Athena Hewett, a trained aesthetician and founder of Monastery, discovered her skincare philosophy in an unexpected way. After struggling with persistent acne for years, her skin suddenly cleared during a month-long backpacking trip. With no products, no routine, and no treatments, her skin improved dramatically.
“I looked in the mirror and wondered why my skin looked better when I did absolutely nothing to it,” she said. But when Hewett returned to Los Angeles and resumed her usual skincare regimen, the breakouts came back. Frustrated, she began experimenting with all-natural ingredients, ultimately leading to the birth of Monastery—a skincare brand built on preserving the skin’s natural balance rather than treating it with aggressive products.
A Minimalist Approach That Changed the Game
Monastery first gained attention with its Rose Cleansing Oil, a product that gently removes sunscreen and impurities without disrupting the skin’s microbiome. At the time, in 2011, the idea of supporting the skin’s bacterial ecosystem was not common in skincare. But Hewett instinctively knew that gentle care was the key.
“Oil molecules are large. They sit on the skin’s surface and dissolve dirt without damaging the skin barrier,” she explained.
As an acne specialist with a steady client base, Hewett had the perfect audience to test her formulations. She noticed clear improvements in her clients’ skin after using the oil during treatments. “I used to think my acne was hormonal,” she said. “But after using this, I started to believe it might have been a topical issue.”
Encouraged by results, she created more products designed to complement the cleansing oil. The Gold Botanical Serum came next, aimed at healing post-acne pigmentation with nourishing ingredients rich in vitamins and omega fatty acids.
When she officially launched Monastery, her minimalist, results-driven formulas stood out in a market that was becoming increasingly complex. Her philosophy was simple: fewer products, better outcomes.
A Brand Rooted in Ritual and Quality
The brand’s name, Monastery, has deep personal meaning for Hewett. “My mother was Greek,” she said. “While flipping through old photo albums, I saw a monastery near my great-grandmother’s home. The word felt peaceful and ritualistic—perfect for what I wanted the brand to represent.”
Today, Monastery sources its botanical ingredients from around the world, always prioritizing quality. Although she started by working with small farmers, the brand’s growth has made that model harder to sustain. Still, Hewett remains hands-on. “Our lab is here in Los Angeles, and so am I. If I have an idea, I can test it quickly with our aestheticians and make real-time changes,” she said.
Global Partnerships and High-Profile Collaborations
Monastery recently partnered with Ara’kai, a spa in Copenhagen founded by Heydi Vasquez. After a career in fashion, Vasquez wanted to build a space focused on balance and nourishment. She discovered Monastery during a trip to New York and was drawn to its purity and sensory experience.
The partnership launched at Copenhagen Fashion Week in February 2025. Ara’kai is now the exclusive European location for the Monastery Super Glow Signature Facial—a treatment that combines rich botanical products with sculpting facial massage.
In the U.S., Monastery also teamed up with the spa at New York’s Hotel Chelsea. Hewett is now their first ‘artist in residence’. Earlier this year, Monastery products were used backstage at Khaite’s Autumn/Winter 2025 show at New York Fashion Week. Hewett prepped models’ skin using a soon-to-launch product that can function as both cleanser and moisturizer, followed by Monastery’s Aloe Serum and Hideaway Essence—a collaboration with filmmaker Sofia Coppola, who is also a client.
Innovation Rooted in Simplicity
One of Monastery’s latest launches is The Deep Red, an at-home LED red light therapy mask, which debuted at the end of 2024. Despite the brand’s growing popularity, Hewett stays true to the values that inspired her early formulations: simplicity, effectiveness, and respect for the skin’s natural processes.
As beauty routines grow more complicated, Monastery offers an alternative—proving that thoughtful, minimal skincare can be just as powerful.
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