Inclusive Beauty Isn’t Easy—or Cheap. Live Tinted Founder Deepica Mutyala Explains Why

Deepica Mutyala, founder of Live Tinted, reveals the harsh realities behind building an inclusive beauty brand in 2026: it’s not just about good intentions—it’s about massive capital, operational complexity, and the painful trade-offs between ethics and economics. She explains why her brand hasn’t launched a bronzer yet: they won’t release it until it serves the deepest skin tones, even though those shades sell less. This commitment comes at a cost—$5,000 per shade unit, 100,000 units to justify production, and no retailer support without a purchase order. Mutyala calls out the industry’s systemic bias, where inclusivity is often performative, and brands that truly care are punished by retail math. Yet she remains defiant, pivoting from being labeled a 'brown girl brand' to becoming a global complexion authority. Her vision? A brand so embedded in everyday beauty that no one even remembers its founder’s identity—just that it works for everyone. And she’s not just talking about representation; she’s building a legacy that outlasts trends, one skin tint at a time.