13 Italian Beauty Brands You Need to Know About

[Photo by Rich Martello]

Previously, I had the opportunity to “visit” Italy—without hopping on a plane! During an exclusive virtual press event hosted by the ‘Beauty Made in Italy’ program (which aims to promote the excellence, awareness, and availability of Italian beauty products and brands to the U.S. market), a group of fellow editors and I enjoyed engaging presentations by founders and executives from top Italian beauty brands.

Indulge in an Olive Oil Treatment at JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

In addition to learning about the each company’s unique story and heritage, we were also introduced to their latest innovations and most beloved iconic products. After initially publishing a roundup on the companies I discovered through the event, my interest in Italian beauty and wellness brands only grew from there and I knew there had to be more incredible product lines out there, which led to ongoing research.

Italy Spa Guide: The Best Spas in Rome

From skin care and hair care to styling tools and more, read on to discover the 13 Italian beauty brands you need to know about and shop their newest launches.

Carthusia

Originally founded in 1948 by monks on Italy’s island of Capri, Carthusia is known for creating some of the country’s best perfumes, candles, and diffusers. In addition to their incredible fragrances and scents, they also carry bath and body products such as soap, shower gel, and an array of moisturizers.

Their luxurious hand creams are enriched with shea butter and vitamin E, making them ideal for dry or chapped hands (particularly with all the hand washing we’ve been doing as of late). They’re also gently scented with the brand’s signature fragrances such as Mediterraneano—a sunny and versatile scent that blends the freshness of lemon leaves with the youthful and sparkling tones of green tea. Retails for $20.

Furtuna Skin

When Kim Walls and Agatha Relota Luczo first met, they both wanted to create a clean, natural beauty and high-performance skincare line. They teamed up and incorporated natural ingredients from Luczo’s 864-acre organic estate in Sicily, which are hand-picked and foraged in an eco-sustainable way.

#BeautyBosses: Agatha Relota and Kim Walls of Furtuna Skin

They incorporate permaculture and preservation practices, including seed and plant species conservation, plant communities and animal migration to increase food production, sustainable employment opportunities, and the economic vitality of the community.

Their collection of luxury natural skincare products are made with wildly potent natural ingredients and combine old world nature with modern science, strict sourcing protocols and powerfully concentrated formulas. Their product highlights include Biphase Moisturizing Oil, which plumps, protects and replenishes skin’s moisture barrier with botanically-infused olive oil and nutrient-rich olive leaf water; as well as their Face & Eye Serum, a dual-use formula that illuminates the face and eye area for immediate, glowing results.

GAMA Professional

Founded in 1969 by Mario Gardini in the outskirts of industrial Bologna, GAMA Professional is built on research and innovation, and launched the first-ever consumer hair straightener in the world. Since its inception, GAMA remains a continued trusted brand due to the company’s innovative approach to product design and development. These days the brand is present in over 50 countries worldwide and their main headquarters are located in San Pietro in Casale.

The new IQ Perfetto is the world’s lightest hairdryer and is equipped with an intelligent brushless motor, allowing hair to dry 30% faster than with a standard dryer. It features an elegant, modern design paired with professional performance, and includes three speeds, three temperatures, and state-of-the-art Oxy Active Technology that provides antibacterial benefits and seals the cuticles to keep hair fresh and longer. Retails for $399.

Herbatint

Herbalist Michele Albergo founded Italian haircare brand Herbatint in 1970 to offer consumers a natural, alternative treatment for permanent, at-home hair color. All of the brand’s formulas are enriched with eight organic extracts, and are gluten-free, made without alcohol, ammonia, fragrance, and parabens, dermatologically tested, and great for sensitive skin. Their iconic Hair Color Gel is available in 36 shades so you can create the perfect customized color that looks natural and effortless.

