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Rosie O'Donnell got a facelift—and she has some thoughts to share.
The comedian and actor revealed this week that she had a lower deep-plane facelift in January, sharing her complicated feelings on Substack in her now-signature poetic style. In the post, titled “decisions,” O'Donnell wrote that she had always sworn she'd never go under the knife. After losing 50 pounds, she changed her mind.
“I used to feel very strongly about facelifts,” O'Donnell wrote. “Not casually—morally. I had assigned myself as head of all women who would never ever.” She went on to say that getting a facelift felt like a “betrayal” of feminism and aging, even of “our team of women worldwide.” But after her weight loss, O'Donnell said her face changed to a point that “I'd look in the mirror and think – this isn't aging, this is melting with intention.” She tried to accept it, and couldn't: “There's a point where acceptance starts to feel like lying.”
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O'Donnell's 13-year-old child, Clay, found out that she was contemplating a facelift and had their their own thoughts, saying O'Donnell “earned” her wrinkles and that young women look up to her. What kind of message would she be sending about aging and acceptance if she got plastic surgery? And then this: “‘I wouldn’t be able to respect you if you did it.’” (“That's a big statement from someone who still needs you to open jars.”) According to O'Donnell, Clay sounded “exactly like me. Like my younger, more certain, more morally rigid self had somehow moved into my house and was now judging my face.”
O'Donnell sat for a few months with the idea of getting a facelift, then realized that not doing would also send her child a message. “If I’m teaching Clay anything, it can’t be that my body belongs to an idea either,” she wrote. “Even a good idea. Even feminism. Because that’s still not freedom—that’s just a different authority telling you what you’re allowed to do with your own face.” Her words echo those of Allure contributor Joan Kron, who said of her three facelifts: “The feminist line is, 'We've earned these wrinkles. We don't want to erase them.' Well, I’m a feminist, but I don’t believe in telling people what to do with their bodies.”
About five months ago, O'Donnell had the surgery, choosing a doctor who had worked on some of her friends, “who all still looked like themselves, just like they had recently been told good news.” Her goal: “to still be me, just…less haunted. And I do look like me…a slightly more well-rested, emotionally stable version of me.” So what was the response to the results, after all that self-reflection and “a full existential feminist crisis”? O'Donnell says no one has even noticed she had work done, “not one person. Not a friend, not a stranger, not even people who owe me compliments / My teenager has not said a word.”
But O'Donnell is pleased with that. “I didn’t disappear, I didn’t become someone else. I just stopped arguing with the mirror. And maybe that’s enough. Or at the very least…it’s what a lower, deep plane face lift [sic] looks like when it minds its own business.” A day after the Substack post went live, she shared before and after photos on her Instagram.
O'Donnell joins the ranks of celebrities who have been open about their work recently. Denise Richards told Allure all about her recent facelift and even shared the actual, clinical before-and-after pics. A day after O'Donnell's post went live, Glamour published an interview with TV personality Keltie Knight in which she shared details about her own facelift. Then there's Ricki Lake, and Kathy Griffin, and of course Kris Jenner.
O'Donnell ended her post by saying that while she knows she doesn't owe anyone an explanation for her decision to have plastic surgery, she doesn't like secrets. “Part of my desire to show myself…is to come clean,” she wrote. “But who do I owe that truth to? Is it mine to keep?” She writes of feeling “almost shameful” of her “privileged place” in the world, noting that the surgery cost “more money than I have ever paid for a car.” But at 64, O'Donnell says that despite her still-conflicted feelings, she and her “new lower face and neck” are “just happy to be alive…able to feel and choose and use my voice whenever I feel called to…as we carry on in act 3.”
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If you're overlooking your neck skin, you're not alone. However, you should pay close attention to that delicate, aging-susceptible area. Worry not: The best neck creams can help minimize and prevent sagging skin, crepiness, and dark spots. If you didn't already realize, the décolletage—the delicate area from the chin to the chest—is one of the first areas to develop signs of aging, so a dedicated neck cream can prove useful in reducing the effects of tech neck (as in, fine lines and double-chin-like sagging caused by looking down at your smartphone). Many key ingredients to look out for are similar to the ones in our face serums and moisturizers—hey, hyaluronic acid and peptides—but some actives, such as retinol, are formulated at lower concentrations to avoid irritating this delicate neck area.
Whether you're looking for temporary skin-tightening benefits or discoloration-reducing ingredients, we rounded up the creme de la creme of neck creams for all skin types, even the most sensitive—as recommended by dermatologists and editors.
Our Top Neck Creams
Best Overall: SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream, $135
Best for Sensitive Skin: Alastin Skincare Restorative Neck Complex, $158
Best for Dry Skin: iS Clinical NeckPerfect Complex, $120
Best for Fine Lines: NeoStrata Triple Firming Neck Cream, $98
What’s the difference between a face and neck cream?
What over-the-counter treatments and ingredients should I look out for?
When should I consult with a dermatologist?
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
Our staff and testers
Best Overall: SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream
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SkinMedica
Neck Correct Cream
$135
Dermstore
Why it's worth it: Noah Gratch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, says the SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream is one of his favorite neck creams to recommend to clients: “This cream deeply hydrates, addresses hyperpigmentation, and tackles existing wrinkles while preventing new ones,” he says. Chock-full of microalgae, rich in antioxidant vitamins A (also known as retinol), C, and E, this 2023 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner deeply hydrates and encourages cell regeneration to improve overall laxity—with regular use, of course. This firming cream also contains peptides and mushroom extract to give skin a firming boost—perfect for addressing the beginning signs (or more advanced) of tech neck.
Texture-wise, Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama, says that it’s so lightweight that it quickly absorbs into the skin so you never have to worry about stickiness. Consider our every tick box checked.
Allure associate beauty editor Sarah Kinonen applying the SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream
Sarah Kinonen
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the SkinMedica Neck Correct Cream
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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“Like every other young person in America, my screen time is horrifying. I’m on my phone for most of the day (for both work and pleasure), and because of that, I’ve developed the ‘ole tech neck. Tiny fine lines now etch across my once-smooth neck, and sometimes, they are all I see in the mirror. So lately I’ve been reaching for SkinMedica’s Neck Correct Cream, a serum-like treatment made with firming peptides and hydrating squalene, twice a day to target said fine lines. It’s super lightweight and doesn’t interfere with any of my other skin-care products, nor does it irritate my sensitive skin (especially the thin-skinned neck area), so here's to hoping it tackles those wrinkles while I work on finding a new hobby…away from my phone.” —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I basically have horizontal neck lines permanently etched into my skin, which I'm hyper-aware of whenever I look in the mirror, and are no doubt heightened by my constant laptop slouching. (Typing this just made me instinctively raise my head and sit up straighter. I should think about my neck area more often.) It's not thin enough to be considered a neck serum, per se, but it has this unique, silky lotion that absorbs incredibly fast—my skin feels so soft (and almost velvety?) after the fact, and I can't feel the slightest bit of residue. With consistent use, I have a lot of faith that my neck wrinkles will look much less apparent.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
Who it's for: those with sagging skin, laxity, and hyperpigmentation
Fragrance-Free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Alastin Skincare Restorative Neck Complex
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Alastin Skincare
Restorative Neck Complex
$158
Amazon
$158
Alastin Skincare
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the Alastin Skincare Restorative Neck Complex
Deanna Pai
Why it's worth it: Lifting the skin can be a tall order for many topical formulas, but Alastin Restorative Neck Complex deploys a unique, patented peptide blend called TriHex technology to replace damaged collagen and elastin with new, healthy fibers. That’s why Austin-based dermatologist Kristina Collins, MD, says it’s great for those concerned about tech neck, horizontal lines, or post-procedure skin recovery. “It helps the skin repair itself, which is especially important in an area that tends to age faster than the face,” she says. The fast-absorbing formula also contains niacinamide and phytoene and phytofluene (two phyto-antioxidants to guard against free radical damage), all of which help improve hyperpigmentation (such as sun spots) along your neck and décolleté, Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston, adds.
This formula is quite lightweight and fluid, so it feels more akin to a neck serum—making it easier to spread one pump of the goodness down to your chest area. You'll see the best results if you use it twice a day (once in the morning and once at night).
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin applying the Alastin Skincare Restorative Neck Complex
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Alastin Skincare Restorative Neck Complex
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“Do I always have time to use neck cream? Not really—but I do whenever I remember, since I don’t always bring my skin-care products down to my décolleté (as the experts recommend). I love Alastin across the board, and appreciate that this stuff, which absorbs quickly and feels nourishing, delivers those same benefits below the face. So far, it’s done the trick to fade dark spots, and I’m hoping the investment pays off on neck wrinkles and lines down the road.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
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“I have a combination of genetic and poor-posture-induced deep lines on my neck that didn’t start to bother me until I reached my mid-30s. I know this is going to be a long game, and that creams can’t exactly undo the deep lines, but I’m hopeful that Alastin’s neck cream can help ward off any future fine lines or uneven skin tone. I absolutely love the wide pump-top bottle; more than enough is dispensed to lather your neck and décolletage. There’s no tacky finish, it doesn’t irritate my eczema-prone skin, and leaves me feeling hydrated for hours. There is a noticeable difference in how the skin around my neck and chest feels after I apply this product. It all just feels more supple!” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
Best for Dry Skin: iS Clinical NeckPerfect Complex
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iS Clinical
NeckPerfect Complex
$120
Amazon
$120
Dermstore
$120
Bluemercury
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the iS Clinical NeckPerfect Complex
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it’s worth it: The skin on your neck doesn’t always get the same love as your face, but it’s the first place that both dryness and signs of aging tend to appear. This skin-elasticity-boosting formulation takes an innovative approach by incorporating exfoliating acids to offset both. “iS Clinical NeckPerfect Complex has some key ingredients, like alpha hydroxy acids, that are going to give you a more even skin tone,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. It also includes hyaluronic acid to leave skin “hydrated and glowing,” she adds. With added antioxidants (such as acacia senegal gum and quinoa) to fight off environmental aggressors, this silky treatment helps lift, firm, and smooth the delicate skin below your jawline.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“After breastfeeding and pumping, my décolleté was looking dry and crepey—years of tugging (thanks, kids) definitely took a toll. NeckPerfect Complex glides on silky smooth and sinks in fast without any greasy residue. The skin on my chest actually feels hydrated now, and those tiny creases I used to see have basically disappeared.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
Who it's for: people with dry skin who want to restore hydration, firmness, and elasticity
Fragrance-free: no
Best for Fine Lines: NeoStrata Triple Firming Neck Cream
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NeoStrata
Triple Firming Neck Cream
$98
Amazon
$98
Dermstore
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the NeoStrata Triple Firming Neck Cream
Sarah Han
Why it's worth it: NeoStrata's Triple Firming Neck Cream is a favorite of Mamina Turegano, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Orleans, who says that it frequently sells out at her practice. At the heart of this formula is a proprietary ingredient called NeoGlucosamine, "an amino sugar that helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles," Dr. Turegano calls out, which boosts hyaluronic acid production—therefore increasing hydration and smoothing the look of fine lines—and gently exfoliates dead skin cells. Furthermore, it's enriched with amino acid chains (also known as peptides) to firm the skin, while shea butter and antioxidant vitamin E restore and strengthen your barrier. This rich, buttery formula may take a beat to fully absorb, but the results are well worth the few extra seconds.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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“I almost always bring my facial skin-care products down to my neck, but because the amount of product that actually makes it down there varies a lot, I like the added assurance of using a dedicated neck cream—similarly to how I like a standalone sunscreen, even if I'm using a skin tint or foundation that has SPF over it. Neostrata's Triple Firming Neck Cream is oh-so buttery, and my neck and décolleté always look dewy and hydrated after each application. I do think my horizontal neck lines have softened a bit, which is a huge win for me—as someone who’s constantly crouching over my laptop and looking down at my phone.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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Key ingredients: NeoGlucosamine, NeoCitrate (a patented ingredient of NeoStrata that claims to boost collagen production and plump the skin), amino acids
Who it's for: Those with fine lines and wrinkles
Fragrance-free: yes
Other neck creams we love
Best for Uneven Tone: StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus
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StriVectin
TL Advanced Tightening Neck Plus
$99
Amazon
$99
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: StriVectin's TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream Plus is loved by beauty editors and derms alike because of the brand's patented, high-performing ingredients. This neck-firming cream features a niacinamide-powered technology called NIA-114 alongside a proprietary, bio-engineered peptide chain called Alpha-3 Peptide, which targets the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Translation: These help reduce the appearance of deep wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin along the neck, jawline, and décolleté in as little as four weeks. It also has shea butter and spilanthol, a botanically-derived fatty acid that plumps and moisturizes skin.
P.S. StriVectin also offers a broad-spectrum SPF 35-infused neck cream to provide ample protection against sun damage.
Tester feedback from features director Dianna Singh
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"The bad news: If you ever owned a cassette player, it's probably time to start using a neck cream. The good news: StriVectin TL Advanced Tightening Neck Cream+ exists. The formula has a rich, creamy texture that absorbs into skin surprisingly quickly. I've been using it on and off for the past couple of years, and I do believe it's kept my décolleté from looking less crepey than it would otherwise." —Dianna Singh, features director
Who it's for: those who want immediate and long-term benefits
Fragrance-free: no
Best for Crepey Skin: SkinCeuticals Tripeptide R Neck Repair
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SkinCeuticals
Tripeptide R Neck Repair
$136
Dermstore
$136
SkinCeuticals
$135
Bluemercury
Why it's worth it: Living up to the SkinCeuticals hype is the Triple-R Neck Repair, a fragrance-free retinol cream that goes beyond the surface to treat the deeper layers, targeting a variety of signs of aging, including wrinkling and sagging. Dr. Hartman says that although it has retinol—a beloved active known to boost cell turnover and promote collagen production—SkinCeuticals uses a slow-release retinol that is far less likely to cause any dreaded irritation or unnecessary dryness. Plus, the formula has plenty of hydrators like glycerin and soybean oil to soothe skin. Dr. Hartman adds that the formula also contains peptides, which signal the skin to produce collagen, helping to plump and “fill in” smaller wrinkles.
Dr. Hartman uses Triple-R as part of his own skin-care routine, so if it’s good enough for someone who treats skin for a living, it’s certainly good enough for us (and you).
Best for Age Spots: Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced
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Revision Skincare
Nectifirm
$115
Amazon
$115
Dermstore
Why it's worth it: Revision Skincare Nectifirm Advanced, an iteration of the original Nectifirm for those experiencing more advanced signs of aging, is one of Dr. Collin’s go-to recommendations for more noticeable laxity and crepiness.” She touts its blend of peptides to improve elasticity, antioxidants like lingonberry extract for brightness, and plant-based ingredients like red microalgae extract to help improve firmness and texture.
Other key active ingredients are tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (or THDA, a highly stable, oil-soluble form of vitamin C that's well-tolerated by sensitive skin), diglucosyl gallic acid, a melanin inhibitor that helps treat hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Although it comes at a hefty price point, it feels “incredibly luxurious” on the skin, absorbs quickly, and does much more than simply moisturize.
The skin on the neck is thinner and lacks the same oil composition as facial skin, which makes it more prone to dryness and sagging over time, Dr. Hartman explains. Combine that with gravity and the constant craning over smartphones, and it's an area uniquely at risk for fine lines and sagging. In other words, "tech neck" is very real.
What’s the difference between a face and neck cream?
“Because the skin is more delicate, neck creams are formulated to provide more intense hydration, with a higher concentration of actives that are more suitable for the skin on your neck,” Dr. Hall notes. Some moisturizing agents featured in the creams on this list are hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and squalane to keep the skin smooth and plump. Peptides are a newer area of exploration for neck creams as they're frequently touted for their skin-firming benefits.
What over-the-counter treatments and ingredients should I look out for?
Aside from the essential hydrators, retinol is a common additive because it promotes collagen production and, therefore, addresses the appearance of wrinkles and improves skin texture. "This can help with sagging skin, wrinkles, and some crepiness," says James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Los Angeles. "Since the neck is a sensitive area, the retinol concentrations tend to be low, and the results are subtle."
