Aloe is a Thing of Beauty
A Primer on Aloe Vera and a Product Review
Venus of the Mind is a weekly newsletter about beauty, culture, and magic. New to Venus? Start Here. Looking for the archives? Right Here.
Inside the Product Primer for February 2026
- Good News
- Aloe Vera 101
- A Product Review: Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost by Monastery
- Will Aloe be Your Valentine?
GOOD NEWS
The beauty directory for paid subscribers is now live!
It features where to go for acupuncture (and adjacent TCM modalities), baths, facials, fragrance, full-body treatments, hair (cuts for all textures, color, silk presses, extensions etc.) injectables, mani-pedis, massage, and specialty boutique shopping. All vetted by a licensed and working beauty professional.
This is a living list, new locations are added as they’re experienced, provided that the experience was top tier. At the moment, starting out with the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area, there’s locations as far east as Italy and then out further to Pakistan. As west as Montana and then southwest to Texas. As north as Massachusetts, then down to North Carolina, and as south as Puerto Rico.
Happy Relaxing!✌🏾
Aloe Vera 101
What is it about aloe? Applying its gel feels like a safe and loving caress. When used in my practice, it’s as though I can hear a client’s skin sighing while soothed by aloe.
Aloe vera (Latin, Aloe barbadensis), is a succulent plant originating from the Arabian Peninsula before making its way around the world over centuries and via trade routes. It is one plant out of hundreds within the genus called Aloe. When aloe vera’s leaves are cut open, they release a clear and gel-like substance popular in various traditional healing practices for its soothing properties, wound healing, and hydrating benefits.
As a contemporary cosmetic ingredient, aloe vera extract is quite versatile, being chemically composed primarily of water and notable for its content of polysaccharides plus phytosterols.
Polysaccharides: They are one of the main types of carbohydrates found in nature and serve as an essential source of energy for living organisms.
In topical skincare, plant polysaccharides help maintain hydration levels, aid in wound healing and tissue regeneration, as well as potentially slow UV/free-radical damage and oxidative stress. Here is a comprehensive review of their benefits from Science Direct.
Phytosterols: Naturally occurring cholesterol-like molecules found in all plant foods. _Paula’s Choice Ingredient Dictionary
Given their fatty composition phytosterols work in skincare to lock-in moisture and prevent water loss. This supports the skin’s natural protective barrier — also known as the acid mantle.
Structured primarily of water plus polysaccharides and phytosterols, in cosmetic formulations aloe vera extract can be used either as a solvent, base ingredient, soothing agent, humectant, or in a combination of these functions.
Note: there are many other chemical structures within Aloe vera extract but for the purposes of the following product review, water, polysaccharides, and phytosterols are the most relevant.
Monastery’s Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost
The Point
This serum is a 10 out 10.
The Story
It was while gallivanting in Rome last September that I realized I was ready to start my own studio practice, after having returned to esthetics three years ago and worked exclusively for a larger beauty/wellness brand full-time.
As soon as I returned to Northern Virginia, I began to research and test products for Ivana Martínez Studio. It was especially important for me to integrate products that were values aligned in their production practices. Caring for the Earth and caring for our skin go hand-in-hand.
My research led me to Monastery. I loved reading about founder Athena Hewett’s considered and artful approach to ingredient sourcing plus small-batch formulations. As a plus, I appreciated that the product line is informed by Athena’s 20+ year career as a CIDESCO certified esthetician working out of San Francisco. The brand’s Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost was the first product I invested in as part of curating my facial studio’s backbar. It’s been six months, and I remain besotted with this particular serum.
Product Notes
Duration: Monastery products are sensorially pleasing to use and nourishing for the skin but what I love even more is that they formulate and package in a manner that encourages less consumption. I purchased their serum at the end of September and only listed it in my product logs as due for re-purchase on Tuesday, January 7th. Depending on how my skin was feeling per my monthly cycle and the day’s climate, on average I used this serum anywhere from three times a week to twice daily. While studying lymphatic drainage in Colorado last November I was obsessively applying it under a moisturizer followed by an occlusive to survive Denver’s dryness. I was sure I’d use up the serum by the end of November but like a Mary Poppins purse, the bottle just kept on going.
What It’s Good For: With two different weights of hyaluronic acid suspended in a base of aloe vera, this product works well as a hydrating and prepping serum that also balances out oil production while soothing inflammation thanks to the inclusion of sage, lavender, and clary sage. The entire ingredient list also means that this is a lightweight antioxidant serum with a beautifully aromatic quality.
Who It’s Ideal For: This serum is good for all skin-types. However, due to the sage, lavender, and clary sage within the product, in my practice I typically find myself recommending it most to my combination/oily and heavily acne-prone clients. The brand’s website recommends 1-2 pumps and that amount may be enough for oiler skin-types. My skin tends towards dryness year-around, so I found that 3-4 pumps is what I’ve needed for my face and neck.
How to Use: Apply 1-4 pumps, depending on skin type. Do so after cleansing and before moisturizing. If you use a hydrating essence, apply this after your essence, then go in with a moisturizer. Daytime, always follow-up with an SPF. Nighttime, due to the essential oil compounds (like terpenes) in this serum, if you skin-cycle I recommend using aloe boost on a recovery night, not on an active night where you have just exfoliated or are using a high strength retinoid. If you’re not actively skin-cycling this serum can be used nightly after cleansing and under your moisturizer.
Will Aloe Be Your Valentine?
I purchase from them regularly enough that Monastery kindly sent me a 20% off discount link to share — totally unrelated to this newsletter, I did not reach out them, it was simply serendipity! The email they sent said to share the link with friends but what I read was share with the newsletter hotties.💖
The referral discount (linked after the paywall) can be applied to the Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost or to any Monastery product of your choosing. Good through Monday, March 2nd.