It's a busy period for Doniella (aka Donni) Davy. Yet, hot off another meeting, the makeup maestro joins me looking the epitome of California chic, with soft, beachy bends, fresh skin, and a pop of periwinkle on the inner corners, visible on a computer screen from the other side of the world. I felt my inner entertainment and beauty fanatic soar as I soaked up her words, took down her product recommendations, and picked up every nugget of wisdom. Embarrassing, I know, but it's not surprising, given that Donni has been the backbone to some of pop culture's defining beauty moments in recent years. Hard to believe that almost wasn't the case.
Raised in a creative household in Venice, California, she spent her days engrossed in the world of the fine arts—makeup was the last thing on her mind. The closest thing to beauty back then was her mother's drawer and Bobbi Brown's Teenage Beauty: Everything You Need To Look Pretty, Natural, Sexy & Awesome. "I remember that having some influence on me at 14. I was like, 'Oh, I'm supposed to use concealer under my eyes? The darkness isn't supposed to be there?' It was very much by the book," she recounts, hoping to make her own rendition in the near future.
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She'd go on to pursue a degree in photography at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, in 2010, but life had other plans. "For a while, I didn't know what to do. I missed colours, bottles of paint, brushes, but I also didn't want to be just an artist with gallery representation," she explains. "I was nannying and working in cafes when my friend's mom suggested I become a make-up artist for movies. Once I'd learned about it, I was like, 'That sounds awesome'," she says.
After a two-week crash course learning the basics of make-up and special effects with industry veteran Jane Galli, Donni pivoted and grinded through student films before stepping up as make-up department head for Justin Tippings’ Kicks in 2015. Cinematic bangers followed, such as Barry Jenkins' Academy Award-winner Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, as well as the A24 black comedy Under The Silver Lake. Recounting her work on the latter, she says, “I kind of let my freak flag fly and used bright colours, glitter, everything.”
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This vivid, fantastical aesthetic became her calling card, seen on the likes of artists Chappell Roan and Kesha. It also led her to an interview with Sam Levinson for his upcoming teen drama. Speaking on the show's creator, Donni says, "I learned he really loves makeup in a way I've never seen from a male director. He has a total makeup vocabulary and knowledge." The show would become HBO's award-winning juggernaut Euphoria, starring Zendaya alongside an ensemble cast including Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, and Colman Domingo.
As the show's head makeup artist, she became part of pop culture herstory at the cusp of a new decade; a cultural zeitgeist that has earned her two Emmys and millions of recreations of her looks. With every show on air possessing the standard soft TV glam, what sets Donni’s work on the series apart is vibrant emotional storytelling. It reflects the characters’ sense of self and inner turmoil through a kaleidoscope of textures, formulas, and colour palettes—going so far as to look through the characters’ bedrooms as part of her creative process—while still retaining a sense of reality that they would create it themselves. It's a far cry from the stereotypical and for good reason. “The whole point of it (the makeup on Euphoria) was to take something that's traditionally so boring and flip it on its head.”
Even the aesthetic shifts between seasons play into these evolving character arcs, something fans noticed in season two. “(Sam) wanted it to be stylised, fantastical, with neons, big rhinestones, and chunkier glitters; we came in really hot with season one,” she acknowledges. “Season two was re-thinking bold makeup—how to still add interesting details without repeating ourselves. Each season, Sam is re-inventing the show's aesthetics, the way it sees fit with the story he's conveying, and my job is to think about his vision while bringing my artistry to the table.”
This season, a lot has changed: a five-year time jump with the characters now living adult lives with adult problems. Zendaya's Rue pushes drugs to pay off the multi-million dollar debt she owes, Hunter's Jules may or may not be a sugar baby, Alexa Demie's Maddy has a job at a talent agency, Sydney Sweeney's Cassie is a stay-at-home wife dabbling in OnlyFans to pay for her dream wedding, and Maude Apatow's Lexi works in Hollywood as a showrunner's assistant. It's clear they aren't the same teens season two left us off with, and the makeup reflects that. Without giving much away, Donni reveals, “(Sam) really wanted me to lean into my version of traditional Hollywood make-up. Think like the anti-clean girl." She continues: “In previous seasons, we focused more on the eyes, but this season, the story called for eyes, lips, body, nails—big, big glam head to toe. However, we do have some really great eye candy moments that'll make season one beauty fans happy." In summary? As Donni puts it in an Instagram caption: Feral.
From Kat’s (played by Barbie Ferreira) colour-block green lids, Lexi and her demure triple-winged pop of cobalt blue, and Maddy’s chain eyeliner to Rue and Jules’ matching lip tattoos and even Nate’s busted mug courtesy of special effects makeup, fans have plenty of cherished beauty moments from the show to look back on. Among Donni’s favourite creations have been Kat's bold red-black Ms. 45 look for the Halloween episode, Maddy's long winged liner for New Year's Eve in season two, and Cassie’s jewelled visage for her dream sequence during the season one finale.
