Euphoria's Makeup Artist Has One Simple Tip For Embracing The Show's Wild Beauty Aesthetic

By Kelsey Goldbach
A woman looks into the camera over a pair of orange sunglasses that look like dragonfly wings. She is wearing metallic purple eyeshadow. Contagion Media/Shutterstock

Getting the "Euphoria" look is easier than you think. "'Euphoria' makeup" emerged as a trend alongside the first season of the HBO hit series in 2019. Characterized by wild eyeshadow looks, tons of glitter, and plenty of strategically-placed rhinestones, "'Euphoria' makeup" is maximalist enthusiast heaven. But, with glittery eyeshadow being one of one of the outdated makeup trends to leave behind, does expressive, colorful makeup still have a place at the table? "Euphoria" makeup artist Donni Davy thinks so.

Davy, who won two Emmy awards for her contemporary makeup work on "Euphoria," explained to The Daily Beast's beauty outlet The Looker, that getting the glamorous "Euphoria" look at home isn't all that difficult. "Start with colored eyeshadow. Instead of beige, brown, or bronze, try lavender, blue, or mauve," she said, emphasizing that you don't have to be a pro MUA to achieve a "Euphoria"-inspired eyeshadow look. "You don't need to all of a sudden become an expert in a squiggly, insane eyeliner wing covered in rhinestones ... my recommendation is to start with an eyeshadow — an easy one you can just do with your finger."

Many people online have noticed the stark difference between the in-your-face maximalist makeup of the first seasons of "Euphoria," and the more low-key looks shown in the promotional materials for "Euphoria" Season 3. But Davy claims that the third season's glam will still pack a punch — just in a different manner from the first seasons. "In high school, there was tons of glitter. There's also tons of glitter in season three, but the girls are grown up, and the creative vision is different. Sam [Levinson] wanted me to do my version of traditional glam — Hollywood glam," she told Allure.

Maximalist makeup is making a comeback - here's how you can get the look

Barbie Ferreira at the Euphoria 2019 premiere. She is a young woman with fair skin and short black hair. She is wearing purple and green shimmery eyeshadow. Jeff Kravitz/Getty

Makeup artist Donni Davy predicts that maximalist makeup is making a comeback — and may become even "bigger" than ever. According to Davy, we'll find shimmering eyeshadows and bold colors coming back into the trend cycle soon. While shimmery inner corners may be dated, there are other techniques to embrace maximalist vibes without looking like you're out of the loop. For instance, utilizing matte eyeshadow in bold colors to create a dramatic look that is still soft around the edges. 

However, Davy's vision for "Euphoria" Season 3 took her in a slightly different direction. During her interview with Allure, she cited 1990s-era Pamela Anderson — whose recent return to her '90s makeup made for an iconic transformation, Y2k makeup, and '60s graphic eyeliner as her inspiration. Still maximalist at its core, but more grounded. 

If you want to achieve a Davy-esque look at home, make sure to keep an eyeliner pencil nearby. The Emmy-award winning MUA explained that "piercing eyes" are necessary for a modern "Euphoria" look. To put an updated spin on the '60s sharp-lined makeup trend that is going to make a huge splash, thanks to the HBO drama, we suggest practicing negative space eyeliner. Draw a sharp wing, then connect it to your inner corner with a thin line above your eyelid crease. Leaving some empty space to keep neutral or embellish with a bright eyeshadow for a pop of color.