After four years, the viral HBO series Euphoria is back.
With the main characters out of high school and at the start of adulthood, they’ve had a shift in style.
Head Makeup Artist Donni Davy has been the woman responsible for Euphoria’s iconic makeup looks since the program’s debut in 2019.
In season one, Davy wanted viewers to see glitter and a range of purple hues, bringing the Petra Collins-esque vision to life, which quickly became the show’s key look.
Throughout the season, glam was used to bolster director Sam Levinson’s storytelling.
For example, when protagonist “Rue” relapses for the first time, her skin is dewy and shimmering, as if she’s sweating, and her lips are chafed, stripped of any moisture.
While her skin is pallid, the eye makeup is bold.
Rue has a gleaming liquid eyeliner running underneath her eyes, and her lids are touched with a soft pinkish-magenta shadow.
This juxtaposition is intentionally done by Davy.
Rue’s strung-out skin can’t be hidden, showing how her drug use is ruining her from the inside out.
Her vibrant eye makeup represents her attempts to ignore her deterioration, by romanticizing her own suffering.
Still, she can’t hide her hardship very well, as the eyeliner trickles down her face like tears.
This still-shot of Rue became an internet sensation in 2019, and is still noted as the most recognized image from Euphoria.
In 2022, anticipation from the internet grew – season two was released.
As the series averaged over sixteen million views per episode, Davy knew she needed to bring it up a notch.
In an interview with Glossy, Davy described this season’s full-face as “a more wearable version of Season One makeup”, and a “wider variety of looks”.
As season two continued developing the characters, and had a more emotionally complex mood than the first season, faces were muted and showed darker shades.
There was less neon, glitter and facial-stickers.
And more polished cut-creases with black-winged eyeliners.
Though, the highlight of this season was unarguably, rhinestones.
Davy gave credit for the stones to a colleague of hers, professional makeup artist Megan Cahill, who is also the founder of beauty brand Get Stonned.
Cahill’s backing helped Davy to create her next iconic look with Sydney Sweeney’s character, Cassie.
In episode one, Cassie commits an egregious betrayal: she engages in a romantic relationship with her best friend’s psychotic ex-boyfriend.
Similar to Rue’s agony in season one, Cassie’s guilt is shown through her skin.
Her blush placement gives the face a flushed appearance, with hints of rosy-red applied lightly on her cheeks, nose, chin and eyelids.
Brows are groomed, softly filled in, and a skin-glaze gives her face a subtle luminance.
The staple rhinestones are adorned across her lash-line, mimicking the shape of an eyeliner.
The small crystals symbolize her innocence, which is soon to be corrupted.
At the same time, it is a nod to her best friend Maddy, whose signature look had gems in the first season.
Today, season three is now streaming, with a new episode released every Sunday.
In 2026, Euphoria has had a massive shift, with drastic changes in hair, makeup and wardrobe.
Deep purples and neon colors have been replaced with yellowy sunset hues.
Since the drama takes place in the height of California heat, Davy gives the characters brighter colors and tanned skin.
Many of the looks viewers have seen so far pay homage to the 1960’s and 70’s: Twiggy-inspired lashes, grunge rock lip-liners and exaggerated eyeliner. 
As the protagonists are no longer high school students, their makeup has matured with them.
Davy includes more high-contrast details, accentuating freckles and beauty marks that were less prominent during their teenage years.
As this season aims for a western sunny season vibe, Davy avoids matte skin.
To achieve the ideal complexion for this, she’s had custom self-tanners and body shimmer made for select characters.
But the makeup isn’t the only thing taking the limelight, the nails are playing a key-factor in narrative dressing.
Key Nail Artist Caroline Cotten works alongside Davy to create character-focused looks.
The nail art is calculated, and distinct, used to define the evolving personalities.
In a candid confession on her Instagram, Davy went on to say, “I was really self-critical of my work, but in the end, months later..I ended up loving it.”
As the season progresses we can only imagine what more on-screen magic she will create.
