Crystals, glitter and bold looks characterized “Euphoria’s” first two seasons, but when the show returned for its third and final season, the makeup shifted away from the sparkle, shimmer and intense looks that had defined the show. Season 3 saw a five-year time jump, which meant that Rue (Zendaya), Jules (Hunter Schafer), Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and the rest of the cast were now young adults. Makeup artist Donni Davy needed to reflect that maturity through her craft.

“It’s not about exploring who you are. It’s about gaining power, fame, recognition, money and control,” Davy explains. “It’s more feral, and there are things at stake.”

With Jules, she doesn’t want to be in art school — she just wants to paint. “She finds a way to make money, and she’s trying on this lifestyle of being a sugar baby. It needed to cater to the male gaze.” In one scene, Davy gave Jules a red lip for a dinner with an older man. “Some of her looks are supposed to feel a little odd,” Davy says. “She’s trying to take something of hers that used to come so naturally, and she’s trying to tailor it to the male gaze and to this world that lacks color.”

One element Davy loved was giving Jules black eyeliner under her eyes — a detail that’s a little baby doll-like. “It feels darker and more about sexuality with these men and turning herself over to them in exchange for money and comfort,” Davy explains.

In contrast, Rue had nothing on her face. Creator/showrunner Sam Levinson didn’t want anything. Davy explains, “She’s sleeping in her car a lot. It’s not part of her priorities. Rue is surviving, trying to find a path toward getting some money and working herself up in the world. She’s lost.”

Cassie, on the other hand, has dabbled in glam makeup and is always trying new things to get male attention. Davy says Cassie’s glam has changed this season: heavy eyeshadow, sparkle, contour, a sparkly lip and long clawlike nails — it’s all part of how she’s morphing. “That’s part of what she does,” Davy says. She’s a fledgling digital content creator, and in the season premiere, she dons a puppy dog outfit for clicks. Davy enhanced Cassie’s lips using a big lip liner and added fake freckles, a reflection of TikTok and Instagram trends.

When Cassie discovers OnlyFans and ventures into that world, Davy notes, “Her look very quickly becomes more sexy and fierce.” But it doesn’t end there. Cassie’s hair becomes blonder, she’s tanned and “she’s pulling out all the stops to get as much attention as possible in Los Angeles.”

Davy adds, “She’s taking on this Pam Anderson, Marilyn Monroe vibe. There’s a little bit of Brigitte Bardot for that pool photo shoot scene where she’s in the little red-and-white gingham outfit as she continues to try all these different looks to see how sexy she can possibly make herself.” And getting attention is Cassie’s ultimate goal.