I have a confession to make. After I turned thirty I began to look for skincare that emphasised actives, looking feverishly for the latest trends in cosmeceuticals. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it did mean that I slept on some brands that offer gorgeous and effective skincare. Since then I’ve found a place for many genres of brands. Let’s talk botanical.
San Francisco based brand Monastery distinguishes itself as ‘healing botanical skincare’ made by hand from rare ingredients. The price point may be relatively high, but skincare lovers have been devotees since the brands inception in 2011. Founder Athena Hewett has two decades of work as an aesthetician under her belt. Concerned about the compromised skin barriers she was seeing in her clients, she sought to develop a range of skincare that promotes healing, using select botanical ingredients.
My first product from Monastery was purchased at the start of flu season here in the southern hemisphere. My skin always suffers greatly during illness, becoming dry and inflamed. I decided to try the brands Universal Balm (20ml, $85AUD) which claims to be nourishing and contains anti-inflammatory ingredients such as black pepper oil and sandalwood. It comes with its own coin logo key to get out every ounce of product from the silver tube that contains it. Honestly, for the first time the flu didn’t result in a peeling nose, and distressed skin prone to dermatitis and breakouts. The integrity of my barrier was preserved and I felt far more comfortable than I usually do while under the weather. I kept my routine simple with the addition of The Cream by Augustinus Bader.
After my success with the beautifully scented Universal Balm, it was only a matter of time until I tried more products. With my birthday approaching in late June, I picked up the Essentials Kit ($250AUD) which contains a 30ml size of their Rose oil cleanser, 30ml of their Gold facial oil and 20ml of the Attar Floral Repair Concentrate. I’ve used these products for one week now and I’m so pleased with the results. The cleanser is delicately fragrant and light, leaving my skin soft and refreshed. One thing I will mention is that it is best removed with the use of a damp cloth. Facial oils and I have a complicated relationship as I have combination skin and was prone to breakouts through my twenties. I’ve had no such issues with this one! It absorbs thoroughly, so that when I wake up in the morning my skin looks smooth and plump- even less likely to be oily than before! The Attar is a deliciously silken balm that melts between your fingers and can be placed wherever your skin is needing extra nourishment.
So, is this botanical skincare worth the price? To me it is. The experience of using these products is calming, luxurious and adds an element of ritual. Most importantly, I see results. Redness reduced, skin glowing. Monastery is a brand I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Note: I purchased my Monastery products online from Lume Sydney.
xx Vivienne
Vivienne Austen 