Beauty Boss: Athena Hewett, Founder of Monastery
Athena Hewett.
Our latest Beauty Boss is Athena Hewett, Founder of Monastery—a line of botanical skincare products that focuses on using the purest natural ingredients. Growing up, Hewett learned about the healing benefits of various herbs and plants from her grandmother, who pressed oil and created tonics from her own grove in the Greek Cyclades.
Hewett studied skin care and became an herbalist, massage therapist, and esthetician trained at the highest level. In 2011 she opened a skincare studio in San Francisco where she could treat her clients with various methods of oil cleansing, water-free moisturizing, and skin care that was free of alcohol and salt. At her studio, she offers a variety of facials, brow and lash services, as well as virtual Zoom consultations.
In 2016, Hewett created Monastery, a curated line of natural skincare made in small batches at her studio. Her products feature organic essential oils that have been carefully chosen for their non-irritating properties and other healing ingredients from wild harvests around the world including Damask rose and clary sage that purify and transform skin without harmful ingredients or salts, alcohol, and fillers.
We chatted with Hewett, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, best advice, wellness tips, and more.
When was Monastery founded and what does the name mean?
Monastery was founded in 2016, but I had been making the product for our skincare boutique and using it on the backbar in my small skincare studio since 2011.
I love monasteries. The architecture, the quietness, the smell of incense. It's ritual at its highest form.
What inspired the creation of the brand?
In my career of esthetics I specialized in acne solutions. I was frustrated with the lines on the market. I felt like all the information we were given about acne was wrong and I made the line to help my clients, then it took off from there.
Do you have a hero product?
I'd have to say it’s the Rose Cleansing Oil—it's the product that I have cured the most acne with. It's probably the most luxurious cleanser out on the market and we made sure that it's suitable for all skin types. We also get the most emails about this product from people and how it transformed their skin. Love those so much!
What’s your favorite product from the brand?
I can't live without the Rose, but I also use the Attar Floral Repair Concentrate and Flora Botanical Cream Serum daily as well.
Where are your products sold?
We only have a few small retailers and a few spas. These were mostly close relationships that we have formed. We sell 90% of our product directly from our site or our brick and mortar in San Francisco where we make the product.
Monastery Attar Floral Repair Concentrate ($168) is an essential oil-free nourishing balm that protects and repairs skin while boosting glow with hazelnut, rosehip seed, rare rose extracts, jasmine sambac, Indian tuberose, essential fatty acids, and vitamins A, B, C, and E.
What inspires you?
My friends do. The majority of my friends are in the arts. I think we feed off of each other's creative energy.
Secret to success?
That's sweet of you to ask. Not quite sure that I'm qualified to answer that question yet but I'll try. I do have a very strong work ethic and I tend to not get discouraged by things. I also surround myself with the most amazing people.
Beauty secrets?
I'm a total believer in keeping the acid mantle or microbiome intact to let our good bacteria flourish. The best way to do that is to use oil: cleansing oil, face oil, face balm. I'm not into traditional products, so to speak.
Wellness tips?
COVID-19 has really changed my wellness routine. I used to go to yoga and pilates classes, but now I just hike.
Best advice?
Stay weird and don't worry about what anyone else is doing.
How do you like to relax?
When I'm in nature I’m always more relaxed.
For more information, visit monasterymade.com and follow on Instagram: @monasterymade
[Images courtesy of Monastery]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk