What MONASTERY LTD does

Monastery (operating as Monastery Made; legal entity MONASTERY LTD) is a privately held, founder-owned botanical skincare company founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, where all products are manufactured by hand in small batches at the company's own studio and lab. The product portfolio centers on oil-based cleansing and moisturizing formulations designed to preserve the skin microbiome and avoid traditional emulsifiers and preservatives, spanning eight core SKUs (Rose Cleansing Oil, Gold Restorative Face Oil, XX Rose Glycolic Gel, Rei Gentle Retinol Cream, Flora Botanical Cream Serum, Attar Floral Repair Concentrate, Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost, and supporting items) plus four routine kits priced from $37 for a Discovery Sample Kit to $311 for the Superglow Moisture Kit. The line is differentiated by rare, region-specific botanical sourcing — including rose from South Africa, neroli from France, jasmine from Tamil Nadu, peppercorn from Kenya, and sandalwood from Western Australia — with founder Athena Hewett personally formulating each product, sometimes after more than 100 iterations and a minimum six-month treatment-room testing cycle.

Monastery sells primarily direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce storefront (monasterymade.com), supplemented by a company-operated spa in California that delivers in-person facials and product sales. Wholesale distribution is selective, with products carried by CAP Beauty's online store and Carrie Lindsey Beauty spas in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The revenue model combines one-time product sales, a subscribe-and-save program offering 10% off across SKUs, and professional spa services. Pricing sits firmly in the premium tier, with single SKUs ranging from $56 to $164 and bundled kits up to $311, positioning the brand against prestige skincare rather than mass-market alternatives.

Marketing is anchored by earned media, including repeat Vogue coverage and a Sofia Coppola endorsement, supplemented by an in-house content engine (educational blog, "Ask Athena" series), an interactive six-step skin quiz, an email newsletter with first-routine discounts, and curated community events with like-minded Bay Area brands. The company is entirely founder-owned, operates with 1–10 employees, has no disclosed external funding rounds, and runs a single in-house manufacturing facility, making it a deliberately small-scale, artisanal operator rather than a venture-backed growth brand.

Name

MONASTERY LTD

Legal name

Monastery

Website

https://monasterymade.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Monastery is a privately held, founder-owned botanical skincare brand founded in 2011 that formulates and hand-batches oil-based cleansers, moisturizers, and exfoliants in San Francisco, selling direct-to-consumer and through selective prestige retailers to premium skincare consumers seeking microbiome-friendly, preservative-free formulations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Skincare

NAICS

Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Beauty Salons (812112), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Facial Skincare (Cleansers, Toners, Moisturizers) (CRABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF), Professional Skincare & Facial Treatments (CRABALAF), Spa Packages & Ritual Experiences (HSALAFAN)

Keywords

• Botanical skincare products
• Oil-based facial cleansers
• Natural face moisturizers
• Small-batch skincare
• Aromatherapy spa treatments

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of botanical skincare products through e-commerce website and spa locations. Products include cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliants, and kits. Subscription option available with 10% discount.
2. Spa Services: In-person skincare treatments at the California spa location featuring Monastery products.
3. Wholesale/Retail Distribution: Products sold through third-party retailers including CAP Beauty and Carrie Lindsey Beauty spa locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Monastery formulates and sells a curated line of hand-made botanical skincare products focused on oil-based cleansing and moisturizing, manufactured in small batches at its San Francisco studio. The portfolio spans cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliants, and bundled routine kits sold direct-to-consumer via its e-commerce site, and the company also operates a California spa delivering in-person Monastery facial treatments using its product line.

