Hot Summer Secrets

H-Town's most beautiful fashionistas reveal their hot summer makeup finds & skin care secrets

Although Houstonians have been wading through warm weather temps and humidity for weeks, summer officially begins June 21 and if you haven't already adjusted your makeup routine for the 90s (that would be temps and humidity levels), now's the time.

Just as the change of seasons calls for a change of wardrobe, so a change in makeup is necessary with a switch to products that are beastly-weather friendly.

CultureMap queried a half dozen women, who not only lead busy, involved lives but who also have a certain beauty savvy. We asked about their favorite beauty products for the summer months.

The faux glow

To tan or not to tan. That is the question for many women today who love the glow but abhor the damage that those tanning rays can cause. As interior designer Kristen Nix says, "I'm over a real sun tan. I've recently discovered Alba sunless tannerwhich I use all over my body and face."

For a special facial glow, this mother of three young sons has been a devotee of Nars Bronzer in the Laguna shade for more than a decade. "I love the sun-kissed color it gives," she explains.

Co-chair of the 2015 Catwalk for a Cure gala, Allie Fields says, "I live for a good faux glow!" While she and husband Jay spend most of their summer weekends on Lake Austin, she cover ups with plenty of sunscreen and goes for Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector makeup for a gentle summer coloring. Allie also embraces Narz Bronzer in Laguna for an extra dollop of "sun."

As for the dry skin that results from the outdoors and her basic summer wardrobe of jean shorts and cover-ups, she uses Jergen’s Shea Beauty Oil. "It gives me a fabulous glisten without feeling heavy."

Skincare on the go

Making no fewer than six international trips a year Laurier Blanc founder Suzanne Coppola says, "I really like those things that have dual purposes, which frees up space in my travel bag or makes my daily beauty routine that much faster. Her go-to travel product is RMS Beauty’s Lip2Cheek in Beloved. "I love that these are made with organic ingredients and function as color for both lips and cheeks and it lasts," she notes. "I like this shade because of the hint of a poppy color to it." (Available at Kuhl-Linscomb.)

"I love to use this as a body oil but also run through my hair post shower to bring back some of the shine. Love that it’s made in St. Barth and uses natural ingredients."

When it's time to moisture up, Coppola turns to Heidi Klein Ligne St. Barth Avocado Oil. "I love to use this as a body oil but also run through my hair post shower to bring back some of the shine. Love that it’s made in St. Barth and uses natural ingredients, makes me feel beautiful every time I use it."

For a little summer color, she goes for James Read Sleep Mask Tan, "a super luxe facial moisturizer with anti-aging magic and subtle self-tanner that works overnight. Genius!"

Light on the makeup

An attorney who manages her husband's medical practice, Lora Clemmons' go-to products come from Make Up For Ever, especially the Invisible Cover Foundation. But before applying the foundation, she says that Laura Mercier Primer is a must. For color, she says, "I apply Bobbie Brown blush and Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour and Chanel Glaze lip gloss."

Another former attorney Kathleen Jennings, BeautyNow blogger and founder of the iPhone app Beauty Now, favors Cover Girl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation. "Lately, I found myself reaching for this drugstore foundation over my fancy Chanel one," she explains. "It does not require a primer, is invisible on the skin, blends easily and covers a multitude of spots and imperfections in one swipe. And perfect for my combination skin during the humid summer."

For ramping up a healthy glow, Jennings uses Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster. "I'm always afraid to try new tanning products on my sensitive skin, but this one is great because you just mix a couple drops in with your regular moisturizer. I'm very pale, and this product gives me a subtle, realistic tan — no orange, no streaks."

Drunk Elephant

Houstonian Tiffany Masterson officially launched this skincare line in November and already savvy femmes are touting it. Former InStyle magazine fashion editor Francine Ballard, who since moving to Houston is focusing on her e-commerce site DesignerSocial, recently discovered Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Defense SPF 30. "It seems pretty great. I always break out from sunscreen but have not so far with this product . . . It contains Marula oil and is non-toxic."

