Michelle Monaghan is getting candid about her battle with a serious form of skin cancer.
Monaghan, 49, exclusively opened up to Us Weekly about being diagnosed with melanoma, after not being aware of the severity of skin cancer, and why SPF is so important to her now more than ever.
“I was diagnosed with melanoma several years ago, and it was something that really shocked me. I didn’t know anything about skin cancer,” the White Lotus alum told Us. “For anybody out there, please do not go to the tanning bed. You’re five times more likely to get melanoma. So I really encourage people to just get that faux tan, but wear the sunscreen.”
“[Sunscreen] is critical for me; it’s non-negotiable for me every single day, rain or shine, 365 days a year,” she continued.
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Monaghan’s husband, Peter White, discovered the melanoma and “encouraged” her to visit a dermatologist.
“He basically saved my life,” Monaghan told Us. “As a result of that, I really started to take my skin care a lot more seriously. [I] really started to do the deep dive on ingredient safety and all of those things. And so now I consider myself an advocate. I learned a lot, and so I really want to share with people how important it is to adopt a sunscreen into your daily routine and how easy it is.”
The star serves as a global ambassador for the luxury skincare company U Beauty, which was founded by Tina Chen Chang in 2019.
“I was actually in a makeup trailer doing a ‘no makeup/makeup’ look for a role when I was really wanting my skin … I wanted this really natural look, but I also wanted my skin to look its best,” Monaghan told Us. “[A makeup designer] gave me some Resurfacing Compound, and honestly, it’s the holy grail, I think, of all the U Beauty products. I noticed a difference within probably about three days, just specifically like pore size and a brighter sort of look. And then, of course, over time and with continued use, those sun spots and the dark spots, kind of lifting. Then I started the eye cream and U Beauty called, and it was just the most perfect timing.”
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Monaghan shared with Us her day-to-day skincare routine.
“I get up and I wash my face, I put on the Resurfacing Compound,” she said. “I’m working indoors, and I’m in Vancouver, so I like the Barrier Cream. It’s really hydrating. It’s cold here right now, so the Resurfacing Compound, the Barrier Cream, Super Body Hydrator, I absolutely need in winter time. And if I’m going to be out in the sun, like next week, I’ll be working outside for sure all day, and I will be using the SPF, the Multimodal Sheer, which I love. I’m a sunscreen fanatic. So this one’s extra special.”
Monaghan also teased an upcoming hockey series that Netflix just announced is in production. The eight-episode series from Nick Naveda and Shawn Levy’s production company, 21 Laps, is currently untitled.
“I’m a huge sports fan, but hockey was something that kind of eluded me, even though I’m from rural America, and it’s either kind of hockey or football,” Monaghan said. “My town was like a football town, so I [watched] a lot of football. Hockey is new to me. I’m not sure what it is about hockey, particularly right now that it’s having a moment. Maybe Heated Rivalry has something to do with it, but it is a really fun game. I’m absolutely loving getting to inhabit this world. This atmosphere. It’s a very fast game. It’s really intense, and it’s a lot of fun. So I understand the appeal. Now that I’m aware of it, I totally get it.”
