There are certain brands that feel immediately aligned with Ara’kai. Not simply because of the products they create, but because of the way they think about beauty, ritual and the experience of caring for the skin. Monastery is one of those brands.

Our relationship with Monastery began when the brand was still relatively unknown in Scandinavia. Ara’kai was one of the first destinations to bring Monastery to the region, introducing our community to founder Athena Hewett’s distinctive approach to botanical skincare and the rituals surrounding it.

Since then, it has been incredibly special to watch Monastery grow its presence here, particularly in Copenhagen. What began as a brand we believed deserved to be discovered has gradually become part of the beauty conversation in the city, while our own partnership has continued to evolve.

From California to Copenhagen

Monastery approaches skincare with an appreciation for both performance and sensoriality. Botanical oils, extracts and aromatic ingredients are used to create formulas that make the act of caring for the skin feel considered rather than purely functional.

It is an approach that naturally resonated with Ara’kai.

When we first introduced Monastery to our shelves, part of the excitement was being able to bring something new to Scandinavia. Our curation has always been about discovering brands with a strong point of view and giving our community the opportunity to experience them in a more personal way.

With Monastery, that has extended far beyond the shelf.

Today, the partnership includes something particularly special: a treatment created around the Monastery universe that can only be experienced at Ara’kai in Scandinavia.

The Monastery Super Glow Facial

The Monastery Super Glow Facial is a 75-minute, custom-tailored treatment designed to deeply hydrate, balance and restore radiance to the skin.

Exclusive to Ara’kai throughout Scandinavia, the facial brings Monastery’s botanical-rich formulas into the treatment room, allowing the products to be experienced through professional techniques, touch and ritual.

The treatment begins with a gentle enzyme exfoliation to resurface the skin, followed by a thorough cleanse and targeted extractions to refine the complexion. From there, a collagen-stimulating facial massage helps encourage circulation while lifting and revitalizing the skin.

A customized mask provides deep hydration, helping leave the complexion feeling plump, balanced and refreshed. The facial finishes with Monastery LED mask therapy for the face alongside a calming hand and arm massage.

The result is skin that feels deeply cared for, smooth and luminous, but the experience itself is just as important. Monastery’s signature botanical aromas accompany the treatment, creating a sensory ritual that encourages you to settle into the moment.

The facial also incorporates Monastery’s botanical skincare collection, including its collaboration with filmmaker Sofia Coppola, bringing another layer of the Monastery world into the treatment room.

More Than a Product on a Shelf

For us, partnerships become most interesting when they develop beyond simply stocking a brand.

Being able to translate Monastery into an exclusive treatment gives our community another way to understand what makes the brand special. You can discover a formula on the shelf, speak with our team about how it fits into your routine and then experience those same philosophies through the hands of an Ara’kai therapist.

It creates a much deeper relationship between brand, product and practice.

The Monastery Super Glow Facial has become part of that relationship, bringing together botanical skincare, massage, exfoliation, LED therapy and intentional touch in a treatment that feels distinctly Monastery while still belonging naturally within Ara’kai.

Seeing Monastery Find Its Place in Copenhagen

One of the most rewarding parts of working with a brand from an early stage in Scandinavia is seeing its presence grow around you.

Over the years, we have watched Monastery begin to create its own footprint in Copenhagen, and Copenhagen Fashion Week has become an exciting part of that story.

Seeing Monastery present during CPHFW feels particularly meaningful to us because it reflects how far the brand’s presence here has come. From introducing the products to our community in the early days to seeing Monastery become part of Copenhagen’s wider creative landscape, it has been exciting to witness that evolution firsthand.

There is a natural connection between skincare, fashion, design and personal ritual in Copenhagen. CPHFW brings those worlds together, making it a fitting setting for Monastery’s distinctive approach to beauty to be discovered by an even wider audience.

For Ara’kai, it is also a reminder of why we love discovering brands early. There is something special about believing in a brand, introducing it to your community and then watching its world expand around you.

A Partnership That Continues to Grow

Our partnership with Monastery has always been grounded in a shared appreciation for thoughtful beauty and the rituals that make skincare feel like more than another step in the day.

From being one of the first destinations to introduce Monastery to Scandinavia to creating an exclusive facial that remains available only at Ara’kai within the region, the relationship has grown alongside the brand itself.

And as Monastery continues to establish its presence in Copenhagen, we are proud to have been part of that story from early on.

The Monastery Super Glow Facial is available exclusively in Scandinavia at Ara’kai Beauty. A 75-minute treatment dedicated to botanical skincare, intentional touch and the kind of glow that comes from giving the skin, and yourself, time.