Monastery Made creates microbiome-friendly skincare that delivers both results and sensory pleasure.
Founded by master esthetician Athena Hewett, the collection is rooted in the belief that healthy skin flourishes when its natural functions are supported, not stripped away.
Each formula combines nutrient-dense botanicals with meticulous craftsmanship to nourish the skin barrier, encourage balance, and transform everyday skincare into a luxurious ritual.
What is Monastery Made Skincare?
Monastery was founded by Athena Hewett, a veteran master esthetician who spent decades working directly with clients and observing how different ingredients affected skin health and weren’t giving the results they promised.
Long before launching the brand, Hewett created botanical formulas in her San Francisco treatment studio, where clients fell in love with both the results and the unique sensory experience of her products.
Her approach is heavily influenced by her Greek heritage and a lifelong connection to medicinal plants and traditional botanical remedies.
Growing up surrounded by traditional herbal remedies, Hewett developed a deep appreciation for botanicals and their ability to nurture the skin. This influence can still be seen throughout the collection, particularly in the extensive use of flower extracts, which have fewer allergens.
Rather than following beauty trends, Hewett formulates based on what she knows her clients need. She is committed to creating microbiome-friendly skincare that feels every bit as luxurious as it is effective.
Source: Monastery Made
Monastery’s Philosophy
Monastery is built around a simple philosophy: support the skin’s natural healing processes instead of overwhelming them.
“Your skin has its own built-in repair and rejuvenation system. But too many products, even expensive ones, override or irritate this amazingly beautiful and powerful natural system rather than working with it. Monastery is made to help your skin do what it does best. Heal.”
– Monastery
The brand prioritizes formulas that respect the skin barrier and microbiome while delivering nourishment through whole-plant ingredients.
Products help enhance the skin’s ability to lock in hydration and radiance without relying on aggressive actives or complicated routines.
Hewett keeps formulas as simple and skin-compatible as possible, avoiding emulsifiers as they contribute to irritation in sensitive skin. Instead, many Monastery products rely on innovative combinations of oils, floral waxes, aloe, and botanical extracts to create elegant textures without compromising skin comfort.
Every product is developed and produced in-house in San Francisco, allowing the brand to maintain exceptional control over ingredient sourcing, quality standards, and manufacturing practices. This small-batch approach ensures freshness while preserving the integrity of delicate botanical ingredients.
Monastery sources high-quality botanicals directly from trusted growers and producers whenever possible.
The Hero Ingredients Behind Monastery’s Formulas
Monastery’s formulas showcase a carefully curated selection of plant-based ingredients chosen for their ability to nourish, soothe, and protect the skin.
- Damask rose
Damask Rose is one of the most recognizable ingredients throughout the Monastery collection.
Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and soothing compounds, rose helps calm visible redness while supporting a more radiant complexion.
- Jasmine
Jasmine appears throughout the collection, prized for both its skin-conditioning benefits and its intoxicating floral aroma. Monastery incorporates multiple varieties, including jasmine grandiflorum and jasmine sambac, each lending its own unique character to the formulas.
Rich in naturally occurring compounds that help support skin softness and comfort, jasmine contributes to the luxurious sensory experience that defines Monastery products.
- Neroli and flower extracts
Monastery frequently incorporates floral ingredients such as neroli and other flower extracts that provide antioxidant protection while helping to create the brand’s signature aromatic profiles.
These botanicals contribute to the feeling of calm and indulgence that many users associate with the line.
- Magnolia
Magnolia leaf oil is featured in Flora Botanical Cream Serum, where it helps support skin comfort and contributes antioxidant benefits. Its elegant floral character pairs beautifully with rose and jasmine notes.
- Clary sage
Clary sage is a cornerstone ingredient in several Monastery formulas. Known for helping balance excess oil production while providing soothing benefits, it is particularly valued for supporting clearer, calmer-looking skin.
- Aloe vera
Aloe vera serves as the hydrating foundation for several products, such as the Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost, it delivers lightweight moisture and helps soothe and comfort the skin, providing the healing properties Monastery believes in.
Rich in vitamins and water-binding compounds, aloe supports hydration without heaviness.
- Rosehip seed oil
Rosehip seed oil is prized for its naturally occurring vitamin A content and essential fatty acids.
It helps support skin renewal, improves the appearance of uneven tone, and promotes a smoother, healthier-looking complexion.