When should I consult with a dermatologist?
If you've noticed any difference in skin laxity around your neck and chest area, Dr. Wang recommends consulting a dermatologist for an evaluation of any inflammation, lumps, and nodules. He adds that significantly loose skin, like the so-called turkey neck, may require in-office interventions, but neck creams can still be beneficial for replenishing hydration and subtly decreasing the look of lines on the neck skin.
Meet the experts
Mamina Turegano, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New Orleans
Corey L. Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama
Noah Gratch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Houston
James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Metropolis Dermatology in Los Angeles
Anna Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
Kristina Collins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Austin
May Hall, DO, a board-certified dermatologist based in Asheville, North Carolina
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best neck creams, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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Welcome to summer 2026… or is it actually summer 1999? If you're looking to musician Zara Larsson and her nails for answers, it's definitely the latter. Apparently we're not done embracing all things Y2K in our beauty aesthetics; if Larsson's square-tipped French manicure is any indication, we're just getting started!
The “Midnight Sun” singer took the stage for the Radio 1's Big Weekend concert in England in her now go-to manicure: a classic French mani with major Y2K vibes. Her nails were long and filed into a squared-off shape with a thick white tip and milky pink base, just like the French manicure you probably got for prom back in the day. Instead of a straight-across or rounded white tip, Larsson opted for a subtle “V” shape.
The French manicure is a bonafide forever kinda classic. It's never going away, and why should it? It always looks great, and legions of celebs are faithful fans of the salon style, including Larsson, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. As Allure previously reported, the French was “invented" back in 1975 for Hollywood movies and became popular in the ‘80s and ’90s, though it did briefly dip in popularity in the nail art-heavy 2010s. “When I was a kid, I spent every waking minute trying to figure out how to do a French manicure,” manicurist Miss Pop told Allure. “I’ve spent so much of my career reimagining it—it’s hard not to. It’s the most natural shape you can possibly do.” Plus, it's endlessly customizable: play with color, add texture, decorate the tip with rhinestones, get creative! Or, in Larsson's case, celebrate the classic French in all its old-school goodness.
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Of course, we can't talk about Larsson without mentioning the other signature element of her glam: her bright, Lisa Frank-esque eye makeup! She teamed up once more with makeup artist Sophia Sinot, who applied a bright turquoise shade to Larsson's inner corners, blending it out into a true party girl pink and covering the entire lid with rhinestones. We've been saying it's time for a “fun” makeup revival—including body glitter tattoos, like the ones Larsson recently wore, and frosted eyes and lips—so why not go time traveling this summer?
More celebrity beauty news:
Blink and You'll Miss Charli XCX With Extra-Long Bangs
Emma Stone Isn't a Redhead Anymore
Tracee Ellis Ross Is Wearing 10 Different Colors in Her Mismatched Jelly Manicure
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In 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 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 are ahead.
“For better or for worse, everyone's kind of trying to find God.”
HBO’s Euphoria has returned. Much has changed: The students are now adults, and a five-year time jump finds everyone in the real world—and 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’s haunting high school melodies of seasons one and two; and costume designer Colleen Atwood came on as coproducer and helped with wardrobe direction, now overseen by Natasha Newman-Thomas after the departure of Heidi Bivens.
Despite the show’s dark themes, this season is also visually brighter, with the first episode featuring scenes of sun-soaked California and vibrant decor, including Lexi’s apartment and Nate and Cassie’s 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.
But a lot also remains the same. There’s no shortage of drama for Rue (Zendaya), who’s 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: “Surrender your will and life to the care of your higher power”—hence taglines leading up to the premiere like, “May God have mercy.”
High contrast lip-spo
Kirbie Johnson
Inner and outer winged liner
Kirbie Johnson
Crucially, the makeup remains a constant and vital element in the show. Davy has designed the makeup looks for Euphoria since the show’s inception in 2019. From the get-go, Levinson wanted Davy to create makeup looks that “people would pause the show and study,” a task she had to execute without distracting from the themes of the show.
In season one, Davy gravitated toward the pastel shades and winged liner of the late 1960s—an era that’s heavily inspired her over the years—as well as ’70s glam rock, ’80s elongated cat eyes, and ’90s grunge liner. That first season was seven years ago, and “Euphoria makeup”—now synonymous with sparkling gemstones, winged liner that could gut someone, and glitter tears—has gone on to captivate audiences and inspire tens of thousands of fans to play with makeup. And the interest hasn’t slowed since. According to Google Trends, searches for “euphoria makeup” reached peak interest in 2022 after season two premiered, and searches have already spiked in the week leading up to the third season’s release on April 12.
I’ve seen firsthand how hungry fans are for Euphoria makeup. In 2021, I was given a tour of the show’s makeup trailer. While there, I got a behind-the-scenes look at what Davy—who has amassed her own huge social following because of the show—used on the cast, as well as a first look at Half Magic, the makeup brand Davy launched with studio A24’s 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’s onscreen foundation and how (and why) Sydney Sweeney’s character Cassie always looked sweaty.
More season three makeup inspiration
Kirbie Johnson
I was invited back to the makeup trailer for season three at the end of filming in November 2025. ”Base camp,” as the set was called, was situated on a closed-off lot in downtown Los Angeles. Everything was shrouded in secrecy, from the trailer doors labeled “LA Nights” (a code name taken from the show where Lexi works as an assistant this season), to yellow production signage reading “10 Commandments,” another code to keep filming confidential. I had no idea who was on set or what was being filmed, but it didn’t matter. I was there to find out if we were getting what the Euphoria makeup people have come to expect—or if everyone matured out of “look at me” beauty in the time jump.
Good news: While season two featured more subdued makeup, in season three we’re back to “capital G glam,” says Davy. But it’s not the bold color and dazzling rhinestones we were introduced to in 2019. Instead, it’s Davy’s take on nostalgic Hollywood makeup, with nods to the looks of icons past and present. “It's not as experimental,” she says. “In high school, there was tons of glitter. There’s also tons of glitter in season three, but the girls are grown up, and the creative vision is different. Sam [Levinson] wanted me to do my version of traditional glam—Hollywood glam.”
It was also important for the makeup to be high-contrast, whether that meant a dark lip liner with a nude lipstick or red lips with exaggerated black eyeliner. That’s because the film stock used specifically for this season pushed the contrast on camera, causing makeup elements to look blown out or change color, something Davy realized when reviewing the raw footage (called “dailies” in TV land). It was clear some makeup looks weren’t landing and needed to be taken up a notch. “We need cunt-ery here,” she says, “we need to go hard.”
Anna Van Patten wearing three Euphoria makeup trends at once
Kirbie Johnson
Sydney Sweeney with frosty lids and tightlined lashes
Maddy’s eyeliner offers a good example: “I'm like, ‘Girl, the wings are always iconic on you,’” Davy recalls saying to actor Alexa Demie. “They always look so good, but without that high-contrast moment, whether it's a sharp line on the bottom or just a tightline, we don't get that extra-visual thing to sink your teeth into.”
Nineties-era Pamela Anderson, Y2K makeup, and a touch of the ’60s all inspired Davy this season. Her mood boards—plastered across every square foot of the trailer—showed references that ran the gamut depending on the character and the scene: Hustler and Playboy spreads with handwritten notes from Davy like, “red nails, simple eyes, classic lips”; “super glowy—NO POWDER”; and “babydoll lashes.” Pages upon pages of similar makeup looks featuring models and notable celebrities like Kate Moss, Rihanna, Sabrina Carpenter, and Gabriette. “[The makeup overall] is sparkly, luscious, juicy, glam,” says Davy. “It's like a campaign against the ‘clean girl’ aesthetic. That's my inspiration. It's big, unapologetic glam.”
