We all remember how crazy we went for Skins back in the day, and how unforgettable character, Effy Stoneham inspired a whole generation of girls.
We were all deliberately ripping up fishnet tights, giving ourselves bed-heads and smearing smudged glitter liner into our water lines. Not the best look for me as an eleven-year-old, I will admit…
In our opinion, no other TV show has had such a specific effect on teenagers, until now.
Euphoria is the contemporary answer – following a similar bildungsroman between a group of high schoolers, it explores all the vices of angsty teenage life: coming to terms with adulthood, sexuality, drugs, identity, and everything in between.
With the series being produced by none other than Drake and Future, Labyrinth as composer, and starring lady of the moment, Zendaya, it promises to be the latest series we’re obsessed with from HBO (now that we’ve mourned the losses of Big Little Lies and Game of Thrones).
It’s already had an enormous reaction over in the States.
However, the reason you may already be familiar with the series is because of the makeup.
Euphoria looks all by MUA @donni.davy
It’s inspired a new look for Gen Z’s and Millenials – makeup that inspires your personality.
We live in a world where we debate for days on end whether a body foundation does more harm or more good. It’s more apparent than ever that the battle between feminism and the beauty industry continues to strive. We often wonder whether their duality can ever truly co-exist.
Ultimately, what Euphoria embodies to the world is how the younger generation is embracing the billion-dollar industry – it’s a means to accept your own identity and creativity.
And this creativity used is being embraced by everyone across the internet, recreating the look which makes you stand out like you, it screams into the void a generation that refuses to conform to a singular look.
Euphoria inspired looks on Instagram
The programme is almost portrayed at times as fever-dream, mixed with the archetypal characters and plots you would typically associate with any teen-drama programme, every character becomes a ramped up exaggerated version of themselves. Thus, why the makeup, by genius MUA Doniella Davy, is used as a stage direction, it gives the audience a glimpse of their story.
‘”They’re like miniature outfits in and of themselves,’ Davy says. ‘There’s multiple eyeshadows, shimmers, rhinestones, eyeliner, fake lashes, all the works’.” – Davy to Refinery 29
Zendaya, who plays the protagonist, Rue Bennet (a 17-year-old recovering drug addict struggling to find her place in the world) uses glitter to her mirror her internalized battles and pain.
Often placed under her eyes, in tear like shapes, or to over-express her dark circles, it serves to both embrace her struggles and hide them behind the glitter.
Jules Vaughn, who’s a new to town transgender woman, often plays with graphic liner and bright colours obscenely bright colours. It marks her movement through her teen years as trans, playing with the boundaries of gender. Her self-expression and uniqueness.
Maddy Perez cannot be missed as the archetypal ‘Queen Bee’ of the school. It’s her look that people have been going mad for on the ‘gram.
Yet, her makeup isn’t used to be appealing, but as a statement of intent, stripped back when she feels down, sharpened liner to ‘cut down haters’, and bejewelled when she feels on top of the world. As Maddy is presented as the girl, who has her shit together with her matching lids and co-ords, it’s juxtaposed by the chaos of high school..
Kat Hernandez (Barbie Ferreira) was once the shy, timid, body-conscious girl who was mocked for her size. However, after a sexual awakening, she’s seen smearing neon green eyeshadow and bright red lipstick.
Makeup to her becomes a means to explore her sexuality and sensuality, as a young woman; alongside rocking her monobrow, her look is more of a f**k you to anyone who tells her she, as she is, isn’t beautiful.
Cassie Howard, played by The Handmaid’s Tale’s Sydney Sweeney is the stereotypical objectively good-looking girl, looking to be loved more than anything, after past traumas with boys.
It’s because of this her looks aim to be sexy and sultry, and show her deep-desire to be adored.
Check out what all the fuss is about. The second episode of Euphoria is out tonight on Sky Atlantic at 9pm, or available to binge watch now on NowTV.
Graphics by Sasha Green
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