Michelle Monaghan
The actor and U Beauty ambassador takes sun protection seriously.
Written by LAURA REGENSDORF
In the third season of The White Lotus, which sent viewers vicariously to Thailand earlier this year, Michelle Monaghan plays Jaclyn, a Los Angeles–based actor traveling with old friends while flirting with new ones. Shared profession aside, Monaghan describes herself as “quite different” from Jaclyn—from the faux tan and Malibu blonde highlights to the prop Erewhon tote bag. “A fun character choice for me,” she says, “even though I don’t shop there.”
Monaghan’s approach to wellness skews low-key. She starts each day with a morning meditation; her aesthetic is decidedly less-is-more. “My first exposure to beauty came when my mom would have the Avon lady visit our home,” she says of her upbringing in small-town Iowa, made colorful by those little lipstick samples. “As I’ve grown older, I believe that less makeup is often more youthful.” Skin health instead is her focus, which makes her an apt ambassador for U Beauty. She first discovered the line through a makeup artist, who recommended the Resurfacing Compound to treat concerns like UV-induced dark spots and hormonal acne. “From that moment on, I started using it religiously; it became my holy grail,” says Monaghan. She is equally enthusiastic about the brand’s new mineral sunscreen, as someone whose tanning-bed regrets gave way to a one-time melanoma diagnosis—which turned her into a safe-sun advocate. Still, adventure awaits. “My family loves to dive and surf,” she says, “so I am looking for a destination where the water is warm—it’s my only requirement.”
1.
“I’m very critical when it comes to SPF. I love that this is a non-nano zinc oxide formula, and the texture is amazing—it absorbs in seconds. I like how this primes, brightens, and defends my skin, plus it’s so great under makeup.”
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3.
“I love how hydrating this lip treatment is. I wear the clear shade regularly, and my character Jaclyn often wore the Rose shade.”
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