After reading the scripts, Davy imagines what a character may be doing at that point in their life to help her design their look. Take the aesthetic for Jules (Hunter Schafer) this season, which includes bleached brows and core shades of red, silver, and black. “I wanted [Jules] to have this deranged moment at home [where we had the] Pat McGrath Labs peel-off mask on top of makeup, and I wanted her to peel it off on camera and stretch it,” Davy says. “These are the things I imagine the characters doing, and it helps me figure out what to do. If there's no imagination or story or passion for me, it’s hard to get inspired.”
Rosalía as Magick
Kirbie Johnson
There are a few things you’ll see a lot of this season: Sharpen those eyeliners, because inner-corner wings are a big one. Brown tightliner is another. “Everyone is tightlined,” says Davy. “I really want the eyes to be super-fucking piercing,” says Davy. Frosty lips and a shitload of body shimmer are coming our way, too, while blue eye shadow is a throughline for several characters because, she says, it’s the “eye shadow shade of the woman that's kind of going off the rails” or “the woman who's really extra.” There are also more nail sets this season, which Davy commissioned from artist Caroline Cotten.
Davy’s mood boards for Cassie and Jules
Kirbie Johnson
Sydney Sweeney in Cassie’s “vixen” makeup
Kirbie Johnson
Each character has their own distinct aesthetic for the season, even if they didn’t play with makeup much in the past. For example, in season two, Cassie was trying to emulate Maddy and Jules. Now she’s forged her own beauty direction as a vixen—think video girl or classic pinup. “[Brigitte] Bardot is always on my Cassie boards,” says Davy.
In the past, they could create a Cassie look in under an hour, says Davy, but this season Sweeney was in glam for two hours before filming because she was in full, head-to-toes body makeup. We learn that Cassie wants her wedding to Nate exactly the way she envisions it—$50,000 flowers included—and if that means joining OnlyFans, she’s willing to do what it takes to make her own money. “It's very performative,” Davy says of Cassie’s makeup this season, noting that Sweeney was typically down to try anything makeup-wise. “It's kind of desperate, unapologetic. She's trying to get attention. It’s for the male gaze.” But Davy’s doing her own take on the “male gaze” by creating looks female viewers will want to emulate and compliment each other on—not makeup that men would find suitable.
Alexa Demie as Maddy
HBO
Maddy is an assistant in Hollywood, working with a top manager but just making ends meet. Her makeup projects someone she’s aspiring to be. “Her inner light has gone out,” says Davy. In an office job and in her “hustler era,” as Davy describes it, Maddy feels defeated—at least in the beginning of the season. “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of joy in her life, so I think this matte colorless colorscape really works. She’s trying to be more grown-up—all business, no frills.”
This is a stark contrast to who Maddy was in high school. “Her makeup was this theatrical performance; it was playful, tapping into these different sides of her,” says Davy. Maddy was “unfuckwithable” and fierce, but the sparkle and color helped home in on her hopeful, tender side too. One thing Maddy knows how to do is do her makeup and look a part (which we learned from her backstory in season one), and Davy believes she’s using this new look strategically: “Showing up to work with a purple sparkly eye is not going to get her the results she wants in terms of being taken seriously.”
Demie was very involved in Maddy’s looks and wanted to go the more traditional glam route, notes Davy. “Because it’s Maddy and me and my team, we get this unapologetic, bold version of something traditional,” she explains. “This style of makeup is new for Euphoria because we’re not usually bringing in traditional styles of makeup.”
Some of Lexi’s makeup inspo
Kirbie Johnson
Maude Apatow in Lexi’s season three makeup look
Kirbie Johnson
While Rue was meant to look worse for wear in previous seasons, Davy says, there are only a few times when she makes her look rough this go-around. Otherwise, she’s still wearing MAC Face and Body, as we previously reported, and has a healthy glow, thanks to Half Magic Dew Lock Setting Spray. She even has a few legitimate makeup looks, like brown eyeliner in her water lines for the wedding, says Davy.
As a teen, Lexi (Maude Apatow) was mostly a no-fuss makeup girl, although she occasionally threw on some kind of a red lip. In season three, though, she embraces her own version of Hollywood glamour. “Even Lexi has a banging glam—not just a statement lip—but lashes, the whole shebang,” says Davy of the character’s brick red lipstick and subtle wings. “We wanted a more mature version of her high school red-lip look,” adds Davy, who drew from her vintage ’70s wardrobe for inspiration. “Clearly, she’s really into this formal attire, so we thought she would have a real makeup routine, too, that she’s been working on and perfecting. She wants to look well-rested. She is definitely not showing up to work with no makeup.”
Hunter Schaffer in one of Jules’ season three looks
Kirbie Johnosn
Jules isn’t in the first episode of the new season, but Davy shares that her look this time around is more minimal than the others (and for the character), due to the seriousness of her life when we see her again. “It's not colorful,” says Davy. “It's not happy.”
There's no shortage of prosthetics this year, either. “This has been the most prosthetic-heavy and glam-heavy of all the seasons,” Davy says. “Season one was makeup-heavy in a different way; it was all about eyes. Skin was [just] tinted moisturizer. The lip was a gloss. I think Alexa was the only one who had lip liner. This season, however, is full, head-to-toe glam.”
As you can see, there will be no shortage of Euphoria makeup discussions this season, and I still have a lot to share. Each week, I’ll break down the highlights of the makeup, including products used, straight from the source. Bookmark this story and follow us on social media so you don’t miss anything.
In this story:
Episode 1: "New Beginnings"
Episode 2: "American My Dream"
Episode 3: The Ballad of Palidin
Episode 4: “Kitty Likes to Dance”
Episode 5: This Little Piggy
Episode 6: “Stand Still and See”
Episode 7: “Rain or Shine”
Episode 1: "New Beginnings"
Davy prepares to give an on-set spray tan
Kirbie Johnson
The formulas behind Cassie’s fake tan
Kirbie Johnson
Skin is always a big part of the show, but especially this season. Davy used Suqqu foundation, which has a satin effect and is “super buildable,” she says. “It can be really high coverage, or it can be sheer—and it looks so much like skin.” She mixed it with Saie Super Glowy Gel and applied it by infusing a Pawpaw sponge with Half Magic Dew Lock Setting Spray and the foundation, so it lasted throughout filming.
In episode one, Cassie is scantily clad and tan, in case you didn’t notice. Sweeney would get a spray tan, then Davy would mix OFRA Cosmetics RCK Red Carpet Color with Westmore Beauty Body Coverage Perfector, Vita Liberata Body Blur, and Hempz Body Lotion to give her skin an even, in-your-face glow.
Some scenes, however, required stronger, transfer-proof makeup. “For Syd, if she has a sex scene or is in bed or is wearing white or swimming—anything where my body lotion mixture isn’t going to cut it, we use full-on, alcohol-based, body-coverage paints,” says Davy. She used Allied FX Bluebird Iridescent Inks in Cashmere and Bronze Pearl to add shimmer to the tans, avoiding a matte, flat look.
Episode 2: "American My Dream"
Maddy meeting Cassie in episode two.
Warner Bros. Discovery
In episode two, we get more intel on Maddy, while Jules makes her first appearance with a radical hair change. “Maddy is a little evil this season,” says Davy. We get a glimpse of this when her former best friend, Cassie Howard, reaches out.
As Davy mentioned, Maddy's look might be more muted than past seasons, but for her meeting with Cassie, she's still expressing herself through makeup. “She’s there to set the tone,” Demie says in HBO Max's behind-the-scenes segment for episode two. Demie notes it was scorching hot that day, but Maddy is still in a fur coat and gloves to insinuate power. She wants to be taken seriously at work and she wants to appear in charge during her meeting with Cassie, sporting visible lip liner and double-winged liner. Paired with her wardrobe and hair, her look is mob wife meets old Hollywood.
Mara Rouse, who worked with Demie on the look, said they were inspired by French-Italian actress Edwige Fenech, as well as the makeup of other Italian actresses where the top liner lifts before the outer corner, creating and “upward, feline” shape.