Product overview

Monastery is a direct-to-consumer botanical skincare brand offering a tightly curated line of oil-based cleansing and moisturizing products made by hand in San Francisco. The product portfolio centers on 8 core formulations: Rose Cleansing Oil (cleanser), Gold Restorative Face Oil (moisturizer), XX Rose Glycolic Gel (exfoliant), Rei Gentle Retinol Cream (retinol treatment), Flora Botanical Cream Serum (hydrating moisturizer), Attar Floral Repair Concentrate (multi-purpose balm), and Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost (hydration booster). These are sold individually and bundled into 4 routine kits: Discovery Sample Kit (full line introduction), Acne Kit (Rose + Gold for acneic skin), Intense Brightening Kit (Rose + XX + Gold for brightening), and Superglow Moisture Kit (Rose + Rei + Attar for moisture). The brand emphasizes that products are mixable and can be combined for customized routines without traditional emulsifiers or preservatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rose Cleansing Oil Makeup-melting cleansing oil formulated with 100 petals of Rose Bourbonia from Reunion Island per bottle. Nourishes skin, supports its acid mantle and optimal pH balance, and provides antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Sold at $56 one-time or $50.40 via subscribe-and-save.
• Gold Restorative Face Oil Restorative face oil made with rare sandalwood nut oil pressed from Western Australian Sandalwood tree seeds. Calms irritated complexions, repairs broken-down skin tissue, and reduces redness using high natural levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and fatty acids. Sold at $164 one-time or $147.60 via subscribe-and-save.
• XX Rose Glycolic Gel 10% glycolic acid exfoliant suspended in rose water base that gently resurfaces skin, leaving it smooth, clear, and bright while keeping skin hydrated and soothed. Suitable for all skin types except ultra-sensitive. Sold at $80 one-time or $72 via subscribe-and-save.
• Rei Gentle Retinol Cream Potent yet gentle retinol cream combined with fungi-derived beta-glucan from reishi mushrooms. Boosts collagen, reduces fine lines, brightens skin, and protects the skin barrier while providing deep hydration. Priced at $116.
• Flora Botanical Cream Serum Medium-weight cream-serum hybrid using two different weights of hyaluronic acid combined with nutrient-rich fruit and floral oils rich in ellagic acid to brighten, soothe, and nourish skin. Priced at $146.
• Attar Floral Repair Concentrate Cult-favorite multi-purpose balm containing rose butter from Africa and jasmine concrete from Grasse, France. Fights acne, moisturizes, and heals skin without common balm ingredients such as shea or beeswax. Priced at $85.
• Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Silky lightweight gel with two weights of hyaluronic acid suspended in aloe. Adds moisture, improves absorption, and creates creamy textures when mixed with Rose or Gold. Priced at $92.
• Discovery Sample Kit 2ml sampling of each product in the line with instructions for performing the bespoke Monastery facial at home. Includes Rose, XX, Gold, Lapiz, Rei, Flora, Attar, and Universal Balm samples. Priced at $37.
• Acne Kit Two-step reset kit pairing Rose Cleansing Oil and Gold Restorative Face Oil. Rose gently lifts congestion without stripping, while Gold visibly reduces redness and supports faster recovery for acne-prone skin. Priced at $198.
• Intense Brightening Kit Trio kit combining Rose Cleansing Oil, XX Rose Glycolic Gel, and Gold Restorative Face Oil to reduce dullness and rejuvenate skin with brightening ingredients. Priced at $270.
• Superglow Moisture Kit Trio kit for moisture retention and rebuilding skin cellular walls. Includes Rose Cleansing Oil, Rei Gentle Retinol, and Attar Repair Concentrate to seal moisture overnight. Priced at $311.
• Monastery Spa Facials In-person skincare treatments at the company's California spa location, featuring the bespoke Monastery facial performed with the full Monastery product line by estheticians.

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CAP BeautycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium wellness retailer founded by Kerrilynn Pamer, operating for 10 years. Monastery products are sold through capbeauty.com alongside curated wellness and beauty products. CAP Beauty is described as a 'wellness beacon' and Monastery is proud to be 'part of the CAP family.'
• Carrie Lindsey BeautycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEsteemed esthetician Carrie Lindsey operates spa locations in Fort Greene, Brooklyn (opened 2016) and NoHo, Manhattan. Monastery facial treatments are available on the menu at both locations. Staff esthetician Rachel Dickman discovered Monastery through a class and recommended it.
• PallasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVintage bookshop located in San Francisco. Collaborated with Monastery for an intimate Lunar New Year celebration event inspired by the film 'The Color of Pomegranates.'
• SommerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurated collection of artisanal objects based in Berkeley. Co-hosted intimate Lunar New Year celebration with Monastery and Pallas.
• Stargarten StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned the event menu for Monastery and collaborators' Lunar New Year celebration event.
• AplosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-alcoholic cocktail provider for Monastery and collaborators' Lunar New Year celebration event.

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Herbivore Botanicals: DTC botanical skincare brand with a tightly curated range of natural-ingredient products at premium prices. Comparable on channel mix, ingredient philosophy, and target customer.
• RMS Beauty: Founder-led clean beauty brand using raw, food-grade ingredients at premium prices with strong editorial and celebrity following. Comparable to Monastery on founder-driven premium positioning and natural ingredient story.
• Indie Lee: Clean, naturally derived skincare brand founded by an esthetician with a tightly curated product range and DTC plus premium retailer distribution. Overlaps with Monastery on target customer and ingredient philosophy.
• Osea: Plant-based skincare and body-care brand with a heritage in spa treatments. Comparable to Monastery on botanical positioning and on combining retail products with professional spa services.
• Vintner's Daughter: Luxury botanical skincare line built around a small number of multi-purpose, plant-based formulations sold at premium prices. Comparable to Monastery's curated 8-SKU lineup and founder-led brand story.
• True Botanicals: Premium clean-beauty skincare brand with botanical actives sold DTC and through Sephora. Competes directly with Monastery in the prestige natural skincare segment.
• Tata Harper: Premium botanical skincare brand hand-formulated on a Vermont farm with rare plant ingredients. Closest direct peer to Monastery in positioning, ingredient philosophy, and prestige price points.

Others

• CAP Beauty: Curated clean beauty retailer and Monastery wholesale partner. Relevant as a channel ecosystem peer and a comparable brand-building model for the premium natural beauty segment.

Broad incumbents

• Drunk Elephant: Premium biocompatible skincare brand now owned by Shiseido. A larger incumbent in the same premium skincare space with broader distribution and clinical-positioning messaging that overlaps with Monastery's skin-health narrative.
• Juice Beauty: Established organic and botanical skincare brand with broader distribution including Sephora. Competes in the same clean/botanical skincare category with a wider SKU portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/monasterymade
• Pinterestpinterest.com/monasterymade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/monastery-made

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MONASTERY LTD