Euphoria season 2: The genius behind the makeup

Euphoria returned to our screens on 9 January for its second season, filled with new drama (and most importantly) new makeup looks. After Doniella Davy won an Emmy last season for Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (non-prosthetic), the world was eager to see what magic she would conjure up next.

Davy posts behind the scenes photos on her Instagram, @donni.davy. In one of her captions, she explained ‘season two is like season one’s more introverted sister’. The looks are more subtle – or in Donni’s words, 'a softer version of the twinkling Euphoria glam'.

The most notable and iconic makeup looks we have seen from this season have emerged from the rift between Maddy (played by Alexa Demie) and Cassie (played by Sydney Sweenie). They are often seen in juxtaposing looks. For example, in the first episode at the New Year’s party. Maddy is edgier, with bold black liner and a 90s brown lip to go with her black dress.

Whereas Cassie’s makeup is much lighter. It doesn't have the same harsh lines as Maddy’s. She has flushed skin with a soft lip, which does a really good job of making her look as anxious as she feels.

Even their nails are contrasting. They are done on set by Natalie Minerva and she does not disappoint. Maddy’s nails are elegant ‘mugleresque’, silhouette-style nails in black and white.

Cassie’s, on the other hand, are a delicate nude pink with sparkling rhinestones on each nail. They’ve taken the internet by storm as people are using them as their nailspo. Take @cosmic.nailz on TikTok, for example.

They feel a million miles away from Maddy’s sexy manicure, the same way that Cassie and Maddy are so distant with one another throughout this season. The two are growing apart because of Cassie’s affair with Nate and their makeup and nails reflect this, presenting them as virtually polar opposites to one another.

Even though the two best friends seem to be in totally different worlds, we must of course give mention to Cassie’s copycat Maddy moment in episode three.

This comes in the sequence where we see Cassie trying out different looks and beauty regimes in the hopes that Nate will acknowledge her. She has Maddy’s look down to a tee and this demonstrates Cassie’s confusion surrounding her own identity, sometimes leaving her to feel like an extension of Maddy. She is trying to be the sole person of Nate’s affections the only way she knows how.

The next makeup looks I have been loving in this new season are on Jules, played by Hunter Schafer. They’re extremely toned down compared to last season and Jules often sports graphic liner, with two or three wings.

Davy has written on instagram that this liner represents Jules ‘protecting herself’, but I can’t help but wonder if the dual and triple liner is a nod to her relationship with Rue and their messy love triangle with Elliot.

The final makeup look I want to delve into is Lexi’s. I have a sneaky suspicion that Lexi is about to shake things up with the play she is working on. Last season, Lexi’s makeup wasn’t very outgoing – unless you count her ode to Bob Ross.

Whereas, now, she is more assured of herself and is seen wearing a bold red lip. She isn’t the same shy girl she used to be, and this red lip indicates she is a force to be reckoned with.

Edited by Amy Mullen-Brown