Michelle Monaghan Found This Skin-Enhancing Product Combination While on the Set of 'The White Lotus'

      In a true case of "life imitating art," Michelle Monaghan plays a delightful and successful actress in HBO's hit series The White Lotus. It's no surprise that she shares some characteristics with her character. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Monaghan for a conversation, and she was just as you might expect—warm, approachable, and incredibly easy to engage with. Naturally, I took the chance to ask her all of my pressing beauty questions, and thankfully, she was more than willing to share.

      You might be surprised to discover that Monaghan's beauty journey began with a health scare. After being diagnosed with melanoma, she was compelled to reassess her lifestyle, particularly her beauty regimen. "It significantly affected how I viewed my health and wellbeing," she explained. "That experience prompted me to thoroughly explore skincare, ingredients, and science—everything—because I realized I needed to adopt a holistic approach to my health." Fortunately, Monaghan is now free of melanoma, and this experience led to a serendipitous outcome. She has become an ambassador for one of my favorite brands, U Beauty, a partnership that developed naturally due to her admiration for its standout product, The Resurfacing Compound ($148). "A makeup artist introduced me to U Beauty because of the sun damage I had," she noted. "I mentioned to the makeup artist my concerns about my sun spots as I needed a no makeup-makeup look. I asked her to use minimal foundation but to address my hyperpigmentation. She gently suggested, 'I have a great product for that. You might want to try the Resurfacing Compound.'"

      From that point on, Monaghan was hooked. "I've been using that product the longest, and it continues to deliver results. It's like eight products [in one]. Once I started using it, I eliminated my topical vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid—it removed three or four products from my routine. It will always be a staple for me because I'll continually be revealing past sun damage as my skin regenerates over time. We can rely on products like those from U Beauty and their unique siren capsule technology to address these concerns. The brilliance of this technology is that it preserves healthy cells, keeping them nourished and balanced—exactly what we want—while targeting the problematic cells that need treatment. To me, this represents smart, innovative, science-driven skincare that makes perfect sense as a lifelong companion."

      Here are a few more insights I gained about Monaghan and her beauty routine, including her favorite finds from the set of The White Lotus and her must-have travel items.

      She never goes out without sunscreen. Monaghan is now a strong proponent of sun protection and seldom leaves without it. "I don't leave the house without applying SPF," she states. "That is the final step in my beauty routine. In the morning, I use the Multimodal Sheer Mineral Sunscreen. I love it not only because it’s a formula that contains only non-nano minerals but also because it provides a protective layer against all types of light—including UVA, UVB, and blue light. I appreciate its blurring effect; it blends beautifully and is suitable for all skin tones without leaving a white cast. It's also buildable, kind of like a primer, which works well under my minimal makeup. I use a Clé de Peau concealer that I’ve relied on for 20 years."

      When she’s out and about, she opts for a more robust sunscreen. "If I’m at the beach (where I spend a considerable amount of time outdoors), I always choose a water-resistant formula and generally go for an SPF of 50 or 60, as I prefer a streamlined SPF routine for my family."

      The filming of 'The White Lotus' inspired her recent travels. Season three took place mainly on the stunning island of Koh Samui in Thailand. Since then, Monaghan has traveled extensively during the summer, with some destinations influenced by her time there. "There's something incredibly beautiful about that region [in Thailand]," she mentions. "It might be the religion, the Eastern philosophy, and the cultures we experienced. The Thai and Indonesian cultures are so warm and welcoming—I can't quite describe it. My husband and I frequently discuss our love for it—the food, the history. I discovered a region I truly fell in love with, and after spending seven months there with my family, we knew we had to return."

      Regarding her summer travels, Monaghan visited the Aloita Resort in Indonesia after it caught her attention on social media four years ago. Her experience filming The White Lotus in the vicinity further motivated her family to visit. "It's a really special little spot; we surfed at all different levels, and they had a surf break suitable for everyone. They offered cozy bungalows that housed only 30 people. We met wonderful families from around the world, and there was no wi-fi, which added to