The keys to the amazing makeup of “Euphoria” that became a global trend

Euphoria has become a new cultural benchmark among youth around the world. What started as another project on a streaming platform has managed to position itself as the most watched during the two seasons that have been broadcast so far - with a third on the way. One of the elements that have contributed most to making this a reality is due to the striking looks and makeup full of glitter that are now imitated by thousands of people.

What is Euphoria? It is a fictional HBO MAX original series created and directed by Sam Levinson that follows the story of a group of “teenagers” who must deal with “age-appropriate” situations and struggle with self-control and excesses with drugs, sex, emotional relationships and even their own identities.

The episodes that make up the phenomenon follow the lives of East Highland students, while Rue -the protagonist-, played by Zendaya, tries to find a balance between the pressure of love, loss and addiction.

This popular series has received positive reviews, with much of the praise for its performances (particularly Zendaya and Hunter Schafer), its story, visuals, and approach to adult content, not He only owes success to his actors, plot, music or constant real nudes that have caused a furor on social media, but also because of his striking looks and makeup that has caused his trends to be imitated from 2020 to the present day and which will possibly continue until 2024 when its third season is released.

Part of the aesthetic created by the excess of glitter and neon colors in the makeup that the protagonists wear in each episode over the last few years, positioning their actresses by singularities: Zendaya (Rue) a strong smoky smokey eye and glitter tears running down their cheeks; Hunter Schafer (Jules) with a whirlwind of color on her eyelids; Alex Demie (Maddy) gloss on her lips, marked eyeliner and thousands of Swarovski crystals and Barbie Ferreira (Kat) with smoky eyes and a lot of gothic air. The protagonists not only break typical beauty and makeup stereotypes, they represent Generation Z.

These fantasy makeups worn by the girls of Euphoria have inspired many designers during these last Fashion Weeks of previous years and even in this 2022 and that is mainly due to experimentation with color and arty looks where the excess of glitter - mainly in gold - has has been essential to now not only set the trend, but has even marked an entire generation that has not stopped following, recreating and even reinventing what they see on screen.

Doniella Davy is Euphoria's makeup designer. Trained in the makeup course for special effects and beauty of Jane Galli, one of the most important makeup artists in Hollywood, she has participated in other works such as the film Moonlight (2017).

As the person in charge of this section, he has entered the game of imagination and exploring new ways to create a whole series of options that have quickly become a trend. For these looks, the makeup author has opted for innovation, offering techniques that were not commonly used on television.

The eyeliner is one of the strengths. The makeup designer did not want to replicate the traditional way of delineating the eyes, and instead, she decided to apply it very markedly on both the upper and lower lines of the eyelashes. Taking this line to the lacrimal area and out of the eye, it provides a more intense and dramatic look. This is one of the trends most copied by fans of the production.

In her first season she received several Emmy Award nominations (2020): Best Actress in a Drama Series (Zendaya), Best Contemporary Costume, Best Makeup, Best Soundtrack, Best Composition for a Drama Series and Best Music Supervision. Among all of them, one of the awards that the series collected was the award for best makeup.

But this is not the only way the artist has used to outline the actresses' eyes. The fashion for graphic motifs has taken over eye makeup, creating a variety of alternatives that play with different colors and shapes. Often, these proposals were adorned with glitter and other applications.

Not everything is makeup, although it has largely been the most innovative, clothing is also part of the revolution that has been heavily criticized despite the fact that in some way it represents everything that for years different generations try to find on television or traditional formats of communication and it was never given to them, until now with the great invention of streaming that has revolutionized not only the way the world is seen but how things should be done in it.

Miniskirts, crops, flared trousers, but above all garments with many transparencies and sparkles are also part of the trends that Euphoria has left in young people, because as in any series of “teenagers”, wardrobe is essential for commercial success. Although many people have also criticized this, the reality is that sales have increased on websites and even in the non-formal way in which things can be sold on social networks, because although major clothing brands do have garments with this trend, their high prices make it inaccessible to obtain them.

The elaborate manicure worn by its protagonist is another great contribution to fashion. This is a nail art in which the outermost area of the nail is covered with black enamel and the innermost part is left in a whitish shade, giving rise to the shape of an hourglass. The shape of the nail is lengthened and remains square.

Natalie Minerva, the manicurist of the series, spoke on her Instagram account about this creation, a while ago. The nail expert claims that she and Alexa Demie dreamed of this manicure inspired by the outfit that the protagonist wears in episode number one of the series. On the nails, the curved lines correspond to the cutouts of the dress. This is not the first time because on more than one occasion they have coupled garments and nails in a way in which everything is in great harmony.

“In the first season, there really wasn't such an intense presence of nail art,” Minerva said in dialogue with US site The Cut. “It was something I had noticed, so I contacted the team about it because it's a Generation Z based program and obviously beauty plays a very important role.”

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