When the red carpets rolled out in Venice for the 2025 film festival, Athena Hewett wasn’t there simply to enjoy the glamour — she was there to prep some of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. Hewett, a veteran esthetician of more than two decades and founder of the botanical skincare brand Monastery, spent her week on the Italian canals giving specialized treatments to actresses and directors ahead of their premieres. What resulted was a blend of skincare artistry, old‑world travel, and memorable moments amid one of the world’s most celebrated cultural events.
A Day in the Life: Nourishing Skin for the Spotlight
Hewett traveled to Venice with a suitcase full of tools and products — her mobile “studio” — ready to deliver glowing, camera‑ready skin to her roster of clients. Unlike studio facials, where peels and extractions are typical, her festival work focused on hydration, lymphatic drainage, sculpting, and glow‑enhancing techniques designed to be visible immediately and compatible with makeup application later that day.
Over several busy days, Hewett treated five clients, including filmmaker Sofia Coppola, and actors Gemma Chan, Rashida Jones, Greta Lee, and Chloë Sevigny — names familiar both on and off the screen. Her approach was calm and intentional, emphasizing comfort and results ahead of long festival days.
One of her signature tools? A vintage silver egg‑shaped gua sha she once found in a shop and later integrated into her facial rituals for sculpting and lymphatic work. It became something of a secret weapon throughout the week.
Custom Skin Prep on the Go
At film festival events, schedules are notoriously tight, and Hewett often had to set up in hotel rooms or suites rather than traditional spa environments. Each treatment was tailored to her client’s needs — whether addressing dehydration from travel, puffiness from tight press schedules, or brightening tired skin before a premiere.
Her own line, Monastery, played a starring role in these sessions. Products like the Gold Restorative Face Oil and the Attar Floral Repair Concentrate Balm — described as a multi‑purpose, nourishing balm — became go‑to staples because they hydrate without feeling heavy or interfering with makeup.
Hydration, in particular, was critical. Venice’s humid air and unpredictable weather can leave skin parched or dull, so protective and moisture‑rich formulations helped keep complexions calm and radiant through interviews, photos, and long festival evenings.
Cultural Moments and Personal Experiences
Off the clock, the festival offered classic Venetian delights. Long meals at local favorites like Antiche Carampane — known for dishes like seabass served with eggplant and delicate crab salad — became both a culinary highlight and a way to connect with fellow attendees away from press and premieres.
One of Hewett’s most memorable fashion moments involved rescuing her wardrobe on the fly: after realizing nothing she packed felt quite right for the festival, she bought a Jil Sander dress in Venice, capturing that blend of practicality and personal style that often defines her work.
The experience culminated at an after‑party hosted at designer Diane von Furstenberg’s home, described by Hewett as one of the most beautiful spaces she’s ever been in — filled with iconic art and rooms that felt more like gallery installations than living spaces.
The Intersection of Ritual, Craft, and Creativity
For Hewett, the Venice trip wasn’t just a high‑profile assignment — it was a testament to the lasting importance of skincare as both ritual and craft. Her philosophy treats skincare not as a superficial add‑on but as a foundational practice that respects and enhances the skin’s natural function. This thoughtful approach has made her a trusted name among celebrities and beauty‑enthusiasts alike, drawing from decades of experience and deep understanding of botanical, microbiome‑supportive formulas.
In an industry where faces are photographed from every angle at every event, Hewett’s ability to bring calm, long‑lasting radiance to her clients speaks to why her work — often done quietly before the flashbulbs pop — remains so sought after.
