Princess Marcella Borghese (1911-2002) was a manufacturer of cosmetics.[1]
Marcella Fazi was born in Umbria in 1911. In 1937 she became the second wife of the widowed nobleman Paolo Borghese, Duke of Bomarzo and Prince of Sant’ Angelo e San Polo, and acquired the title of Princess. She gave birth to twin boys, Francesco and Livio, the same year. She also had two daughters, Rosanna and Anita Mauritzi, from a previous marriage. She had two grandchildren from her first marriage, Sylvia and Valentina. From her second marriage she had five grandchildren; Scipione, Ilaria and Lorenzo from Francesco's side and from Livio's side, Luca and Matteo.
The fashion-conscious princess had toiletries, including makeup, made specifically for her using the natural ingredients found around the Villa Borghese in Rome, where the family lived. She wanted to create a line of lipsticks in a wider variety of shades than what was available at the time, and once Pope Pius XII gave the cosmetics his blessing,[2] pushed forward with the idea.
Princess Marcella Borghese died in 2002 in her home in Montreux, Switzerland. She was 90 years old, and was buried in the family crypt at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.[3]
“True beauty lives in spirit but to cultivate it outwards, the skin is first priority.” - Princess Marcella Borghese
In 1956, Borghese met cosmetics magnate, Charles Revson, the founder of Revlon. The two struck up a lifelong friendship, as he helped her to create her cosmetics line, which Revlon then licensed under the Princess Marcella Borghese brand name.[4]
In 1957 though her entrepreneurial endeavors were seen as radical at the time, Borghese founder Princess Marcella Borghese successfully altered the beauty landscape by igniting the at-home spa experience. Drawing from her family's legacy of Italian refinement, her personal experiences at Tuscan spa retreats, and using only the purest ingredients, some straight from the Villa Borghese gardens, the Princess pioneer launched the Borghese brand, a comprehensive line of skincare and cosmetic products. Her vision was to democratize the luxurious spa experience and find a way for consumers to bring the indulgent treatments home. Each Borghese skin and body offering is carefully crafted with rich botanicals inspired by Italy's lush landscapes, coupled with modern-day science.
One of Princess Marcella Borghese's first collections involved a cosmetic line inspired by the vibrant colors seen in the knitwear of her fashion designer friend, Emilio Pucci, and named after her favorite spa (and an ancient town in Tuscany), Terme di Montecatini. Her Montecatini Cosmetic line used the purported healing properties of the Terme di Montecatini mud and the mineral waters. The Princess was one of the first people to create a skincare line which was based on the natural therapies of a spa. One of her groundbreaking innovations was the Fango Mud mask, introduced in 1985 and has to-date sold over 20 million jars. Inspired by the mineral-rich volcanic hills of Tuscany, this mask combined natural ingredients with scientific research to purify, rejuvenate, and protect the skin. Its effectiveness, delivering instant results and long-term benefits in just five minutes, made it an icon in the beauty industry and a signature staple in Borghese's product lineup. True to the Borghese philosophy and the Italian spa culture, Fango is an experience made for both face and body.
“If you're going to do something about beauty care, do it very, very well." – Princess Marcella Borghese
In 1992 Revlon sold the Borghese brand and business to its current owners. Borghese remained involved in the line named after her until her death.
Today, over 65 years since its inception, Borghese remains synonymous with Italian-inspired luxury and effective skincare solutions. Each product is meticulously formulated with botanicals inspired by Italy's lush landscapes, blending traditional wisdom with modern science to cater to diverse lifestyles. Princess Marcella Borghese's legacy lives on, continuing to redefine beauty through timeless authenticity and a commitment to self-care that transcends generations. The company is privately held and known simply as Borghese, Inc, based in New York City. Borghese is primarily sold through department stores and online.