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Jane Sung, Deputy Editor
Forbes Vetted
Shop My Routine is a series that explores the beauty routines of CEOs, tastemakers and influencers, while highlighting the essentials that make their day-to-day easier.
Actress and producer Michelle Monaghan has long been acclaimed for her on-screen presence and versatility (most recently in the third season of The White Lotus and next up co-starring with Mark Wahlberg in the film The Family Plan 2). Behind that poise is a wellness philosophy shaped by balance and self-care. “Meditation is my exercise; it’s critical for me in terms of feeling really grounded,” she says. “ I do it in the morning, and sometimes in the afternoon when I need a boost of energy or to calm my nervous system.”
A longtime advocate of clean living and mindful routines, Monaghan’s outlook on beauty mirrors her minimalist mindset, making her a natural fit as science-driven skincare brand U Beauty’s first global brand ambassador and the face of its Smooth Serum campaign. “U Beauty has a very streamlined, less-is-more approach, which is really aligned with how I start my day and move through the world,” she says.
From her morning ritual to her commitment to sleep, hydration and movement, Monaghan has cultivated a holistic routine that keeps her feeling radiant on and off set. The mother of two balances her demanding schedule with restorative rituals involving magnesium salt soaks, antioxidant-packed green tea and a consistent skincare regimen. Here, Monaghan shares the beauty staples, wellness habits and travel essentials that help her stay centered, glowing and ready for whatever her next role brings.
Michelle Monaghan’s Skincare, Makeup And Wellness Favorites
Her Go-To Anti-Aging Serum
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“I start my day with a cleanse and use the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound, then I follow that up with The Smooth Dynamic Wrinkle Defense Serum. I’m loving this new serum because it really is smart skincare—it tackles fine lines and wrinkles that you see and also the ones you don’t, and prevents them from happening in the future. It’s dependable, and I love that I don’t have to think about much because each product from the line is composed of its proprietary Siren Capsule Technology. Once you understand what it does for your skin—how it targets damage and treats and supports it—then you know you’re getting the best results.”
U Beauty The Smooth Dynamic Wrinkle Defense Serum
$148
Shop At Nordstrom
Longtime Favorite Concealer
“I love the Clé de Peau Concealer. I’ve been using it for approximately 20 years, and it has built-in SPF, too.”
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer SPF 27
$75
Shop At Nordstrom
Sunscreen That Doubles As A Primer
“I use the U Beauty Multimodal Sheer SPF as my daily sunscreen. I really like that it works as a makeup primer too, and gives an amazing blurring effect to the skin.”
U Beauty Multimodal Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 25
$98
Shop At U Beauty
Multitasking Makeup
“I like a lip-to-cheek situation where I can use my fingers—RMS has these little pots that are literally called Lip2Cheek. I also use the Glossier Boy Brow and curl my lashes. And then for lip definition Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk lip liner is my go-to, and I top it off with the U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound in the Universal clear shade to add a bit of gloss.”
RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek
$40
Shop At Ulta Beauty
Movement And Hydration
“I have exercise weight bands, and I try to do a little workout to get my blood moving a bit—I find that really helpful. Also, Tina Craig from U Beauty introduced me to a green tea called Pique. It’s heavy in antioxidants, so if I need a little boost, I’ll drink that. I also make sure to drink a lot of water when I’m on set.”
Pique Sun Goddess Matcha
$78
Shop At Amazon
On-The-Go Aromatherapy
“I use a little rollerball of essential oils from Aesop called Flight Therapy. It has lavender, mandarin and ginger, and it’s also a nice little pick-me-up. It’s a lovely scent, and it fits in my makeup kit.”
Aesop Ginger Flight Therapy
$35
Shop At Dermstore
For Unwinding From A Long Work Day
“I’m not usually a bath person, but when I’m shooting and away from home, I become a bath person. I’ll immediately put on my white noise to help me wind down, and I use magnesium bath salts and lavender and just soak in a really hot bath with candles and the lights off. I love lavender, in a candle or really in any form; I feel like it’s on my bathroom counter all the time. I also really try to keep my phone at a minimum; it doesn’t always work, but I try my best.”
Yareli Lavender Dead Sea Soak
$23
Shop At Amazon
Her Holy Grail Serum
“I actually think the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound is a total beauty beauty hack—it’s essentially eight products in one. Something that I also learned years ago was the brilliance of witch hazel and how it depuffs the eyes. If I have access to ice, I’ll get a bowl, fill it with ice, dump some witch hazel in it, put a little bit of water in there, and mix it all up. Then I get cotton pads and soak them in the bowl before I put them over my eyes. It’s an instant depuff.”
U Beauty Resurfacing Compound
$88
Shop At Saks Fifth Avenue
Peptides For Scalp And Hair Health
“I regularly take a hair peptide supplement from a brand named OMI. I’ve been using it for about a year, and it works great.”
OMI Hair Growth Peptides
$79
Shop At Amazon
Deeply Hydrating Hair Treatment
“My hair gets color treated a lot, and it takes on a lot of heat while I’m shooting. So when I’m not working, I try to use a lot of masks to keep it in a reparative state. I like this Goldwell hair mask called Bond Pro. It’s nice and quick but also thick, and I really feel like my hair feels great after that.”
Goldwell Dualsenses Bond Pro
$24
Shop At Amazon
Air Dry Styler
“I try to let my hair air dry at night so it gets a break from the dryer. I put on Olaplex No. 6, and it helps smooth the bonds. It adds a really nice texture and a bit of volume to the hair. I also love the No. 7 oil, which gives it a nice shine.”
Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother
$30
Shop At Sephora
An Earthy, Grounding Fragrance
“Recently I was shooting in Paris, and I discovered Universelle Buly. It’s a French fragrance line, and there’s a particular scent called lichen. It’s just a divine scent, and they have it in a body oil—it’s beautiful.”
Officine Universelle Buly Huile Antique Lichen D’Écosse
€41.67
Shop At Officine Universelle Buly
In-Flight Comforts
“I like to be really cozy on a plane. I have a molded eye mask that doesn’t sit too heavily over my eyes, but it gives me the blackout. And I always drink dandelion tea on flights because it is depuffing and anti-inflammatory. I feel like I’m always cold, so I like to travel with a hooded sweatshirt and also typically bring my own little slippers for comfort.”
Slip Lovely Lashes Contour Sleep Mask
$75
Shop At Sephora
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