Borghese is an Italian cosmetic company. It was founded in 1958 by Princess Marcella Borghese, a member of the noble Italian family Borghese.

Born Marcella Fazi, she married Prince Paolo Borghese, the Duke of Bomarzo in 1942. Many aristocratic Italian families commissioned their own cosmetics and skin creams and so did Borghese. Their secret recipes were made using fruits and other natural ingredients. Marcella decided to create a small range of lipsticks based on these formulas. In those days, only two lipstick colors were available – one was for brunettes and the other one was for blondes. Marcella wanted to make more shades of lipstick so that they matched various hair colors and clothes. She wanted to name them after her favorite jewels. The family opposed the idea at first, until Pope Pius XII gave it his blessing.

In 1956 she met with the founder of Revlon, Charles Revson, who helped her establish and create her own cosmetic line. One of her first collections was a collection of bright-colored lipsticks and nail polish, inspired by her friend Pucci’s collection of knitwear. She was one of the first ones to create cosmetics based on the natural therapies of a spa. She named it “Montecatini” after her personal favorite spa. The princess was involved in her business up until her death in 2002.

Revlon sold the cosmetics to a group of Saudi investors in 1991, together with Halston fragrances. It was renamed Halston-Borghese, and it was owned by that investment group until 2000 when it was sold to American Georgette Mosbacher, who had success with the La Prairie brand in the early 1990s. She renamed the line again simply Borghese. Georgette Mosbacher is the current CEO of the company.

Today, Borghese cosmetics combine the Italian tradition and modern innovations resulting in high quality of skin care, color and treatment products that celebrate the beauty of women.

Il Baco Eau de Parfum is the houses’ famous fragrance, presented in 1993 and still produced.