To achieve the look at home, Davy suggests starting with a base of a matte brown cream eyeshadow (she likes the Colourpop Shadow Stix) over the lids, followed by a taupe-colored powder shadow pressed on top to both cool-down the color and add a velvety finish. Davy's brand, Half Magic, was used heavily this season. For Maddy's double wings, they used the Flik Liquid Eyeliner Pen and Flik Eraser Correcting Pen, create two lines that extend out from upper and lower lash lines. Half Magic Cheek Fluff in Magic Brownie went on her cheeks, while her lip combo included the Sculptitude Lip Liner in Seize the Slay and You’re my Taupe topped off with a coat of Lip Snuggle in Killah Meows.
For Maddy's hair, department head Kim Kimble shared that a T3 Micro Large Barrel Curling Iron was used to add volume volume, while the Kim Kimble Signature Infrared Flat Iron added sleekness to the look. To finish her Amika hairspray and ColorWow shine spray were applied.
Jules’s makeup, per Davy, needed to reflect her new lifestyle, but her signature experimental style still shines through—especially in this episode (that bra dress, anyone?). She wears black liner right the middle of her lower waterline—underneath her iris—paired with a light blue shadow.
As for her hair, Jules has gone from a crop senior year to wearing a 50" buss-down. "Sam said, 'I want Jules’ hair to be 50” long,’” says Kimble in a behind-the-scenes video for HBO Max, which showcases Schafer’s wig being applied. "She’s like a modern-day Rapunzel, she’s trapped up in the tower."
Episode 3: The Ballad of Palidin
You’re cordially invited to Nate and Cassie’s wedding in this episode and, of course, drama ensues: Reunions take place, guests show up half-naked. Nate’s toe gets cut off. Very normal wedding festivities. Amidst all that, there’s some pretty incredible beauty looks going on. Let’s break it down.
Cassie’s bridal beauty look.
Patrick Wymore/HBOCassie's Bridal Look
“I wanted to do what I thought was pretty makeup,” Davy says, “I wanted her eyes to be really piercing—that’s my jam this season.” Davy did this by emphasizing the waterline in a brown tone. “I wanted her eyes to be really visible through the veil, because there’s this long shot of her coming down the aisle while her mom is saying the most ridiculous shit,” Davy says. “I know Sydney, she's really good at emoting and she’s gonna have her eyes filled up with tears as she’s coming down the aisle. In my head, I was like, ‘These high-contrast eyes through the veil welling up with tears.’”
Davy said they toyed with a few ideas for her look but she didn’t want to stray too far from Cassie’s traditional makeup because she gets amore defined and different glow up later in the season. “I wanted it to feel like that sweet, Cassie vibe,” Davy says. “I actually thought of doing a version of a cheesy wedding makeup look, but then I saw her dress and was like, I think we just have to make her look like a princess. She looks like Cassie Wedding Barbie.”
Davy’s moodboard for Cassie’s wedding makeup.
Kirbie Johnson
Nate and Cassie’s reception was filmed before the ceremony, which is why we have an eyeshadow switchup. “Her eyeshadow for the [reception] is blue,” Davy says. Cassie changes into a shorter version of her wedding dress, which gave Davy the greenlight to update her eyeshadow, too. “The [blue] color calls back to the scene [in season 2] when she says ‘I’m in love with Nate Jacobs and he’s in love with me.’” Davy says the sparkly blue is Half Magic GlitterPuck in Princess Ghost, a baby blue.
“For cinematic flair, we added a new unreleased Half Magic body product to her chest so she definitely has body glitter on,” Davy says. “Her nails are pearlescent with little floating gems on them. Very sweet-leaning-innocent vibes.”
Cassie’s wedding nail set by nail artist Caroline Cotten.
Caroline Cotten
“Donni and I definitely wanted to go 'classic bridal,’ but a bit more gaudy to add to the over-the-top energy of the wedding,” Cotten says. “By doing a classic white French but turning it up with a bright white chrome and gems, I think these nails read ‘I’m the bride, look at me,’ and are a bit unhinged.”
Jules' Siren Makeup
Davy doesn't know why Jules decides to show up to the wedding nearly naked, but it’s that barely-there, blue Acne dress that dictated her makeup look. “She looks like a goddess, a siren, a mermaid, an unearthly spiritual being—so I wanted to do a gorgeous, fairy-like goddess moment on her. This was not a moment for an experimental artsy look," she says.
On her lids, Davy used a taupe eyeshadow with the new Glitterpuck x Euphoria Collection Glitterpuck in Feel Something layered on top, a color she describes as “so season one, Jules and Rue-coded.” She also gave Jules spiky, manga lashes, a tiny smoky wing, and terracotta along her lower lashes and waterline, with the periwinkle glitter on the lid. On her lips, she’s wearing the Never Been Happier lip gloss from the new Half Magic x Euphoria collection. Her nails are from Lost Angels in Stop Copying Me. "I would give these artistic touches to her, but really the energy she’s inhabiting is a complete otherworldly siren,” adds Davy. “Rue says ‘dress sexy’ and she does."
Maddy’s Revenge MakeupWarner Bros. Discovery
According to Davy, Demie wanted to wear color for the wedding. “It’s a burgundy smoky eye with a plum burgundy waterline and shimmery gold in the middle [of the lid],” Davy says. “ It felt like a moment to go more dramatic. She needed this 'eye-makeup armor' to attend this wedding."
Maddy’s wedding makeup moodboard.
Kirbie Johnson
For her nails, Cotten says that the shape differed from what Maddy normally wears throughout the season. “Maddy mainly sticks to a long round or narrow square shape, but for the wedding we felt stiletto was appropriate and exciting,” Cotten says. “I didn’t want to do a design too visually stimulating as her dress and glam really say it all, but I definitely wanted them to have energy. The outline of the pointed nail feels like an arrow giving energy to wherever she points her hands at."
Cottens showing off one of Maddy’s wedding nails.
Caroline CottenNate’s Collector’s Item
Nate has been screwing people out of money and ends up in debt, which results in the collectors coming to get what’s theirs on his wedding night. After carrying Cassie over the threshold, we see him get beaten within inches of his life—something he’s not new to if you remember season two. To prove a point, they chop his pinky toe off.
ScreenshotKirbie Johnson
Davy shared the specific-effects limbs were created by Vincent Van Dyke Effects and that there were four of Jacob Elordi’s legs (and feet) made, plus a tester to see how the fake blood would exit the wound once the toe was severed. The prosthetic feet felt like real limbs and were painted to match Elordi’s real legs and feet. They even had strands of hair punched in to make them appear lifelike, despite the fake foot being on camera for only a few seconds.
Episode 4: “Kitty Likes to Dance”
This episode, we meet Kitty, played by actress Anna Van Patten. Meanwhile, Cassie has gone full OnlyFans model, and Maddy tries out blue eye shadow.
Cassie's “Trashy” LookKirbie Johnson
Cassie gets a makeover in episode four, a scene in which the hair and makeup department (including Davy and Kimble) are featured. Her hair goes from light brunette to bleach blonde, she’s super tan, and her makeup—including tightliner, frosted lips, and shimmery pink eyeshadow—is heavily inspired by Brigitte Bardot, the 1960s, and '90-era Pamela Anderson. The look was deemed “dreamy trashy” by fans—a descriptor Davy loves. “It is trashy, but it’s trashy in a super sexy, hot confident that's own-able and cool,” Davy says. Everything they did—from the super frosty lip to the pink cheetah nails—was intentional. “It’s the perfect, ‘Trying too hard, but in a sweet, whimsical, desperate way.’”
When it comes to her makeup, “a blush-pink eyeshadow is so, so Cassie,” Davy says. “It’s kind of a throwback to the [season 2] New Year’s Eve look,” a scene where another party took place and Cassie was getting herself into trouble (by hooking up with Nate in the bathroom). “This is a much, much more glam version of that look.” For the makeover scene, Davy applies Half Magic Sparklestick in Cloud Kid and Crystal Butter Balm in Shellebrity to Sweeney for her look.