Herbatint’s Normalizing Shampoo and Royal Cream Conditioner are made with organic aloe vera extracts and nourish strands, making them smooth and shielding them from outside factors, also adding shine and vibrancy to all hair types. The Normalizing Shampoo gently cleanses and restores the hair’s natural pH balance, while the Royal Cream Conditioner restructures and revitalizes dry, damaged, or colored hair. Retail for $15.99 each.

Irene Forte Skincare

Growing up, Irene Forte spent much time with her family in Italy, and discovered that the rich organic ingredients and fresh produce of Verdura Resort’s organic farm were ideal for creating skincare products. This led to the creation of Irene Forte Skincare, which features locally sourced Mediterranean ingredients that are grown on the organic farm or are sourced from reputable famers in various parts of Italy.

Beauty Boss: Irene Forte, Founder of Irene Forte Skincare

The ingredients provide vitamins, fatty acids, and antioxidants that nourish, rejuvenate, and protect skin. They pair fragrance and feel in addition to offering skin benefits that are measurable in clinical trials. Irene Forte Skincare also offer facials and body treatments at Villa Igiea in Sicily that fuses the regenerative powers of nature and science.

Spa Profile: Irene Forte Spa, Palermo

A Certified B Corp, the skincare brand’s products and packaging are designed to benefit the environment, community, customers, and employees. Their inner and outer boxes are made with 100% recycled fibers, their bottles and jars are made with recyclable glass, they used vegetable-based inks, and they have partnered with First Mile to develop a complimentary system for recycling product fills, as well as lids and pumps for select non-refillable products.

Marvis

Originating from Florence, Marvis has revolutionized the concept of toothpaste with a line of iconic products that are known for their artistic packaging and refreshing innovative flavors. In addition to their toothpaste range, the brand also sells sleek and chic toothbrushes to complement your oral care routine.

The Flavour Collection Gift Set includes seven travel-size tubes of all Marvis toothpaste flavors: Amarelli Licorice, Aquatic Mint, Cinnamon Mint, Classic Strong Mint, Ginger Mint, Jasmine Mint, and Whitening Mint. It’s perfect for those that want to sample the brand’s different flavors before committing to a larger tube, and it also makes for a great gift or holiday stocking stuffer! Retails for $36.

Pietro Simone Skincare

Aesthetician, spa owner, and beauty industry expert Pietro Simone formulated his own unique luxury skincare brand that features bio-recognizable, cutting-edge active ingredients and compounds that treat, condition, and support the skin’s intricate ecosystem. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Simone continues to dedicate himself to scientific research and applies his extensive knowledge and expertise to the evolution of the cosmetic market to create groundbreaking, results-driven skincare regimens.

The Pietro Simone Skincare Prestige Age-Preserve is a bio-engineered, lightweight formula developed to boost collagen synthesis. It instantly repairs, firms, and plumps skin while restoring the natural moisture barrier and protecting against future damage. Retails for $345.

Pisterzi Italian Grooming Art

Pisterzi Italian Grooming Art is a line of high-end products created by Italian Master Barber Gian Antonio Pisterzi. Entirely formulated and produced in Italy, each product has multifunctional characteristics that make it versatile in use and innovative in formulations and performance. Following a sustainable approach, each product comes in a refillable glass jar or bottle, and its packaging is made with recycled and recyclable paper.

One of their hero products is their Face and Eye Guard Treatment, which was developed in a gel formulation for high sensory performance. It is formulated with 97% of ingredients of natural origin and nickel-free, and is suitable for all skin types including sensitive. It helps maintain the balance of facial skin without altering it; it also hydrates, soothes and protects the eye contour with Eyedren®, a compound of amino acids that preserves the hydration of the eye area and helps reduce dark circles.

