Behind the Glamour: Every Hidden Detail You Overlooked in Euphoria Season 3

      If you've ever marveled at the stunning individuals on your screen who transport you from advanced utopias to Regency-era gatherings, you can credit their behind-the-scenes hair and makeup artists. In "Behind the Beauty," we take you inside the glamorous trailer with the specialists who monitor every mascara-laden tear and meticulously arranged curl for consistency, rise at 3 AM for early call times, and mold your beloved films and series into the moments that shape culture. Beauty stands as its own character, and here, we present it with the spotlight.

      Psychedelic glitter tears captured on 35-millimeter film. Rhinestone-decorated eyes illuminated by stadium lights. Striking eyeliner flicks in both geometric and organic forms. There is definitely one show that springs to mind with these vivid images of glamour, so let’s say it in unison: Euphoria.

      The acclaimed HBO drama has returned after a four-year break, influenced by widespread industry strikes, the busy filming schedules of a sought-after cast, and the heartbreaking death of Angus Cloud, who played Fezco in the first two seasons. As of three weeks ago, the show is back to its regular schedule (with Sundays affectionately dubbed "Euphoria Sundays" by fans), and viewers are excited about one thing that may rival the complicated storylines and star-studded cast—the makeup, led by Doniella "Donni" Davy, a celebrated makeup artist, founder of Half Magic, and Emmy Award winner.

      Davy acknowledges that she, along with her team members Alexandra French, Tara Lang Shah, and others, has made history by enhancing storylines and sparking entire makeup movements in previous seasons. "[Fans] would say, 'I've never worn makeup before, but I’m trying it for the first time now, and I've never felt more myself than in green sparkly eye shadow,'" she shares with a smile. "That’s incredibly cool. Discovering a new version of yourself that feels authentic is transformative."

      Despite the pressure of following her successful work, Davy embraced the anxiety leading up to season 3—allowing that nervous energy to guide her toward creative depths.

      Davy captures a mirror selfie in the locker room of the Silver Slipper during the filming of Euphoria season 3.

      "I was so fixated during season 1," Davy tells me during a crackly Zoom call. Now, seven years later, I ask her what she would tell the season 1 Donni. She chuckles softly. "Your passion and fixation is exactly as it should be. It isn’t a flaw," she responds. "There’s nothing wrong with you. This will make history, so keep obsessing. It will be worth it."

      With full commitment, Davy delved into the dark world of Rue Bennett (Zendaya), Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie), Cassie Jacobs (née Howard, as played by Sydney Sweeney), and others, embodying the "feral head-to-toe glam" of season 3, as she describes it. Below, we offer an exclusive look at the beauty that makes Euphoria feel, well, euphoric.

      **The Creative Direction**

      Davy's workspace inside the makeup trailer on the set of Euphoria season 3.

      Here’s the thing about those glittery creative spirals: They often place Davy in a high-pressure environment of creativity. In this case, that’s a positive—it works for her. She admits it isn’t the most organized approach (often dreaming up looks in the car on the way to set, with a few face charts and test runs after checking the wardrobe), but it aligns well with showrunner Sam Levinson's workflow and allows for collaboration with the cast. For instance, Demie prefers a hands-on approach, contributing to mood boards and sourcing visual references for her character. Sweeney takes a more relaxed stance, letting Davy have full creative control with minimal requests. Hunter Schafer (Jules) is "always positive and open to anything," leading to the character’s unique eye looks that many fans have tried to emulate. Over nearly eight years of working together, Davy and the cast have developed mutual trust in preparing these characters for the camera, even when they don’t know where they’ll begin each morning.

      Davy mentions, "There are many eyes on the glam. A lot of focus on the show, and I’m simply trying to remain true to what the characters are experiencing this season." She understands that the audience desires the bright blue, embellished eyes that Maddy and Cassie wore as high school cheerleaders, yet is aware fans may be disappointed, perhaps even with her, to see less of that this time around. However, the story has advanced five years into the future in Euphoria time, and those high school juniors have transitioned into working adults. After all, one typically doesn’t wear the same makeup at 22 that they did at