Pink is the New Rhinestones
Speaking of pink, we see a lot of the color this season and, much like the rhinestones and glitter did for the first two seasons, it's meant to convey the emotions of the characters wearing it. Cassie wears it, as does Kitty, a dancer at the Silver Slipper. Davy says that in her eyes, pink is a tender color, and the use of it helps portray the vulnerability of the people wearing it. “Pink shimmers are sweet and innocent,” says Davy, as opposed to blues and purples, which can read too fierce on camera. “Kitty is sweet, genuine, and sincere and we wanted [her eye makeup] to read invisible from across the room, but up close you’re like, ‘Oh, it’s not a nude eye shadow.’” Kitty’s look—executed by makeup artist Tara Lang Shah—will evolve throughout the season but it was important we get a sense of her sincerity in her opening episode.
ScreenshotKirbie JohnsonMaddy’s Blue Eyes to Kill
According to Davy, the shimmering blue shadow Maddy wears to the TikTok party works so well because it’s the opposite of Cassie’s more girly, pinup style. To Davy, blue and pink are yin and yang,and for Maddy and Cassie to be wearing them in this episode demonstrates they’re back in their respective roles—working together but also taking advantage of each other.
“Since the beginning, [Demie] wanted to do old Hollywood glam, but also wanted to do color,” says Mara Rouse, Demie’s makeup artist during filming. “Looking at her wardrobe, looking at her boots, we were trying to match this very particular deep indigo.” Rouse says that this is the only glitter eye we’ll see Maddy in this season and that Demie wanted a particular tapered shape from a ‘90s reference as well as a nod to Cleopatra and ancient Egypt.. “Her whole look is very wet, which you can see from her hair as well,” says Rouse. “We wanted to invoke that wetness in the makeup. She’s very dewy, she has very glossy lips, her eyes sparkle like moving water.
Episode 5: This Little Piggy
Cassie is now a full-time OnlyFans creator at the hands of Maddy’s managerial expertise. Nate loses another phalange despite his wife bringing home the bacon (in this case, $30,000). We have details from hair department head Kim Kimble on Cassie and Maddy’s hairstyles in this episode, whileDavy explains how working with Jacob Elordi’s hand prosthetic works.
Cassie’s blonde bombshell wig.
HBO / Eddy Chen
Maddy and Cassie’s Classic Hairstyles
Kimble used both wigs and hairpieces to create Maddy’s “film noir” hair this season. “It’s a little retro with a modern twist,” Kimble explains, noting that the curls, the movement, and the softness of the hair keep the classic styles from looking too dated. Like Davy, Kimble also alludes to Maddy’s “evil” character arc this season, sharing that there’s something “a little dark and a little sinister” about her hair.
For Cassie, Kimble shares that Sweeney started with long hair extensions at the beginning of the season, while wigs were utilized for her makeover. When designing the styles, Kimble kept Cassie’s storyline as a rising influencer top of mind. “I feel like influencers have something a little more when it comes to their hair. They really create attention for themselves, so they have to have a look and an image as well," she says.
For Cassie's “blonde bombshell look,” Kimble's inspiration was “a little Farah Fawcett, a little ‘70s-esque—we wanted something sexy, bold and beautiful." In this episode's controversial ode to Attack of the 50 Foot Woman—where Cassie is seen taking over Hollywood and swinging her giant ponytail to take out a helicopter—Kimble says the full ponytail she’s wearing was inspired by the iconic B-movie, Barbarella.
Jacob Elordi’s $15,000 "Hands"
Two of Nate’s prosthetic hands, before and after being painted and punched with hair.
Kirbie Johnson
Nate Jacobs is getting his due this season. After assaulting Tyler and Maddy in season one, Nate has now not only been beaten up himself, but he’s had his pinky toe and finger chopped off. The scene is excruciating to watch and took several takes to get right.
Of course, Elordi’s digits were not harmed in the process. For filming, Davy had several casts of Elordi’s arm and hand taken and made into prosthetics by special-effects house Vincent Van Dyke. They look and feel extremely lifelike, from the bending of the fingers and the paint job, to the hair punching technique used to make it look like Elordi’s actual arm. Additionally, Davy says they would powder the fingernails to keep them from looking too shiny.
To make the cutting off of Nate’s finger appear realistic on camera, Elordi was directed to struggle away from the fake clippers (for safety reasons). Levinson called cut and Elordi exited the set. Then, filming resumed and a stunt person (or Levinson) held the prosthetic in a way that made it appear as if the owner of the (fake) hand was struggling. The actor doing the cutting was then given real clippers so he could actually cut off the prosthetic finger.
To create fake blood spurts, the prosthetic was fitted with internal tubing that traveled through all the fingers, allowing fake blood to flow into them via a large syringe. “When [the finger] is cut on camera it falls off and that’s exactly the moment when I, or someone else, would push the blood through the syringe,” says Davy. “The harder you hit the syringe, the faster the blood will come out.” Ultimately, Levinson requested Davy have over at least four of these prosthetics made, which she says could cost around $15,000.
Episode 6: “Stand Still and See”
I have the feeling someone isn’t going to survive this season—who that is, I’ll keep to myself. We finally get Alamo Brown’s backstory and understand his obsession with power over women, especially as the owner of the Silver Slipper Strip Club. The episode opens with a flashback to his childhood in the late 1970s where we meet his mother, “Mama Brown,” played by Danielle Deadwyler. She brings home a man named Preston, whom she hoped would support them. Although he was affected by an explosion in a lab, effectively scarring most of his face, he was kind and treated both Alamo and his mom with love and respect. Preston ended up getting compensated for his injuries and, with his new fortune, upgraded the family to a new economic standing. Ultimately, Mama Brown schemed to have their home “robbed” by her lover, stealing everything Preston had worked for and leaving him alone, broke, and heartbroken. Alamo never recovered—both from the incident and his mother's betrayal.
HBO MaxHBO Max
Deadwyler’s incredible hairstyles were a bright spot during a storyline that was almost unbearable to watch. According to Kimble, the hairstyles were meant to showcase the family's status as they acquired more wealth. When we first met Mama Brown, it “looked like someone in the neighborhood could have braided her hair and beaded it,” Kimble says. “When she got into some money, we gave her a fantastic ‘70s blowout that was also popular in the ‘80s.” Artists like Patrice Rushen and Peaches from Peaches & Herb were on the inspo board for the beaded braids.
HBO Max
For her makeup, a red lip and nails were already written into the script for her character. “Mama Brown needed to have classic powerful woman vibes,” Davy says. “It was also in the script that Maddy reminds Alamo of his mama, so we made sure to play with red lips on Maddy for her scenes with Alamo.” Actresses like Judy Pace, Diahann Carroll, Nina Simone, and Barbara Summers were all featured on Davy’s mood board, as well as advertisements for Avon and Raveen hair conditioner.
Episode 7: “Rain or Shine”
The special effects done on Jacob Elordi by makeup artist Tara Lang throughout the season.
Kirbie Johnson
To put it bluntly, a lot of people fucked around and found out this episode. For starters, Nate died. Not from being buried alive, but from a rattlesnake bite. (Cue “When I RIP” by Labrinth.) Maddy learned her lesson: Alamo doesn’t do anyone favors. And Faye fails Rue once again.
We get more Rosalía in this episode, and it’s worth noting her makeup look is one of Davy’s favorites of the season. “Rosalía and I, we wanted Magick to have a signature look that feels like she’s been doing it for years—like since she was a teenager,” explains Davy. “We loved that the look would be achievable with one product: a black pencil, used in her eyebrows, and as eyeliner and lip liner.” Davy used the aptly named Half Magic Sculptitude Lipliner in Badassery Parade.
HBO/Eddy Chen
Rosalía is wearing an unreleased shade of Crystal Butter Balm in a taupe shade, Davy says.
Kirbie Johnson
Davy really wanted Magick to stand out from the other girls, so her makeup needed to have a “zero fucks given vibe” to it. It’s also a pseudo-homage to chola makeup, with pencil-thin black brows and contrasting lip liner. “She’s queen bee at the Silver Slipper,” Davy says. “There’s something very unapologetic about her, the neck brace—she doesn’t give a shit about appealing to the male gaze. She’s raunchy and aggressive on stage; she does her own thing and makes her money by leaning into that.”
