Borghese cosmetics have gone through many, many changes since first developed by Princess Marcella Borghese of Italy in the 1950s. Blessed by the Pope, aligned with Revlon, sold to a Saudi, then to an American, Borghese is now exclusive to Bloomingdale’s, Lord & Taylor, and select spas and speciality shop. A more affordable line is also available at CostCo.

I’ve never used Borghese, but I remember my mom got a gift set once, and I was fascinated by the wide variety of colors. I never knew they did skin care. In fact, I will admit that I didn’t even know the line was still around. I was given the opportunity to try three of their classic products.

Cura Di Vita Protettivo Protective Moisturizer SPF 15
It is tough to find a good moisturizer with SPF – this is a good one. It is light, it is moist, it doesn’t do anything weird to my skin (no film or grease or clogged pores). At $44 for 1.7 oz, it’s not a bad price.
 

Curaforte Moisture Intensifier
Put this on your face before you moisturize, and it is supposed to “maximize skins capacity to hold moisture and allow the benefits of moisturizers to penetrate easily and perform at their optimum.” I hated this product. Maybe my skin didn’t need that much moisture, but after I followed up with moisturizer, it felt like it was all sitting on my face heavily. It did not feel absorbed, and my face just felt grimy. If I rubbed my skin, the moisturizer just balled up in my fingers.

Tono Body Cream
This one I am indifferent to. It is an “ultra rich moisturizer” that does its job. My skin feels smooth and soft, and it does help retain moisture. The scent is a weird concert of essential oils and chemically perfumes. It’s not a gross smell, it’s just disconcerting. Retail for the creme is $46.50 for 7 oz. Personally, I did not like it enough to shell out that much money for a body lotion. For under $10, I am happier with my Aveeno lotion.