How I Celebrate Diwali Through Makeup

The diyas are lit throughout the living room, flowers decorate the doorway, and my lehenga hangs at the back of my door ready for the night. Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is a five-day celebration that is probably my favorite time of the year. But the best parts leading up to the festive season are not just the food and decor, but also my beauty prep. Given how many events, gatherings, and parties there are throughout the holiday, I make sure to pay special attention to my skin so that my Diwali makeup looks turn out exactly the way I want.

I'll be the first to admit that my usual makeup routine consists of swiping on some blush, a single coat of mascara, and a little lip oil before running out the door. However, Diwali is when I unleash my makeup enthusiasm and attempt looks I would not otherwise dare that complement my outfit, jewelry, and venue for the evening. Whether it's going to a glitzy cocktail party, an intimate family affair, or larger gatherings, here are breakdowns of my Diwali looks this year.

For a glitzy Diwali gala, like the one I attended at New York's Mandarin Oriental hotel, I knew I had to go with a lot of glitter to dress for the "South Asian Splendor" dress code. First, I started with skin care. Since the holiday always happens in the fall, my skin tends to be a little dryer due to the cooler weather, so I moisturized with the Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream ($72) for a dewy, healthy glow. Then I took a few drops of my favorite foundation, Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Triclone Skin Tech Foundation ($45) in shade 350 Medium Cool, and gently applied it to my face to cover my hyperpigmentation and blemishes. I'm lazy, so I just used my fingers and skipped the makeup brush. Since it's medium coverage, I opted not to apply any concealer or setting powder.

Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream

From

$72

$72 at Sephora

Haus Labs by Lady Gaga

From

$45

$45 at Sephora

Because my outfit was black and silver (and quite loud), I added some shimmer on my eyelids for that dramatic smoky eye — after all, it's the season to sparkle. I used the Anastasia Fall Romance Eyeshadow Palette ($55), using the shades Leather (a matte beige) and Crown (a shimmery gold) to add that pop. I finished with a winged eyeliner using the Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Liquid Liner ($18). No look is complete without a few Live Tinted Hueglow Liquid Highlighter Drops ($34), which instantly left my skin looking radiant and ready to be photographed. Finally, I lined my lips with Samreens Vanity Nudie Patootie ($25) and added a touch of beige lipstick to make my lips look fuller. I locked in the look with the E.L.F. Cosmetics Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist ($10).

Anastasia Fall Romance Eyeshadow Palette

From

$55

$55 at Anastasia Beverly Hills

Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Liquid Liner

From

$18

$18 at Amazon

Live Tinted Hueglow Liquid Highlighter Drops

From

$34

$34 at Ulta

Samreens Vanity Nudie Patootie

From

$25

$25 at samreensvanity.com

E.L.F. Cosmetics Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist

From

$10

$10 at Walgreens

For an Indo-Western look, where I wanted my outfit to do the talking, I opted for a softer makeup look. To prepare for this look, I got my eyebrows threaded a few days before so that any excess hairs would be groomed. I don't use eyebrow gels, so I just used a light brush to comb the hairs and make them appear fuller. For my base makeup, I used the same Haus Labs foundation, only this time I added a little bit of Live Tinted Hueskin Serum Concealer ($26) in Shade 8 since I was tired from the week and it instantly lightens my dark undereye bags. I finished the concealer with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder ($36) in Hazelnut, which is my favorite thanks to its weightless, photo-ready finish.

Live Tinted Hueskin Serum Concealer

From

$26

$26 at Ulta

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder

From

$36

$36 at Fenty Beauty

For my eyeshadow, I wanted a subtle finish, so I took my same Anastasia Beverly Hills palette but only used the color Mulberry (a soft matte pink) and skipped the eyeliner. I finished my eye makeup with a swipe of the the Glow For It Brown Lash Growth Mascara ($30), a tubing formula that applies easily and longer without the clumps. I added a slight contour to my face using the Axiology Shape Stick ($24) in Medium; because the sticks are multifunctional, I also lightly dabbed my lips with the hue before applying a glossy layer of Rinna Beauty Icon Collection Lipstick ($24) in Dirty Talk on top.

Glow For It Brown Lash Growth Mascara

From

$30

$30 at glowforitshop.com

Axiology Shape Stick

From

$24

$24 at Axiology

Rinna Beauty Icon Collection Lipstick

From

$24

$24 at rinnabeauty.com

For family gatherings, I decided to go with a bolder lip color but kept the rest of my face makeup simple. I opted for a classic combination of glowy skin (courtesy of some light concealer), a pop of Makeup Revolution Bronzer ($7), a coat of mascara, a swipe of Florence by Mills On Your Mark Dot & Line Dual-Ended Liquid Eyeliner ($16), and lipstick. For my lips here, I used the Kulfi Beauty Heirloom Satin Lipstick ($30) in Berry. I liked the creamy and buildable color that had a satin finish, although in the future I might add a top layer of gloss for some extra shine. I find that dark purples and shades of red go really well with my South Asian skin and pair well with Indian outfits that are sparkly and glittery.

Makeup Revolution Bronzer

From

$7

$7 at Target

Kulfi Beauty Heirloom Satin Lipstick

From

$30

$30 at Kulfi Beauty

There you have it: three of my favorite Diwali makeup looks this festive season. If you're ever debating going all out for the celebrations, consider this your sign (and inspiration) to go for it.