The Makeup On 'Euphoria' Is Beautiful, But It's Also Full Of Hidden Meanings

If you watch HBO's "Euphoria," chances are you have noticed the bright, vibrant makeup looks that the characters wear during each episode of the show. From rhinestone liner to glitter tears, the looks assist in setting the tone. However, according to makeup artist Doniella Davy, her work is also symbolic of much more.

In an interview with Cosmo, Davy revealed that her inspiration came from everyday teenagers. To prep for her new role, she said she spent hours looking through Instagram, which is where she noticed something interesting.

"These young people are pushing the boundaries and not living by mainstream archetypes or stereotypes," she said, adding, "It's not just corrective and pretty stuff. I see it as emotional stories on their faces being told through makeup. It's a completely new language, a totally new style." And, according to her, the look that each girl on the show wears means something a little different.

Rue:

At first, Davy said she considered always leaving Rue's (Zendaya) face bare to symbolize her recovery, but ended up going against the "obvious choice."

The decision to leave her face bare while at school and then add under-eye makeup, such as golden tears for parties, was also an intentional one. She also wanted them to look messy. "They're going to be kind of smudgy and unpolished closeup, but they have this amazing like, emotional quality that just feels like tears."

Maddy:

Maddy (Alexa Demie) is meant to be the only girl on the show who is specifically skilled when it comes to applying makeup. Additionally, she wants viewers to believe that she spends quite a bit of time watching YouTube tutorials, but, that it still looks like "these people applied their own makeup themselves."

She added that she wanted Maddy's eyes to look like "miniature outfits," which can make you assume that it would take her roughly an hour to get ready for school each day.

Kat:

Kat (Barbie Ferreira) is one character on the show who has already undergone quite the transformation, which means that her look also had to evolve.

Reportedly, Barbie herself had an idea of the direction that she wanted to take Kat. "Barbie came to me with a mood board of images from 'Ghost World,' and I was like, 'This is great. This is what I'm going to base your looks on,'" Davy said, adding, "She needs to ease into being someone who's really empowering her sexuality with makeup."

Cassie:

Cassie's (Sydney Sweeney) makeup looks are more understated but still serves a strong narrative purpose, according to Davy. The aesthetic of her style is meant to attract certain people rather than portray who she wants to be.

"She's trying to garner interest from male jocks, so her makeup looks a little bit more tailored towards a conventional sexy look," she said. "She's not pushing back. She's not an artist. She's not pushing boundaries." This is conveyed thanks to the nude shades and dark liner, which attempt to send the message that she isn't trying hard, even though she is, said Davy.

Jules:

Jules' (Hunter Schafer) makeup is "playful and bursting with color," which comes in stark contrast to her dark backstory that we learned in episode four. "She is bold and confident and her looks are supposed to be totally cheeky and playful and expressive," Davy revealed. However, if you look closely, her makeup may also reveal how she's feeling. For example, the day after she meets "Tyler" in the park she goes to school almost makeup-free.

"Euphoria" airs Sundays at 10 p.m. EST on HBO.