- Raspberry seed oil
Found in Flora Botanical Cream Serum, raspberry seed oil is rich in antioxidants and omega fatty acids. It helps nourish the skin while supporting moisture retention and defending against environmental stressors.
- Squalane
Squalane contributes lightweight nourishment and barrier support. Because it closely resembles lipids naturally found in the skin, it helps maintain softness and suppleness without feeling greasy.
- Blue yarrow
Blue yarrow is valued for its calming properties and its ability to support skin that appears stressed or reactive. It complements the brand’s emphasis on potecting skin balance.
- Sandalwood
Sandalwood adds a grounding aromatic element while helping soothe and comfort the skin. Its presence contributes to the meditative quality that many Monastery users appreciate.
- Plumeria flower oil
Plumeria flower oil brings a tropical floral note and contributes to the luxurious sensory profile that makes Monastery products feel more like skincare rituals than routine maintenance.
Why Does Beauty Heroes Believe in Monastery?
Monastery meets all Beauty Heroes’ expectations in ingredient integrity, transparency, sourcing, and exceptional performance.
Beauty Heroes carries only brands that meet its rigorous standards for ingredient integrity, performance, and transparency. Monastery aligns seamlessly with these values.
First, the Monastery’s formulations are deeply rooted in clean beauty principles. They use thoughtfully sourced botanicals and avoid unnecessary fillers or other harsh ingredients.
Second, every product is developed under the guidance of a practicing esthetician with decades of hands-on experience treating skin.
Monastery reflects what Beauty Heroes seeks in every brand: uncompromising performance paired with an exceptional user experience.
Rich textures, nuanced botanical aromas, and thoughtfully crafted formulations turn even the simplest skincare step into a sensory ritual.
The brand’s dedication to small-batch production, ethical sourcing, and botanical craftsmanship further reinforces its place among Beauty Heroes’ most celebrated clean beauty partners.
Best Monastery Skincare Products
Beauty Heroes carries a carefully curated selection of Monastery Made Skincare. You can find nine products that have been selected due to their formulation and performance.
These are four favorites:
The Rose Cleansing Oil gently dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and impurities while leaving skin soft and comfortable.
Unlike many cleansing oils, it focuses on nourishing plant oils and a luxurious cleansing ritual that supports the skin barrier. It helps maintain you natural moisture barrier and PH.
It is formulates with rose, hazelnut oils to provide a soothing aromatic experience and leave a velvety sensation.
Attar is a rich floral balm crafted with rosehip oil, hazelnut oil, rose wax, and jasmine wax designed to condition and nourish your skin and delivering atty acids and vitamins A, B, C, and E to support the skin’s natural barrier.
Free from essential oils, it delivers deep nourishment and helps support the appearance of healthy, radiant skin.
Rose leaf wax and floral waxes create a uniquely comforting texture unlike traditional balms.
Flora is a lightweight cream-serum hybrid that combines aloe vera, red raspberry seed oil, rosehip oil, magnolia, jasmine, rose, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, soothe, and visibly brighten the skin.
Ximenynic acid, ellagic acid, and phytosterols help improve the look of texture and enhance overall softness.
Its elegant texture and luminous finish have made it one of Monastery’s most beloved products.
Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost is an ultra-lightweight gel designed to deliver an impressive moisture boost through two molecular weights of hyaluronic acid suspended in a soothing aloe vera base.
The formula helps support moisture retention while maintaining a light, refreshing feel on the skin.
The two molecular weights of hyaluronic acid are suspended in a base of aloe to help attract and retain moisture as it supports your skin barrier.
This serum also contains clary sage, sage, and lavender.
Find The Best Clean Beauty Brands Beauty Heroes
If you’re looking for luxurious botanical formulations backed by esthetician expertise, Monastery offers a refreshing alternative to trend-driven beauty.
Every product reflects Athena Hewett’s commitment to supporting the skin’s natural functions through carefully selected botanicals, ethical sourcing practices, and thoughtful formulation.
Monastery offers a rare combination of craftsmanship, performance, and ritual that continues to make the brand stand out within the Beauty Heroes community.
Explore Monastery and discover more exceptional clean beauty brands through Beauty Heroes, where ingredient integrity and transformational skincare experiences go hand in hand.
Enjoy a 15% discount in all Monastery products by subscribing to the Discovery box.