Photo: Faye BrowneSave StorySave this storySave StorySave this story
Summer may not officially start for another few weeks, but we all know the summer vibes really begin in late May—early June at the latest. And there's no better proof of that than the way people's appearances start to subtly shift: more open-toed shoes, more breezy attire, beachier waves, and a heavier hand with the bronzer. And this summer, it seems one of the most prevalent ways to celebrate the season is with bold, pool-blue eye makeup, as recently and gorgeously demonstrated by Florence Pugh.
Hairstylist Faye Browne and makeup artist Lauren Buckley posted a collaborative Instagram carousel giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at how they dolled up Pugh for Harris Reed's Ibiza birthday party. Browne gave her waves some summery, salty texture with Hair by Sam McKnight Sundaze Sea Spray by Sam McKnight and topped it off with a vibrant, turquoise Pucci scarf worn as a headband.
Photo: Faye Browne
That scarf seems to have served as the color inspiration for how Buckley approached the acclaimed actor's eye makeup. After applying a matte, neutral base from the Makeup by Mario Master Mattes Eyeshadow Palette all over her lids and the tragically discontinued MAC Reflects in Transparent Teal in the inner corners, she applied a substantial swipe of Sephora Colorful Waterproof Eyeshadow & Eyeliner Multi-Stick in Baby Blue Matte.
And the look feels especially Ibiza-esque thanks to her bronzed skin. That warmth comes from Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Matte Bronzer, a blurring powder formula that comes in four shades.
Photo: Faye Browne
The Gloss Angeles podcast called it: Blue eye makeup is having such a moment right now, and makeup artist Ash K. Holm's recent Ocean Eyes tutorial is even more evidence. She used a similar matte blue shade, Danessa Myricks Colorfix in Oasis, all over her lid, followed by a shimmery inner corner.
Clearly, this is a thing. Even if you won't find yourself poolside any time soon, that doesn't mean you can't channel that tropical, chlorinated blue through your makeup. It'll signal to everyone who sees you that you are definitely already in the summer mindset.
More makeup news:
Marc Jacobs Beauty Isn't Back
Why TikTok Can’t Stop Fighting About “Transitional Blush”
E.L.F. Cosmetics Is Lowering Prices After Tariff-Induced Increases
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Blush is trending on TikTok, but not in the way you might think. Over the long weekend, a conversation arose regarding the launch of a new product from Patrick Ta Beauty, but the chatter wasn't just about what we put on our cheeks—it has also raised questions about viral influence and who gets credit (and cash!) for beauty trends.
There are two makeup artists at the center of this conversation: Ngozi Esther Edeme, also known as Painted by Esther, a makeup artist who has worked with megastars like Naomi Campbell, Tyla, Kelly Rowland, and Love Island breakout star Olandria Carthen; and Patrick Ta, a makeup artist who launched his own beauty brand, Patrick Ta Beauty, in 2019 and has worked with stars like Gigi Hadid and Shay Mitchell.
The controversy centers on a specific makeup technique: transitional blush. Edeme has made the look her signature; it's all about strategic placements and layering cream blush, concealer and color correctors, and pink powder (applied with a powder puff) for a seamless color gradient from the under eye down to the cheek (she recently demonstrated the technique at a press event for Kosas, which Allure attended in person and you can see below). The technique went viral, especially after Edeme teamed up with Carthen; it was bold, playful, and looked particularly stunning on Black women and darker skin tones, and thus quickly became associated with Edeme and her work.
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For his part, Ta was also using the transitional blush technique on celebrity clients like Maura Higgins, but it wasn't until he debuted a line of Transition Blurring Blush Duos—and an accompanying Transition Blush Brush—that makeup fans started talking on TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram Reels. Many people felt like Ta was ripping off Edeme's technique and capitalizing on it as his own, especially by trademarking the words “transition blush" and by using words like “created” to describe the technique, thus raising concerns about who can claim—and often, profit from—techniques and trends.
Many beauty fans have shared their thoughts all over social media, including on Patrick Ta Beauty's Instagram, with some criticizing his lack of credit to Painted by Esther and accusing Ta of “stealing” said technique from her. Others have criticized Ta and his brand for creating new products to capitalize on the popularity of the transitional blush look when it can easily be replicated with items people already have in their makeup bag. “The over consumption of products is insane. Give @paintedbyesther her credit. You don’t need another blush palette to achieve this. FFS,” wrote one.
On the flip side, others have pointed out that neither Ta nor Edeme created the transitional blush look, which is true. It is commonly used by makeup artists for a bright, lifted effect and has roots in Asian beauty, particularly in Korea and Japan. In the 1970s, makeup artist Way Bandy popularized the look in the United States with what he called “blush draping” and it has also gone by terms like “gradient blush” or “ombré blush," among others. (We reported on a resurgence of the trend back in 2016). The legendary late makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin was also a fan of the technique, and his eponymous makeup brand joined in the conversation on TikTok, even giving Edeme a shoutout. “We heard ‘transition blush’ is having quite the moment right now… Long before the term started circulating online, this technique was first published by legendary makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin… and later refined by incredible artists like @Paintedbyesther.”
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But it's also important to note that Edeme has never claimed to have invented the transitional blush technique; she is quick to credit other artists for inspiring her work. She directly addressed the controversy in a TikTok video on May 24, saying she was nervous about speaking up but wanted to stand up for herself. In the video, Edeme stressed that she did not create the transitional blush technique and does not want people to think she is trying to take ownership of it. “My goal is to constantly reference Kevyn Aucoin, Danessa [Myricks], Pat [McGrath], how they move with grace and intentionality," she said in the video. “I am an artist; my driving force is to create and share it. My end goal is to teach and spread my knowledge.”
How Painted by Esther Helped a New Generation Become Blush ObsessedAn interview with the woman who’s made it her mission to bring back draping while keeping Black women at the center of the conversation.
Edeme also shared that she has had “weird" experiences with Ta in the past, saying that she'd gotten a booking request from someone on Ta's team while in Los Angeles. Allegedly, this person asked to book Edeme for a “do and go” makeup application and wanted to record the session. Edeme then canceled the booking, saying that the situation felt “conniving.”
To be fair, Ta is also known for his love of blush; his Major Headlines Double Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo is a bestseller for the brand. He directly addressed the conversation via TikTok, saying that he started working on his Transition Blurring Blush a year and a half ago. “I wanted to create a product that was specifically made for this blush look. I do not own this look @Paintedbyesther she Is Amazing [sic] and so talented,” he wrote in the caption. "She popularized this look through her work and through Olandria. I also have been doing this blush look since 2021. Not the same as Esther but my own version. I am a makeup artist. For context I filmed this video on march 5th [sic]. I have nothing but love and respect for Esther.”
The transitional blush conversation has since taken over the beauty world in recent days, with creators like Jackie Aina and the Lipstick Lesbians discussing the launch and its fallout. At the end of the day, it's capitalism that is at fault here. As we know, viral beauty trends often become products, and social media conversation only feeds the rage economy—and the money machine behind the beauty industry.
Edeme concluded her TikTok video by asking for an end to the chatter. “It's already hard being Black and being a woman in this industry. You have to fight twice as hard to get just half of what you deserve," she shared. “I will reiterate: I did not start anything. I am 29 years old. That would be ludicrous to claim ownership of anything. But what you will not belittle is my influence.”
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We've seen long nails with hoop piercings dangling from their tips, but does that mean people with short nails can't get in on the fun? Not if you ask Alysa Liu! The Olympic gold medalist attended the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 25 with multiple new piercings: one on her face and a few on her hands. Well, kinda.
Liu walked the red carpet in an all-black, rock-and-roll inspired outfit embellished with silver studs and chains, and she mimicked that look with her jewelry—most notably on her nails. Liu’s short nails were painted with a sheer black jelly polish and topped by silver nail jewelry to resemble piercings, like a bar across the tip of her pinky and ring fingers, and studs on her thumb. Don't worry: Her short nails didn't actually get pierced; they're just decorated with some clever charms to create the illusion of piercings. Nail art, but make it punk rock.
The pierced manicure absolutely fits Liu's vibe, and we've seen this look on a few others in the past, including on Chappell Roan, who wore a pierced neutral manicure at Paris Fashion Week in early 2025. (We thought it looked a lot like nipple piercings—are we wrong?)
