GET GLOWING

Houston makeup expert touts 5 hot trends for a vibrant summer look

Get in on the five must-have makeup trends for summer with tips from Houston makeup expert, Maricella Metzler.

Photo via Fenty/Instagram

As colorful and skin-baring outfits make their seasonal debut for summer, it is also time to break out fun, glowy, and glamorous makeup for its time in the sun (literally). The spring and summer runways have spoken, and this season is all about playful experimentation. Think colored mascara, bold blush, and iridescent eye shadows. Of course, the no-makeup makeup look is timeless, but this summer is beckoning to experiment with something new.

For more details on what is trending this summer, we turned to Maricella Metzler, resident makeup artist at Trellis Spa and creator of her makeup line, Makeup by Mari. Metzler has seen a recent uptick in women wanting to update their aesthetic for summer.

"May is an incredibly bustling month filled with proms, graduations, parties, and Mother's Day," notes the makeup artist. "I love teaching women and teens how just a few adjustments in colors or products can transform their look completely."

The possibilities of summer makeup are endless, so Metzler whittled down the list to a few must-have items, available online or at any beauty retailer, that will help achieve a glowing and on-trend look at home.

Glazed Skin

Move over matte, dewy and luminous skin is in. Metzler says this trend is all about hydrated, radiant skin that looks healthy and natural.

Product recommendations: Hydrating serums, liquid highlighters, dewy foundations, and cream blushes.

Brands to explore: Rare Beauty, Fenty Beauty, Glossier

Summer glow 24/7 this season with healthy, natural looking skin. Photo via Fenty/Instagram

Siren Eyes

This sultry eye look emphasizes elongated and lifted eyes, creating a captivating and mysterious vibe. Metzler encourages her clients to try a sharp winged liner, elongated eyeshadow, and emphasis on the outer corners.

Product recommendations: gel eyeliner, dark eyeshadows, and volumizing mascara.

Brands to explore: KVD Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC Cosmetics

Choose siren eyes for a dramatic summer aesthetic. Photo via Charlotte Tilbury/Instagram

Blush Draping

This 80s-inspired technique is back with a modern twist. According to Metzler, Blush Draping involves applying blush along the temples, cheekbones, and up toward the brow bone for a lifted sculpted effect.

Product recommendations: Powder or cream blush in vibrant shades like pinks, corals, and peaches.

Brands to explore: NARS, Milani, Benefit Cosmetics

Get glowing with a great blush application like this one from NARS. Photo via NARS/Instagram

Monochromatic Moments

Summer is a great time to streamline your makeup routine and embrace a single color across your eyes, lips, and cheeks. Metzler recommends this trend for a cohesive and polished look, perfect for any occasion.

Product recommendations: Multi-purpose products like cream blushes, lip and cheek tints, and eyeshadow palettes with shades in the same color family.

Brands to explore: Milk Makeup, Ilia Beauty, Tower 28

Houston makeup expert Maricella Metzler recommends Ilia Beauty for a monochromatic makeup look. Photo via Ilia Beauty

Faux Freckles

Add a touch of whimsy and natural beauty with faux freckles this season. "You are never too old for freckles," says Metzler. "Embrace a youthful and sun-kissed look by adding them across your nose and cheeks."

Product recommendations: Eyebrow pencils or specially designed freckle pens in various shades.

Brands to explore: Freck Beauty, Lime Crime, ColourPop

Freckles add a fun and youthful look perfect for summer. Photo via Freck Beauty/Instagram

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VAULT VIBES

Houston fashion star Chloe Dao marks 25 years with epic clean-out sale

Photo courtesy of Chloe Dao

From January 24- 31 Chloe Dao will open her personal design archives to mark 25 years with a rare boutique vault sale.

For Houston fashion devotees, this is the kind of news that prompts a calendar alert and a group chat with the besties. Chloe Dao is celebrating 25 years in fashion by doing something she has never done before: opening the vault.

From January 24 through January 31, the Chloe Dao boutique will host a 25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Vault Event, releasing pieces from Dao’s personal design archives alongside curated boutique items that have been held back for years. Once they are gone, they are gone for good.

“This is not a typical sale; this is an anniversary moment,” Dao says. “It’s an intentional release, a moment of reflection and gratitude, and a way to make space for what’s next. Once these pieces are gone, they’re truly gone."

For the first time ever, shoppers will be able to snag select designs from past collections and limited production runs, and Dao has confirmed she will be parting with some of her couture designs. Shoppers can expect more than 300 items, with more than half of the boutique included in the sale event.

Chloe Dao design Select runway couture and past collection pieces headline Chloe Dao’s 25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Event.Photo courtesy of Chloe Dao

Everything in the anniversary sale will be discounted 65 percent or more. Fan favorites, including the Houston T-shirt and Aya scarf, will be priced at $15 to $20, down from $42 to $68. None of the released pieces will be reproduced or restocked.

There is also a very personal moment behind this big event. Dao shared that she is planning for the future, including her eventual retirement in about 5 years, making this the right time for a shift.

“It is bittersweet, and I’m still torn about letting go of some of my archive pieces. But a close friend stopped by the boutique this past Saturday and reminded me that I can always create more. That really stayed with me. I’ve missed designing for my store, and this sale feels like a reset — a chance to return to what I love most: designing eveningwear," Dao tells CultureMap. "The past six years, especially post-COVID, were very much about survival mode. Now, if I’m going to truly survive and thrive in today’s retail landscape, my focus is shifting back to my own line and less on curation.”

Following her Project Runway Season Two win and decades of success, Dao says the milestone is also about gratitude for the city that supported her from the start.

“Think of it as an archive release and a chance to own a piece of my history as I celebrate 25 years in fashion. Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I’m so excited to share this moment, and this milestone, with you."

25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Vault Event, January 24 - January 31, Chloe Dao Boutique, 600 N Shepherd Dr #115, in M-K-T Heights.

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