The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke to Emmy-winning celebrity makeup artist Donni Davy, the visionary behind “Euphoria”‘s trendsetting beauty looks. From her must-have complexion products to the eye-catching pigments she reaches for on set and in everyday life, Davy shares the beauty staples she can’t live without.
The bold, shimmering makeup of “Euphoria” is just as iconic as the show itself. But for Donni Davy, the makeup artist behind HBO’s hit series, creating viral-worthy makeup moments wasn’t always part of her plan. “I never thought I would be a makeup artist,” she says. “I was never really a makeup girly growing up. I was more of a shy art kid.”
Davy’s artistic roots run deep — she studied photography at Pratt Institute, initially envisioning a career behind the camera. But after a conversation with a family friend, she realized makeup artistry could merge her love for painting, drawing, and storytelling. That revelation set her on a path that would change her life.
Her breakthrough came when HBO tapped her for “Euphoria”, drawn to the dreamy, avant-garde aesthetic she crafted for the 2018 film “Under the Silver Lake.” On set, Davy particularly loves working with Hunter Schafer, whose looks are often the most unpredictable. “Sometimes, when you have that much freedom, you almost have no idea what to do,” she says. But that creative challenge is what keeps her inspired.
Davy’s work has become legendary, earning her a second Emmy in 2022 for Outstanding Contemporary Makeup. As production for season three is officially underway, she continues to treat each character’s look as an emotional extension of their journey, meticulously considering lighting, wardrobe, and script cues. “Makeup communicates so much to the audience,” she says. “It’s extra info; a storytelling tool.”
Beyond her work in television, Davy is making her mark in the beauty industry. In 2022, she co-founded Half Magic Beauty with A24, bringing a bold, boundary-pushing aesthetic to everyday beauty lovers. With her signature blend of art, emotion, and self-expression, Davy continues to redefine what makeup can be — one shimmering, rhinestone-studded look at a time.
Here, Davy shares her must-have beauty picks, the essentials in her makeup bag, and the go-to products that help her power through the day.