye Cream, applied after serum. I would also recommend adding a Night Cream or one of our face oils as your evening post-serum moisturiser. 

For weekly maintenance, I would use our Almond Face Scrub or Apricot Face Peel and one of our three face masks, each of which deals with specific skin concerns such as balancing or brightening the skin.”

The wellness industry has really grown over the last decade. How do you see wellness developing in the 2020s? 

“It certainly has been a very important decade for wellness. I believe that in the coming years, wellness will become fully integrated into global healthcare systems, and we’ll see key topics become more mainstream.

I strongly believe that we will see most businesses acknowledging their social responsibility, including sustainability in the fashion industry, which has been increasingly rising to the fore in recent times. We are entering a new era of sustainable, ethical, more inclusive, intelligent and meaningful clothing. 

In this vein, attention to detail and personalisation across skincare, nutrition and exercise is another trend that no doubt will continue to grow.

Last but not least, the power of nature will continue to establish its importance. There is nothing more healing than nature, and this will inform not just travel, but homes, schools and offices, too. More wellness retreats are incorporating immersive natural activities, and ‘going deep into the wild’ has been tipped as a major wellness trend for next year.”