Coppola also praises Drunk Elephant, the Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil a favorite from the line. "I feel like this is a sort of healing serum for my skin, because inevitably I’m running on the go and not taking the time to protect my skin as well as I should," she says. "It works wonders during and post long-haul flights since it’s full of antioxidants, is super hydrating and uses all natural ingredients."

The products are available online and at Sloan Hall.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour.

Chanel.com

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour.

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Razzle dazzle 'em!

Houston-born America's Got Talent star jazzes up new TUTS' production of Broadway smash Chicago

Christina Wells Chicago tour 25th anniversary

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Christina Wells plays "Mama" Morton in TUTS' Chicago.

When Christina Wells steps onto the Hobby Center stage as Matron "Mama" Morton in the 25th Anniversary Tour of Chicago, she knows she's coming full circle.

Wells takes on the famed role in the highly anticipated Chicago run produced by Theatre Under the Stars, which runs January 31 through February 12 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Houston — and national —audiences fell in love with her during her breakout, Season 13 of NBC's America's Got Talent.

"The city of Houston showed up for me," she tells CultureMap, explaining the hometown love she felt in her appearance on the talent show. "I feel such joy in returning here. You know, performing is a two-way street, and I feel like, we did it!"

Wells' gratitude for her home and her career runs deep. The H-Town native is a trained registered nurse, and didn't step into performing full time until after her stint on the hit show. By that point, she was in her 40s, with two grown children.

All the stars seemed to align, pointing her in a brand-new direction.

"I was always that nurse who would whip open the curtain on a patient before surgery and say, hey!" Her voice notches up, evoking an emcee warming up the crowd. "So, I always brought that kind of entertaining aspect to it."

Following the AGT appearance, she secured and agent and began the path to full-time acting. The single mother (her sons are now 27 and 21, and she has a toddler grandson) calls it her "second adulthood."

Chicago is her first national tour, and every day is adventure for Wells, being in a new city every week — sometimes multiple times a week — and learning who she is in this new phase of her life.

"It's just surreal," she says about having the tour stop in Houston. "I started in community theater and I looked up to TUTS. That was the goal."

A goal she met in 2021, with a dream role of Ursula the sea witch in Disney's The Little Mermaid. Now, she's back on the Hobby Center stage in another iconic role in an another iconic musical.

Matron "Mama" Morton is in charge of the women's ward of the Cook County Jail, where she oversees the musical's accused murderers, taking the occasional bribe in exchange for favors and preferential treatment Her big number, "When You're Good to Mama" is often a showstopper, sung by some of show business' biggest names. Think Patti LaBelle, Lilias White, Jennifer Holliday, and Queen Latifah.

That might nbe intimidating to some. Not to Wells.

"I try not to think of stepping into other people's shoes," she says. "I want to myself to this. I want to be authentic in it. [Mama's] a big woman, and she loves these girls. She protects them. But she's tough. She gets what she wants."

The musical, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse, opened to mixed reviews on Broadway in 1975. But its 1996 revival fared better. That iteration of the show is still running on Broadway.

And the 2002 movie musical was a hit, starring Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, and Latifah. It explores the idea of celebrity criminals and a corrupt justice system, blending those dark themes with some of Broadway's most instantly recognizable tunes such as "All That Jazz," "Razzle Dazzle," and "Nowadays."

Being part of the tour has taught Wells a lot, both about the business of performing and about her self. She prioritizes singing over everything else, she says. And she's tapped into her own desire for authenticity in her roles to amp up her acting. She credits the show's creative team, especially the show's director and assistant choreographer, in helping her to grow in her craft an confidence.

That confidence is something she wants to share.

"Opportunity and talent don't just belong to the young," she says. "Everyone has value."

That's the message she shares with others when she offers workshops and talks, where she not only offers her own journey as an example, but encourages others to tap into theirs.

"I'm a cheerleader," she explains. "I have one friend who teases me, 'Don't listen to her; she'll have you going back to college and leaving your terrible boyfriend.'" Wells laughs. "But I say, stand in my confidence for a little while. If I'm going to have a platform in this life, I'm going to tell you to believe in yourself."

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Chicago runsJanuary 31 through February 12 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby St.). For tickets, showtimes, and more information, visit TUTS online.

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Christina Wells plays "Mama" Morton in TUTS' Chicago.

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