Picture this: it is February 2022, you browse Google hoping to discover of a new TV show to immerse in and enjoy. Sorted by Popularity Ascending, you notice that trending Drama Series, Euphoria, on HBO (2019-) is one of the most prevalent series at this moment, with an IMDb rating of 8.4/10 and a generous Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 89%. Sit back and relax, let us tell you the background of this euphoric reach!
About:
The most anticipated teen drama TV series is finally here–and here to shine. The second season of Euphoria aired in early January, with the cast starring Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie, and Sydney Sweeney. Besides its innate orient on the world of Gen-Z coming-of-age and the nuances that come along with it, Euphoria has also made a point to let the Gen-Z aesthetic shine through make-up and style. The Gen-Z aesthetic, like every other age group, is distinct. It is a mixture of unprecedented access to the past and an outburst of shifting societal trends that have informed the rise of a new aesthetic consciousness.
"Euphoria" follows the troubled life of 17-year-old Rue, a drug addict fresh from rehab with no plans to stay clean.
Rue is in association with Jules, a transgender girl in search for her belonging and Nate, a jock whose behavioral issues hinder sexual insecurities. Chris is a football star who finds the adjustment from high school to college harder than expected. Cassie has a sexual history that continues to affect her and Kat is a body-conscious teen exploring her sexuality. As the classmates struggle to make sense of their futures, the series tackles the teenage landscape of substance-enhanced parties and anxiety-ridden day-to-day life, holding space for empathy and connection with young audiences.
We at GRL Mag wanted to take a deep dive into the feminist empowerment, epecifically in the makeup and special effects featured all throughout Season 1 & 2!
Makeup Artist
The make-up in Euphoria has highlighted this distination. In an interview with Teen Vogue, the head of Euphoria’s makeup department, Doniella Davy, states that she was encouraged to use expressive color, shapes, placement, glitter, gems, rhinestones, and was not limited to using any makeup products as long as it was congruent with the storyline. Every character has a distinct aesthetic that signifies their role and makeup allows for us to understand characters on a deeper level. Unconventional makeup is normalized in the show and the bold looks function in a way where it doesn’t distract from the story arc! We notice a trend where intense colors and details are applied to more emotional scenes. On the other hand, less makeup is worn in conjunction to a more vulnerable space. Each character’s makeup is specified to flow with the story.
In an interview with Teen Vogue, Davy explains that her inspiration comes from teens in real life and what she sees on social media,"creating a new makeup language.” She observes, “I've been following and trolling around Instagram and noticing Generation Z using makeup in a really cool, new way”.
With Allure she comments, "There's subliminal emotional messages always in all the makeup." Makeup additions signal emotions and character development. A bigger message is created for audience interaction and how emotional presence can be portrayed not just by stellar acting skills, but also gender and femininity expression through makeup. Personally, we think Davy's instagram presence is what helps make the concept of makeup as a living feminist theory come into fruition! It's genius!
Ready to create your own Euphoria look?
Be Bright!
Sun Designs
Clouds!
"Glitterati"
Dust and Dew
Pearls
FUN FACT:
Did you know?
Pinterest searches for Euphoria Makeup has skyrocketed by 400%
Makeup Products
Interested in their makeup? Remember these products the next time you go shopping 😉
Makeup and the particularities that surround it have always been a shifting ideal. The ethereal, glowing quality of Euphoria’s makeup aesthetic has enhanced its ability to speak to individual gender expression. Makeup emphasizes the metaphorical quality of the outer portrayal of a character. When looking at the physicality of a character, we tend to focus on the most obvious elements: the clothes, the face, the expression. Make-up does not always stand out as the most important aspect of a character, and sometimes it can get ignored, but it is not simply an enhancer, it is a vessel of expression itself.
Historically and now currently makeup in the acting world has not only been as a cosmetic of production a factor feminism and gender performativity. It gives actresses a certain bodily autonomy not granted to them otherwise as most hollywood productions are directed and managed through the male gaze and eye.
Let us know if you recreate any of the looks!
Have fun!
by GRL Mag Interns
Article contributors:
Creative - Amira Aboudallah
Editorial - Helen Chen
Marketing - Moo Blu and Billie Abdullah
Operations - Madison Zeng