"That was the look where I didn't know what I was doing, I'm just going to cover her face with rhinestones," she confesses of the latter. She continues: "Seeing it out there on the ice during filming and, with the script in hand, knowing how it was going to intercut between her on the ice and lying down at the doctor's office; The contrasts of the two energies to Arcade Fire's 'My Body Is A Cage', it was emotional and made me weep."
Seven years since Rue's glitter tears took over the internet, she feels a sense of appreciation seeing fans in one of her masterpieces online. "I think it's awesome to think my work can make people feel something and connect with the characters," she says. "When they recreate the looks the girls wear, it’s like they’re trying on the characters; a fantasy version of themselves that lets them discover new parts of who they are." Just as onscreen, beauty helps to build one as their own protagonist and bring their own main character energy to the world. Mentioning this to Donni, she brought up examples she’d seen in real life. “I was recently on a flight, and I noticed several flight attendants had cool signature looks. One had red lips and cobalt blue liner, while the other had duo chrome eye shadow. Even security guards at airports, I saw a woman at LAX with facial piercings, rhinestones, and sparkly eyeliner. It's that kind of main character energy that's inspiring to me,” she shares.
Inspired to empower, Donni co-founded Half Magic in 2022, a vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand that lets people express their uniqueness, holding true to her ethos that putting on makeup is a form of self-discovery. “I didn't start playing (with makeup) on myself until I was 30, during COVID, when I started doing more experimental looks on myself and posting them online. Once I started experimenting, it opened a completely new side of who I am that I didn't know I was,” she shares. “You could try on a different look, and it might unlock this whole new side of your personality. It shows that we can change constantly and inspire others to get out of their comfort zone. It’s all a beautiful act of rebellion."
What does Donni use in her own routine? “One foundation that I’ve been trying and using on the show is from Suqqu. It’s high coverage, but looks like skin, and you can layer it. What I do is I wet a beauty sponge with our (Half Magic) Dew Lock setting spray and apply the Suqqu foundation.” Among her favourites are Sofie Pavitt's Omega Rich Moisturiser, Chantecaille’s Future Skin Gel Foundation, and the Revealer Concealer from Kosas. For eyes, cheeks, and lips: “That’s got to be all Half Magic.” As for inspiration, Donni sees it everywhere online and off, but she did mention fellow makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes as someone she loves. "My style is similar to hers: Fresh face, not a lot of product, and trying to empower people to have fun with their makeup."
These days, Donni has much to look forward to—the first being the launch of the Euphoria x Half Magic collection. A love letter to fans, the limited edition range features an eye shadow palette with shades named after the characters, multi-dimensional glitter, pressed glitter, lip gloss, a skin illuminating balm, liquid eyeliner, face gems, a silicon tool for precise wings, and a makeup correcting pen. In addition, she will be posting tutorials for fans to follow as the show airs. With the first episode out, there is much to discover as the season progresses, but one thing is for certain: We will all be watching with brushes, palettes, and shimmers in hand.
Euphoria is streaming on HBO Max. The Euphoria x Half Magic collection will launch on 29 April at Ulta Beauty.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity
While we wait in anticipation for Donni’s tutorials, here’s our rendition of Euphoria glam that you can recreate at home.
Rue
When you think of Euphoria, nine times out of ten, it's an image of Rue's glitter tears in season one. To recreate the look, diffuse a burgundy hue on the lids and draw an upside-down triangle under the lids using a glitter shadow. From there, line the lash line with black pencil and keep the rest of the face bare.
Glitterpill, around $31.75, HALF MAGIC.
Cassie
We heard Cassie has never, ever been happier with this southern belle crashout from season two. Pair voluminous curls with blue eyeshadow, wispy false lashes on the top and bottom, blush, and a pink-peach lipstick.
Chromaddiction Shimmer in Fairies Are Real, around $33.66, HALF MAGIC.
Jules
Jules is also known to have some incredible beauty moments. However, we adore her simple yet detailed triple-winged white liner from season two. Keep the base matte and a light wash of pink on the lids and cheeks.
Diorshow Liquid Liner in 001 Satin White, $56, DIOR.
Lexi
Quiet on set as Lexi rolls in with her sweet ingenue beauty beat in season three. To recreate the look, add a healthy flush of colour to the cheeks and a terracotta hue on the lips.
Shake 'N Play Liquid Blush in Bow'Peep, $42, FENTY BEAUTY.
Kat
In season one, Kat embraced her sexual confidence as well as a killer, bold look. With a soft matte base, pair a bold green lid together with a high-impact red lip to bring out your inner dominatrix.
Mouth Cloud in Self Help, around $27.94, HALF MAGIC.