Euphoria Makeup Looks: Bold & Shimmering Styles

HBO’s Euphoria didn’t just change television. It rewired how an entire generation thinks about euphoria makeup looks, from glitter tears and rhinestone placement to neon eyeshadow that had no business looking that good on a Tuesday.

Doniella Davy’s work on the show turned editorial techniques into something people actually wore outside of photo shoots. And with season 3 hitting screens in April 2026, the trend is picking up speed again.

This guide breaks down the specific looks, products, and techniques behind the style. Character-by-character breakdowns, graphic liner methods, gem adhesive options, and the layering tricks that keep bold color and face gems locked in place all night.

What Is Euphoria Makeup?

Euphoria makeup is the bold, editorial-driven makeup style that came out of the HBO series Euphoria, which first aired in the summer of 2019. It treats the face as a creative surface. Rhinestones, graphic eyeliner, neon pigments, holographic shimmer, and glitter tears are the core of the look.

Emmy Award-winning makeup artist Doniella Davy designed every look on the show. She built each character’s makeup around their emotional arc, not just their outfit. Bright colors, face gems, and harsh lines replaced the blended, contoured styles that most TV productions used at the time.

The style broke from what was trending. Before the show dropped, clean girl makeup and minimal “no-makeup makeup” dominated social media feeds. Euphoria flipped that completely.

Show creator Sam Levinson encouraged Davy to push past what felt safe. She swapped soft blending for color blocking, used highly pigmented neons that could hold up under the show’s dark, moody cinematography, and added metallic stickers and flatback crystals to almost every character.

The global cosmetics market hit $466 billion in 2024, according to Transparency Market Research. A growing chunk of that comes from Gen Z consumers who spend 34% more on creative cosmetics than previous generations, per the U.S. Census Bureau. Euphoria tapped straight into that appetite.

Davy eventually launched her own brand, Half Magic Beauty, in collaboration with A24 Studios. Fortune reported the brand reached $87 million in earned media value. Products like liquid eye pigments, face adornments, and reusable wing guides were pulled directly from the looks she created on set.

So when people say “Euphoria makeup,” they’re really talking about a specific visual language. Bright pigment on the lids. Crystals on the brow bone. Glitter below the lash line. Every piece is intentional, not random.

Why Euphoria Makeup Changed How People Approach Color

The Shift Away from Neutral Palettes

For years, the default was warm browns, soft pinks, and muted tones. Think of any pre-2019 YouTube tutorial and you’ll probably picture a cut crease in shades of taupe.

Euphoria made neon eyeshadow feel wearable. Not costume-like, not reserved for Halloween. Just… Tuesday night.

The fastest growing makeup sector in recent years has been lip products, but eye makeup saw a similar surge in creativity. NPD data showed the complete U.S. makeup category grew 12% year-over-year to $25.6 billion, with bold color choices driving much of the prestige growth.

How Social Media Pushed the Trend Further

TikTok did the heavy lifting. The #euphoriamakeup hashtag has racked up hundreds of thousands of posts, with creators filming transformation videos set to the show’s soundtrack. The format was always the same: bare face, lights dim, then the reveal.

Key platforms that spread the trend:

• TikTok transformation challenges using Labrinth’s music from the show’s score
• Instagram recreations from both professional MUAs and beginners
• YouTube tutorials breaking down character-specific looks step by step
• Pinterest boards dedicated to rhinestone and graphic liner placement

According to Global Cosmetic Industry, demand for body glitter, face rhinestones, and crying makeup looks grew alongside a broader push toward individuality over traditional beauty standards. That lines up perfectly with what Euphoria was selling.

Product Lines That Rode the Wave

ColourPop Cosmetics leaned into pressed glitters and Super Shock Shadows at accessible price points. NYX Professional Makeup expanded its graphic liner range, and Lemonhead LA saw renewed interest in its spacepaste formula.

Suva Beauty’s Hydra Liners became a go-to for the floating crease look. And Juvia’s Place palettes, already known for heavy pigment payoff, found a new audience of people who suddenly wanted electric blue on their lids at brunch.

The cosmetic glitter market alone was valued at approximately $347 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $578 million by 2033, growing at a 5.9% CAGR, per Data Horizon Research. Shows like Euphoria did not create that market from scratch, but they absolutely accelerated it.

Rhinestone and Gem Looks

Face gems became the single most copied element from the show. And honestly, they’re the easiest entry point if you’ve never tried anything beyond a smokey eye.

Alexa Demie’s character Maddy Perez wore rhinestones along her inner corner and brow bone in nearly every episode. The placement was always precise, never scattered randomly. That intentionality is what made the look feel polished instead of messy.

Simple Gem Accents vs. Full Crystal Layouts

There are two schools of thought here, and your choice depends on the occasion and your comfort level.

Adhesive matters more than the gems themselves. DUO Brush-On adhesive is the most common choice for staying power. Spirit gum holds better for long nights but is harder to remove. Eyelash glue works in a pinch but tends to lose grip after a few hours, especially in heat.

Budget-friendly gems from craft stores work fine for photos. But if you’re wearing them for six-plus hours at a concert, invest in cosmetic-grade flatback crystals. They sit flatter against the skin and catch light more consistently.

Peel-and-stick gem sets have gotten much better in the last couple of years. Brands like Face Lace and Half Magic sell pre-arranged decals that skip the individual placement process entirely. Took me forever to figure out that pressing them on with a damp fingertip (instead of dry) makes them grip almost instantly.

Graphic Liner Looks

Graphic eyeliner is where Euphoria really separated itself from every other beauty trend happening at the time. The lines weren’t subtle. They weren’t blended out. They sat on the skin with purpose.

Davy replaced traditional wing shapes with floating crease liners, negative space cutouts, and abstract geometric patterns that didn’t follow any “flattering” eye shape rules. That was the whole point.

Floating Crease Liner Step-by-Step

The floating liner sits above the crease, disconnected from the lash line. It’s the most recreated Euphoria technique on TikTok and probably the easiest to mess up the first three times you try it.

How to get it right:

• Look straight into a mirror with your eyes open, mark where your crease naturally folds
• Use a felt-tip pen liner (Suva Beauty Hydra Liner or NYX Epic Ink) for control
• Draw the line above the crease fold, following its natural curve
• Keep both eyes open while drawing to check symmetry

Most people draw too low. The line should sit just above where your lid folds when your eyes are open. If you can’t see the line with your eyes open, it’s too low and will disappear every time you blink.

Micellar water on a small brush fixes mistakes without starting over. Way better than rubbing everything off and redoing your base.

Double Wing and Abstract Shapes

Beyond the floating crease, Euphoria brought in shapes that had no precedent in mainstream beauty. Double wings that extend in opposite directions. Triangular cutouts. Lines that curve down toward the cheekbone instead of flicking up.

The trick with abstract liner is confidence. Hesitation shows. A shaky hand makes a wobbly line, and wobbly lines are the only thing that actually looks “wrong” in this style.

Product picks for sharp graphic work:

• Suva Beauty Hydra Liners: activated with water, ultra-precise, available in every color
• NYX Epic Ink Liner: felt-tip, good for beginners, black only
• Gel pots with an angled brush: best for thick, bold lines

White liner deserves its own mention. White eyeliner on the waterline and as a graphic element was a recurring choice for Jules Vaughn’s looks. It opens up the eye and pairs well with pastel lid colors.

If you’re trying winged eyeliner looks for the first time, start with a classic wing before jumping to abstract shapes. You need muscle memory for holding the pen at the right angle, and that only comes from repetition.

Glitter and Shimmer Looks

Glitter was already part of the beauty world before Euphoria. But the show turned it from a festival-only accessory into something people wore on a regular basis. Season one leaned heavily on iridescent shimmer and holographic finishes, especially on Hunter Schafer’s character Jules Vaughn.

Cosmetic-Grade Glitter vs. Craft Glitter

This matters more than people think. And yeah, I’ve seen the arguments online about it being “the same thing.” It’s not.

Craft glitter is cut from sheets of plastic or metal. The edges are sharp and irregular. Getting a piece of craft glitter in your eye can scratch your cornea. It happens more often than you’d expect, and the ER visits are not fun to read about.

Cosmetic-grade glitter is made from materials approved for use near the eyes and on skin. The particles are finer, the edges are smoother, and the formulas often include binding agents that reduce fallout.

Straits Research valued the global cosmetics market at $311.23 billion in 2024, growing at a 5.83% CAGR through 2033. The push toward cosmetic-safe, biodegradable glitter is part of that growth. Around 55% of cosmetic brands have now integrated biodegradable glitter into their product lines, according to Global Growth Insights.

Placement and Removal

Where you put glitter changes the entire mood of the look.

Lid-only glitter reads as polished and intentional. Temple glitter leans more festival. Under-eye glitter (the “crying glitter” look Rue Bennett made famous) hits differently because it looks emotional and raw, which is exactly what the show was going for.

A glitter primer or mixing medium is non-negotiable if you want the product to stay put. Pressing the glitter onto a tacky base keeps it locked in place. Swiping it on with a finger just creates fallout everywhere.

Removal is its own challenge. Oil-based cleansers break down the adhesive without dragging your skin. Micellar water works for light shimmer but struggles with chunky particles. Removing eye makeup after a full glitter look takes patience. Skip the rubbing and let the oil sit for 30 seconds before wiping.

Neon and Bold Color Looks

Neon eyeshadow on the show wasn’t decorative. It was functional. Davy used highly saturated pigments because softer shades kept getting lost under the dark, colored lighting that cinematographer Marcell Rev designed. So the neons weren’t a style choice at first. They were a problem-solving decision that became a global trend.

Monochromatic Neon Eyes

One bold shade across the entire lid. No transition color, no gradient. Just a solid wash of electric pink, lime green, or tangerine orange from lash line to brow bone.

The reason this works is simplicity. Your eye doesn’t have to process multiple colors. It just hits you.

Getting neons to actually show up takes a base layer. Without it, bright pigments look muddy on most skin tones. The NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (white) has been the go-to base since before Euphoria existed, and it still works better than most alternatives.

For deeper skin tones, a white base can sometimes create an ashy finish. A better option is using a color-matched concealer as a base, then packing on the neon pigment in thin layers. Applying eyeshadow with a flat packing brush instead of a fluffy blending brush keeps the color dense and true.

Color-Blocked Lids

Color blocking uses two or more bold shades placed next to each other with hard edges. No blending between them. The colors meet at a defined line, and that contrast is what makes the look pop.

Kat Hernandez’s warm-toned editorial eyes used deep purples against burnt oranges. Maddy Perez went with blue and white combinations that looked almost geometric.

Palettes built for this kind of work:

• Juvia’s Place (The Zulu, The Wahala): known for intense pigment on all skin tones
• Morphe (35B and similar bright palettes): affordable with a wide color range
• Coloured Raine (Vivid Pigments): smaller pans but heavy payoff

Tape or a flat silicone tool placed along the crease line helps create the sharp divide between colors. Pull the tape off before the shadow sets, not after. Otherwise, you’ll lift product with it.

The lip is usually kept simple with color-blocked eyes. A nude lipstick or a clear lip gloss keeps attention where you want it. If you go bold on both eyes and lips at the same time, the look starts competing with itself. At least in my experience, that rarely works unless the whole vibe is deliberately over-the-top, like a rave look or a festival setup.

Glitter Tears and Under-Eye Art

The under-eye area became its own creative zone on Euphoria. Before the show, most people treated the area below the lash line as a cleanup zone, a place to conceal dark circles and nothing else.

Rue Bennett’s glitter tear look from the season one premiere changed that overnight. Loose glitter trailing down from the outer corner, mimicking the path of actual tears. It looked raw and emotional, which was exactly the point for a character dealing with addiction and grief.

Creating the “Crying Glitter” Effect

The biggest risk: glitter migrating into your eyes. Cosmetic-grade particles are safer, but gravity and sweat still push product downward over the course of a night.

A thin layer of eye-safe adhesive applied in a tear-track pattern gives the glitter something to stick to. Press the glitter into the adhesive with a flat synthetic brush rather than your finger. Fingers warm the adhesive too fast and create uneven clumps.

Keep the upper lid minimal when the under-eye is the focus. A wash of shimmer or a single coat of mascara is enough. Too much happening above and below the eye makes the whole look fight itself.

Under-Eye Decals and Stickers

Pre-made face stickers skip the freehand work entirely. Half Magic sells eye decals specifically designed for Euphoria-style placement.

These work best on clean, dry skin with no moisturizer underneath. Oil-based products break down the adhesive backing within minutes.

For a quicker version of the under-eye art trend, a single line of small gems along the lower lash line reads as intentional without requiring 20 minutes of placement work. This approach works well for date night looks or party setups where you want impact but limited prep time.

Euphoria Looks by Character

Each character on the show has a distinct makeup identity. Doniella Davy used color, texture, and placement to reflect personality and emotional state, not just aesthetic preference. Recreating a specific character’s look starts with understanding what that look is communicating.

Maddy’s Signature Cat Eye with Gems

Alexa Demie’s character wore the most technically precise makeup on the show. Sharp wings. Clean edges. Nothing smudged, nothing out of place.

The key detail: Maddy’s liner extended further than a standard wing, often connecting to rhinestone clusters at the outer corner. A gel pot liner with an angled brush gives the control needed for those razor-sharp edges. If you’re still building confidence with cat eye technique, practice the wing shape before adding gems on top.

Jules’ Pastel Cloud Eyes

Hunter Schafer’s character went in the opposite direction. Soft edges. Blurred transitions. Colors that looked like they were airbrushed onto the lid.

Jules’ looks used pastel shades blended outward past the crease and onto the brow bone. Lilac, baby blue, and soft pink layered together without hard lines. The holographic finish on top came from pressed shimmer, not chunky glitter.

A fluffy blending brush is the only tool that gets you this result. Packing brushes create too much density for the cloud effect.

Rue’s Glitter Tears

Zendaya’s character had the most stripped-back base of anyone on the show. Barely-there foundation. No contour. The focus was always on a single dramatic element near the eyes.

Rue’s makeup reflected her emotional state, not a desire to look polished. The glitter tears were beautiful but messy on purpose. If you’re trying to recreate this, resist the urge to make it too neat. The imperfection is the whole point.

Products That Actually Work for Euphoria Makeup

Not a generic favorites list. These are the specific products tied to the techniques used on set and in recreations that have actually held up.

The setting spray market alone was valued at roughly $1 billion in 2024, according to Grand View Research, growing at a 7.6% CAGR. A big part of that growth comes from people doing more creative, labor-intensive makeup at home and needing products that keep it all intact. LendingTree data shows 75% of Americans consider beauty products important and spend an average of $1,754 yearly.

Eye Products

Suva Beauty Hydra Liners: water-activated, precise, available in dozens of colors. This is what most professional MUAs reach for when doing graphic liner work.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk: the white base that makes every neon and bright shade look true to pan. Still the most cost-effective option for this purpose.

ColourPop’s Super Shock Shadows and pressed glitters hold their own against products at twice the price. Fenty Beauty and MAC Cosmetics both have strong shimmer formulas, but ColourPop’s accessibility (under $10 per pan) made them the default for Euphoria recreations on TikTok.

Face Gems and Adhesives

Spirit gum holds better than anything else for all-night wear, but removal requires a specific solvent. DUO is the easier everyday option. Your mileage may vary depending on how oily your skin runs around the brow area.

Setting and Finishing

Urban Decay All Nighter remains the industry standard for setting spray. It holds glitter, liner, and pigment in place without making your skin feel stiff or tacky.

Morphe Continuous Setting Mist is a solid budget alternative. It doesn’t have the same 16-hour claim, but for a 4-5 hour event, it does the job.

One thing people skip: eyeshadow primer underneath everything. Urban Decay Primer Potion or the MAC Paint Pot in Painterly creates a sticky base that keeps color locked down before setting spray even enters the picture. If you want your makeup to last all day, primer is not optional with looks this complex.

How to Make Euphoria Makeup Last All Night

The looks are labor-intensive. Spending 30-45 minutes on a graphic liner and gem placement only to have it slide off two hours later is frustrating. And it happens a lot when the layering order is wrong.

The Right Layering Order

Primer first. Always. An eyeshadow primer on the lids and a face primer on the rest. These create a base that everything else grips onto.

Then color. Pack on eyeshadow or liquid pigment and let it set for 30 seconds before adding the next layer. Rushing this step causes colors to blend into each other and lose their sharp edges.

Liner goes on after shadow, not before. Gems and decals go on last, pressed firmly into adhesive that’s had a few seconds to get tacky.

Setting spray between layers (not just at the end) is the trick most people miss. A light mist after eyeshadow and another after the full look is complete creates two layers of hold instead of one.

Dealing with Heat and Humidity

Sweat is the enemy of face gems. The moisture loosens adhesive from underneath, and suddenly you’re losing crystals on the dance floor.

Fixes that actually help:

• Blot the skin with a mattifying tissue before applying adhesive
• Use spirit gum instead of eyelash glue in humid conditions
• Skip heavy moisturizer under gem placement areas

For glitter looks, a dedicated glitter primer (Lemonhead LA or NYX Glitter Primer) holds better than eyeshadow primer alone. The texture is tackier and designed to grip loose particles.

Touch-Up Kit for the Night

Carry a small bag with the basics. Not your entire makeup collection. Just the pieces most likely to need fixing.

Mini adhesive tube (DUO travel size), a few backup gems, your liner pen, and a travel-size setting spray. That’s it. If your eyeliner starts running, a quick pen touchup takes 10 seconds. A fallen gem takes 30 seconds to reattach if you have the glue on hand.

Skip setting powder over shimmer and glitter areas. Powder dulls the reflective surface and defeats the purpose of using holographic or metallic products. Powder is fine for the base, under the eyes to catch fallout, and on the T-zone. Everywhere else, let the spray do the work.

With season 3 of Euphoria premiering on April 12, 2026 on HBO, a fresh wave of creative makeup looks is about to hit social media feeds. Doniella Davy returns as makeup department head. The five-year time jump means the characters are adults now, and the looks will likely shift to match. But if the first two seasons are any indication, bold pigment, face gems, and graphic liner are not going anywhere.

FAQ on Euphoria Makeup Looks

What is Euphoria makeup?

Euphoria makeup is the bold, editorial style created by Doniella Davy for the HBO series. It features graphic eyeliner, rhinestones, neon eyeshadow, glitter tears, and holographic finishes. The looks prioritize creative expression over traditional beauty rules.

How do you do Euphoria makeup for beginners?

Start simple. A few face gems at the inner corner or a single floating crease liner in a bright color gives you the vibe without advanced skill. Build from there as you get comfortable with placement.

What products do you need for Euphoria makeup?

Suva Beauty Hydra Liners, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk, cosmetic-grade glitter, flatback crystals, DUO Brush-On adhesive, and a strong setting spray like Urban Decay All Nighter. Pigment-heavy eyeshadow palettes from ColourPop or Juvia’s Place round it out.

How do you make Euphoria makeup last all night?

Layer an eyeshadow primer first, then pack on color. Mist setting spray between layers, not just at the end. Use spirit gum instead of eyelash glue for gems if you’re dealing with heat or humidity.

What is the glitter tears look from Euphoria?

Rue Bennett’s signature look from season one. Loose cosmetic-grade glitter applied below the lash line in a tear-track pattern using adhesive. It’s meant to look emotional and slightly imperfect, not polished.

Is Euphoria makeup safe for your skin?

Yes, if you use cosmetic-grade products. Craft glitter has sharp edges that can scratch the cornea. Stick to eye-safe glitter, skin-friendly adhesives like DUO or spirit gum, and always remove waterproof makeup thoroughly with an oil-based cleanser.

Which Euphoria character has the best makeup?

Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) is the most recreated. Her sharp cat eyes, blue and white graphic liner, and rhinestone brow placement set the standard. Jules Vaughn’s pastel holographic looks are a close second for creativity.

Can you wear Euphoria makeup every day?

Scaled-down versions work daily. A single gem at the inner corner, a pop of neon on the lid, or a thin floating liner takes minutes. Full crystal layouts and glitter tears are better saved for nights out or events.

What is Half Magic Beauty?

Half Magic is the makeup brand launched by Doniella Davy in collaboration with A24 Studios. It sells liquid eye pigments, face decals, and setting spray directly tied to the looks she created on set. Fortune reported $87 million in earned media value.

Will Euphoria season 3 bring new makeup trends?

Almost certainly. Season 3 premieres April 12, 2026 on HBO with a five-year time jump. Davy returns as makeup department head. The characters are adults now, so expect the looks to shift while keeping bold pigment and face gems as core elements.

Conclusion

Euphoria makeup looks pushed bold eyeshadow, graphic eyeliner designs, and rhinestone placement into mainstream beauty routines. What started on an HBO set with Zendaya and Hunter Schafer became a global shift in how people use color on their faces.

The techniques are accessible. A floating crease liner, a few flatback crystals, or a wash of colorful pigment can change an entire look in minutes.

Products from Half Magic Beauty, Suva Beauty, and ColourPop Cosmetics make recreating these styles straightforward at any budget. And with season 3 arriving on HBO Max this spring, expect fresh waves of iridescent shimmer and abstract face paint across TikTok and Instagram.

The tools are here. The tutorials exist. The only thing left is picking a look and trying it yourself, even if it’s messy the first time around.

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Andreea Sandu

Andreea Sandu is a dedicated makeup artist with over 15 years of experience, specializing in natural, elegant looks that bring out each client’s unique features. Known for her attention to detail and warm approach, Andreea works with clients on everything from weddings to special events, ensuring they feel confident and beautiful. Her passion for makeup artistry and commitment to quality have earned her a loyal client base and a reputation for reliable, personalized service.

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