HBO's Euphoria is back, and the changes are palpable. The characters are no longer high school students; a five-year time jump has transported them into adulthood. Head makeup artist Donnie Davey shared exclusive tools and inspiration for the show's new looks.
Makeup in season three continues to be a key element of Euphoria. Donnie Davey has been working on the looks since the show's debut in 2019. From the beginning, Sam Levinson wanted the makeup to be something that “makes viewers pause the show and look at it,” but at the same time not distract from the plot.
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In the first season, Davy was inspired by the pastel shades and arrows of the late 1960s, the glam rock of the 70s, the elongated “cat” eyes of the 80s and the grunge lines of the 90s. Since then, the “Euphoria makeup” (with sparkles, rhinestones and “glitter tears”) has become a cultural phenomenon and inspired thousands of people to experiment with the look. Now interest is only growing: according to Google Trends, the peak of queries fell in 2022, and before the premiere of the third season on April 12, there was another sharp surge.
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Glamour with a capital letter – makeup secrets of the third season of “Euphoria”
The atmosphere during the filming of the third season in November 2025 was as secretive as possible, from the code names on the trailers to the symbols on the set. The main question remained: would the same recognizable makeup return, or had the characters “outgrown” the demonstrative aesthetic?
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“It's glamour with a capital letter,” says Davy. But now it's not about bright colors and rhinestones, like in 2019. Instead, it's a reinterpretation of classic Hollywood glamour with references to icons of the past and present. Makeup has become more contrasting: a dark lip contour with nude lipstick or bright red lips with graphic black arrows. This is due to the characteristics of the film on which the season was shot: it enhances contrast and changes the perception of color, so the images had to be made more expressive.
Makeup from the TV series “Euphoria” is a source of inspiration for 2026
Sources of inspiration include the 1990s, led by Pamela Anderson, the aesthetics of the early 2000s and a bit of the 60s. Davy's moodboards are dozens of references: from magazine shoots to the looks of Kate Moss, Rihanna, Sabrina Carpenter and Gabriette. “It's shiny, rich, juicy glamour. A real manifesto against the “clean girl” aesthetic. Big, bold, without compromise,” she says.
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Each character got their own aesthetic:
- Jules (Hunter Schafer) is a more subdued, serious character with bleached eyebrows and shades of red, silver, and black.
- Cassie (Sidney Sweeney) is in a pin-up and video girl style, inspired by Brigitte Bardot; her makeup has become more theatrical and demonstrative.
- Maddie (Alexa Demi) is a more restrained, “adult” image without excessive glitter, which corresponds to her new stage in life.
- Rouge — natural skin glow with minimal accents.
- Lexi (Maud Apatow) is an evolution into sophisticated Hollywood glamour with expressive lashes and classic red lipstick.
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The new season will also feature more intricate makeup and make-up, which Davey says is the most extensive work of the season. In the first episode (“New Beginnings”), special attention is paid to the skin: foundation with a natural, “skin-like” finish and layered coverage are used. For Cassie, the effect of tanned, radiant skin is created. Sometimes with the help of special paints that withstand difficult scenes. It is safe to say that makeup in the third season of “Euphoria” will again be a subject of discussion and a source of inspiration. And this is just the beginning.
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Based on material from: Allure.com