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The nail jewelry wasn't the only new addition to Liu's lineup. She's most famous for her “smiley,” or frenulum piercing (which can be seen when she smiles), but now the figure skater also has a bridge piercing placed on either side of her nose. (As the name suggests, a bridge piercing is a surface piercing that either goes across the nose or frames the bridge.)
Paired nostril piercings like the bridge made our list of the top piercing trends for 2026, so we're not entirely surprised to see them on Liu. “Nostril piercings allow for a surprising amount of creativity, from paired and double placements to elegant, stacked configurations,” Maria Tash, jewelry designer and founder of Maria Tash Fine Jewelry and Luxury Piercing in Los Angeles, previously told Allure. “It seems that today’s modern nose piercing sees the whole plane of cartilage as pierceable, not just the traditional small area halfway back on the side of the nostril.”
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Summer is filled with opportunities for cute nailfies (aka nail selfies). Tropical vacations, beachside reading, and pool hangs all present aesthetic backdrops to show off your latest set. And if you haven’t mapped out your summer manicure lineup yet, top nail artists have predictions for the season’s top trends to spark inspiration: Experts say this summer’s nail trends will lean heavily into designs that evoke movement and texture. The demand for more dynamic nail art is prompting artists to dust off their blooming gel kits for the first time in nearly three years.
“People are interested in designs with soft, abstract effects, shifting color, and a more fluid look,” says Maryna Slynko, a nail artist and founder of Slynko Beauty Bloom Studio in Leawood, Kansas, who says blooming gel is one of the easiest ways to achieve these high-demand looks.
For those who don’t remember the blooming gel boom of 2023, here’s a refresher: The look is created with “a special polish that allows colors to diffuse and blend beautifully on the nail’s surface,” says Svitlana Motyl, a nail artist and cofounder of Art Me Nails Studio in Chicago. “It creates artistic designs with very little effort,” she says.
This summer, the trend is back with a few refinements. According to Spate, the beauty trend forecasting platform, searches for “blooming gel nails” across Google, TikTok, and Instagram have grown by 39.2% in the last year. This time around, the technique is being paired with more modern, sophisticated designs. Nail artists are using blooming gel to mimic textures found in nature, especially those associated with summertime. It’s less “lava lamp” and more realistic, tropical flowers and detailed butterfly wings.
Earlier versions of the trend had a brighter, more maximalist tone. “A few years ago, [blooming gel] was mostly used for very literal and recognizable effects, like tortoiseshell, snake print, high-contrast marble, tie-dye, abstract flowers, and bold aura nails,” says Olha Shtanhei, a nail artist in Charlotte, North Carolina. “The looks were beautiful, but they often felt very loud, trend-driven, and more focused on the effect itself rather than the design.”
In 2026, you’ll find more minimal designs instead of the vibrant color combinations that dominated a few years ago. “Compared to 2023, blooming gel designs have become softer and more controlled,” says Slynko.
Courtesy of @ashearts.nails
Shtanhei says the palette for blooming gel nails has evolved as well and reflects the nail polish colors experts predict will be popular this summer. In 2023, the look was often associated with highly saturated hues, neon shades, and strong contrasts. “Now,” she says, “I see more muted, earthy tones, translucent jellies, milky bases, soft browns, dusty pastels, sheer pinks, smoky blues, and metallic inks.”
Vibrant colors aren’t completely out of the picture (it’s still summer, after all!), but the placement is more intentional. Instead of neon dots scattered all over, we’re seeing fuchsia petals with faded edges blooming off the corner of the nail and French croc-print tips in electric chrome shades—still eye-catching, but not overwhelming. “I’m using it more as a subtle accent rather than the main focus of the entire manicure,” adds Slynko.
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All of the nail artists we spoke to noted that the technique and blooming gel formulas haven’t changed much, nor are there any new tools involved. “Dotting tools and fan brushes are still my go-to tools for blooming gel designs,” says Natalia Mercedes, a nail artist in New York City. Dotting tools help create controlled patterns like florals, animal prints, and abstract shapes, while fan brushes are perfect for creating softer, blended effects and movement within the design.
The update lies mainly in how the polish is being used. Artists are working with thinner layers, combining blooming gel with trendy finishes like chrome and cat-eye, and “paying more attention to the placement of the design on the nail rather than the blooming effect,” says Slynko.
Ahead, discover 11 fresh, blooming gel nail ideas that add a modern, layered, and dimensional element to summer’s most popular designs.
Blooming gel nail designs for summer 2026
Blooming gel butterfly nailsCourtesy of @paintedbylozCourtesy of @nails_by_3llieCourtesy of @nailartbyqueenieCourtesy of @ameliasnailroomBlooming gel floral nailsCourtesy of @_thejadeaestheticCourtesy of @ashearts.nailsCourtesy of @glamnailsbykaylaBlooming gel croc-print nailsCourtesy of @overgloweditCourtesy of @nails_by_3llieCourtesy of @lucys.geminailsCourtesy of @plasterbeauty
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It's not every day that the words “mullet” and “black tie” end up in the same sentence—or the same room, for that matter, unless the black tie you're talking about is the kind that's printed on a trompe l'oeil tuxedo tee. But it's also not every day that someone like Teyana Taylor walks the red carpet, and the triple threat just proved that the “party in the back” part of a mullet can refer to an elegant gala if you do it right. (And she did.)
Taylor attended the 2026 American Music Awards as both a nominee and a performer. But before she hit the stage, she hit the red carpet in a jaw-dropping Balenciaga gown. As she posed in the flowy, purple, strapless dress, onlookers couldn't help but notice how perfectly her dramatic, matte-meets-shimmer eye makeup complemented her frock.
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But while Taylor opted to wear her signature short hair over one of the long, curly wigs she's been seen in over the last month, ever the innovator, she put a new spin on her go-to pixie for the AMAs. Up top, hairstylist Lateafa Alvaranga gave her pompadour-esque oomph with a hint of waviness and swoopy, soft baby hairs. The swooping continued in back, where the longest, lowest layer of her hair was straightened into a mullet and fancily flipped up.
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It may very well be the first time in the history of hair that a mullet has looked and felt truly suitable for a formalwear moment.
As stunning as this absolutely elite mullet may be, she didn't even wear it all night. She donned an icy, tousled bob for her futuristic, sci-fi-inspired performance.
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It just goes to show Taylor is one of those rare beauties that looks incredible in any imaginable hairstyle—sometimes more than one a night.
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Charli XCX is walking the runway… well, actually, many versions of Charli are walking the runway! In her new video “SS26,” the Brat musician plays multiple high-fashion models stalking across a shiny white runway, which means she's also wearing lots of different hairstyles—including some blink-and-you'll-miss-'em bangs!
The video opens with Charli in a sideswept blowout, hair covering one minimally made-up eye. (She puts on way more eye makeup later, don't worry.) As she sings about walking a runway that goes “straight to hell” as the world ends, more versions of herself emerge, including one in a tight, sleek butt-length ponytail. She wears six different hairstyles throughout the video, but the bangs are definitely the biggest change; Charli hasn't had bangs for years. They appear about a minute in, falling past her lashline and brushing the tops of her cheekbones and paired with a pin-straight hairstyle and black faux fur coat. We're so used to thinking of her with her natural curls that the quick change-up to long bangs was a fun surprise.
Later in the vid, Charli dons a high, messy ponytail and a chic bun, all paired with some seriously glam runway eye shadow via YSL Beauty. (Charli is an ambassador for the brand.) We even see her having makeup applied (and un-applied) throughout the three-minute runtime, with makeup artists brushing and blending backstage. The key product for both her “soft gray smokey” and “intense snatched black” eye makeup is the brand's Couture Mini Clutch Luxury Eyeshadow Palette in Over Noir, a combination of matte, satin, and metallic shadows in gray, black, beige, and champagne. The sculpted shadow is anchored by an equally dramatic liner applied to both her top and lower lashline and smudged out into a winged shape. Very fashion girl, indeed!
YSL Beauty
Watch the full “SS26” music video (and keep an eye out for some very fun fashion-people cameos!) below.
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