Skin will be more toned and elastic with a natural lifting effect thanks to Pea Protein®, an active ingredient based on enzymatically hydrolyzed pea proteins able to act in synergy and leading to a protective effect, restructuring and moisturizing the skin. It has been enriched with Leniphenol®, a specific blend of three balanced polyphenols derived from certified industrial wood bark. It is made from recycled raw wood to combat deforestation while respecting the rights of local communities. It is a complex of lignin (main compound of the cortex) with multifunctional properties for the skin. The mixture of these polyphenols is obtained with a "green extraction technique" with a low environmental impact.  It can also be applied after shaving to reduce the effects of redness and irritation.

Perlier

For more than 80 years, Perlier has been a leading name in the Italian beauty industry due to their distinguished heritage as the country’s premier manufacturer of beauty treatments. For generations, their formulas have been carefully crafted at La Carignana, which is located at the base of the Alps near Turin on 150 acres of botanical gardens. To ensure that each ingredient is in its purest form, they always use the extracts obtained from fresh flowers, healthy plants, and honey in all of their bath and beauty products.

Their new Organic Shea Butter Body Mousse with Pear is made from pear extract and 100% organic shea butter. It hydrates and moisturizes skin, causing it to instantly feel smoother and softer, while leaving behind the delicious scent of fresh pears. Retails for $45.

Proraso

Founded in 1908 by Ludovico Martelli, Proraso has transformed the art of shaving into a one-of-a-kind experience. More than a century later, the company still uses the same time-honored traditional techniques of its founder, and continues to deliver a pleasurable and quality shave experience—both in the barbershop and at home.

Their Refreshing and Toning Shaving Cream produces a thick lather and is enriched with natural ingredients to deliver a close, smooth shave while reducing razor burn and rashes. Ingredients include glycerine to help the blade glide, menthol to refresh and revitalize, and eucalyptus to tone and purify. Retails for $10.

Ripar Cosmetics

The family-owned business has more than 40 years of history and experience, combining a love for beauty and medicine. With two generations of plastic surgeons in the family, the brand has created a wide range of cosmetics, as well as special products that can cover all types of skin imperfections and tattoos.

RiparCover Makeup Remover is formulated with non-irritating, natural ingredients that gently remove all types of makeup. The exclusive formula contains soothing esters that cleanse and comfort skin, while vitamin E and aloe gel provide moisturizing properties. Can be used on the eyes, face, and body. Retails for $35.

Saponificio Varesino

One of the oldest historic soap manufacturers in Italy, Saponificio Varesino hails from Brebbia and has been manufacturing triple-milled soaps since 1945. To this day, the brand proudly maintains its artisanal production process—which consists of mixing Mediterranean Sea water with olive oil and plant extracts in a heated cauldron, stirring it constantly for several days before pouring into a mold and leaving it to set for up to a month. This process results in a high-quality product that cleanses while guaranteeing a gentle and soothing treatment for skin.

Saponificio’s Almond Shells Shower Gel Scrub features micronized almond shells that gently cleanse and smooth skin. It also contains helicrysum (a skin toner) and alpha bisabolol (an anti-inflammatory) to provide additional skin benefits. It’s free of chemical preservatives and has a pleasant almond fragrance. Retails for $26.

Skin&Co Roma

With roots in Umbria, the family-owned beauty brand sources and grows the best ingredients from their private truffle farms, which are used in their products. All of Skin&Co Roma’s products incorporate Black Winter Truffle, which is hand-selected for purity and potency before undergoing a proprietary extraction process that takes over 1,000 hours.

Truffle Therapy Shimmering Oil is a nourishing dry oil that moisturizes while enveloping skin with an aromatic fragrance that reminds us of sun-kissed summer days at the beach. It features a rich blend of Sicilian sweet almond oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, Marajuca oil, and the brand’s exclusive black truffle extract—a potent formula that replenishes moisture and imparts a healthier more youthful appearance thanks to antioxidants. Retails for $65.

For more information, visit beautymadeinitaly.com and follow on Instagram: @beautymadeinitaly

Read more:

11 New Zealand Brands You Need To Know

15 French Beauty Brands You Should Know

[Images courtesy of brands]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk