A luminous Diwali glow doesn’t require a dozen products. For Deepica Mutyala, founder of Live Tinted, the formula is simple: a skin tint with sun protection, a liquid highlighter, and a gradient bronzer. She used that exact trio at her brand’s Diwali celebration with Ulta Beauty, and she recommends it to anyone chasing a fresh, radiant finish that still looks like real skin.
A Full-Circle Celebration
Live Tinted launched at Ulta Beauty in 2021, becoming the first South Asian-founded makeup brand to arrive at the retailer. Mutyala described the moment as one she could not have pictured while growing up. Five years later, she said the brand has grown into one of Ulta’s fastest-growing prestige cosmetics companies.
This year, Live Tinted hosted one of the beauty industry’s largest Diwali gatherings alongside Ulta’s leadership. Mutyala called the event deeply meaningful, noting that nearly 200 people from beauty, fashion, and entertainment came together to honor her culture. For her, the turnout was a reminder of how far the brand has come and what remains possible for future founders.
The Three Products Behind the Glow
Mutyala’s recommended routine starts with Hueguard Skin Tint SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum ($42), which she uses to even out the complexion. The brand’s bestselling product offers buildable, light-to-medium coverage and includes skincare actives. Mutyala said one sells every two minutes globally at Ulta, and she often points newcomers to it first because it combines skincare, SPF 50 protection, and natural-looking coverage in a single step. It is available in shades from the lightest to the deepest skin tones.
Next comes HUEGLOW Liquid Highlighter Drops ($34), the product she credits for a lit-from-within radiance. The drops carry subtle microshimmers and come in three shades: Dawn (rose gold), Dusk (bronze), and Golden Hour (soft gold). For Diwali, the brand also offers a limited-edition Born to Shine trio containing all three shades for $46.
She finishes with HUEBEAM Gradient Blushing Bronzer ($25.20, reduced from $36), which adds warmth and dimension. The highly pigmented formula includes hyaluronic acid for hydration and niacinamide to help even skin tone. Mutyala’s technique: swirl a brush across the gradient for a seamless sun-kissed effect, or target individual shades to customize the look. She applies it to the high points of the cheeks and blends upward for a naturally lifted finish.
Glow That Starts Within
For Mutyala, the internal side of radiance matters as much as the external one. She attributes a true lit-from-within glow to feeling happy, confident, and surrounded by loved ones. Diwali, she said, has always been a time for family, culture, and new beginnings, and hosting this year’s celebration with Ulta—where guests from many backgrounds gathered—reinforced what the holiday means to her.
How Live Tinted Builds Its Shades
Mutyala said product development begins with listening to the community and spotting real gaps in the beauty industry. The brand was created for everyone, from light to deep skin tones, and that principle shapes every launch. She emphasized that the team is deliberate about shades, undertones, formulas, and how products perform across different complexions, with the goal of making beauty easier and helping people feel seen.
That approach extends to complexion products such as the Hueskin Hydrating Serum Concealer ($29), a skincare-infused formula with a serum-like texture and medium-to-full coverage that helps improve the look of fine lines, and the HUESTICK Complexion Stick ($42), which delivers medium-to-full coverage with a blurred, soft-matte finish while feeling lightweight thanks to hydrating ingredients.
Color Correcting, the Live Tinted Way
Color correcting is where Live Tinted’s story began. Mutyala advises starting with less product than you think you need. Apply a small amount of HUESTICK Color Corrector ($28) to areas of discoloration, such as under the eyes or around the mouth, and blend gently before foundation or concealer. The corrector comes in five shades designed for different skin tones and concerns. The aim, she said, is to neutralize discoloration rather than bury it under layers of makeup.
