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CIn<\/em> The Scenario, reporter Kirbie Johnson takes readers behind the scenes of the buzziest movies and TV shows to reveal how the best wigs, special-effects makeup, and more are created. For this edition, Johnson interviewed<\/em> Euphoria department head Donni Davy in the makeup trailer as season three wrapped last year. As you may expect, some spoilers about the first episode ahead.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cFor better or for worse, everyone’s kind of trying to find God.\u201d<\/p>\n HBO\u2019s Euphoria<\/em> has returned. Much has changed: The students are now adults and a five-year time jump finds everyone in the real world\u2014and finding God, according to makeup department head-artist Donni Davy. Changes have also happened behind the scenes, where Hans Zimmer took over the musical score, a stark contrast to Labrinth\u2019s haunting high school melodies of seasons one and two; and costume designer Colleen Atwood came on as co-producer and helped with wardrobe direction, now overseen by Natasha Newman-Thomas after the departure of Heidi Bivens.<\/p>\n Despite the show\u2019s dark themes, this season is also visually brighter, with the first episode featuring scenes of sun-soaked California and vibrant decor, including Lexi\u2019s apartment and Nate and Cassie\u2019s ornate home. With these visual and audio changes, the show reads more like an epic Western than the dreamy, neon-coated atmosphere of seasons one and two.<\/p>\n But a lot also remains the same. There\u2019s no shortage of drama for Rue (Zendaya), who\u2019s still involved in the drug business. The impact of narcotics in the US continues to be a major theme, according to showrunner Sam Levinson. At a press screening of the first episode, he discussed how the death of actor Angus Cloud, who portrayed Fez, in 2023 affected him, and how fentanyl continues to be the main culprit of drug deaths in America. Season three, according to Levinson, alludes to the third step of the 12-step recovery plan: \u201cSurrender your will and life to the care of your higher power\u201d\u2014hence taglines leading up to the premiere like, \u201cMay God have mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n Crucially, the makeup remains a constant and vital element in the show. Davy has designed the makeup looks for Euphoria<\/em> since the show\u2019s inception in 2019. From the get-go, Levinson wanted Davy to create makeup looks that \u201cpeople would pause the show and study,\u201d a task she had to execute without distracting from the themes of the show.<\/p>\n In season one, Davy gravitated toward the pastel shades and winged liner of the late 1960s\u2014an era that\u2019s heavily inspired her over the years\u2014as well as \u201970s glam rock, \u201980s elongated cat-eyes, and \u201990s grunge liner. That first season was seven years ago, and \u201cEuphoria<\/em> makeup\u201d\u2014now synonymous with sparkling gemstones, winged liner that could gut someone, and glitter tears\u2014has gone on to captivate audiences and inspire tens of thousands of fans to play with makeup. And the interest hasn\u2019t slowed since. According to Google Trends, searches for \u201ceuphoria makeup\u201d reached peak interest in 2022 after season two premiered, and search has already spiked in the week leading up to the third season\u2019s release on April 12.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve seen firsthand how hungry fans are for Euphoria<\/em> makeup. In 2021, I was given a tour of the show\u2019s makeup trailer. While there, I got a behind-the-scenes look at what Davy\u2014who has amassed her own huge social following because of the show\u2014used on the cast, as well as a first look at Half Magic, the makeup brand Davy launched with A24\u2019s blessing (and backing). After posting videos from my time in the trailer, I gained more than 35,000 followers on Instagram in one day, simply for reporting on things like Zendaya\u2019s onscreen foundation and how (and why) Sydney Sweeney\u2019s character Cassie always looked sweaty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n