Valentine’s Day, also known as Universal Love Day, is right around the corner, and we know that your Little Black Dress is going to be paired with a Little Black Clutch. When looking drop-dead gorgeous on the annual date all people in love look forward to, there would possibly be nothing more exciting, than finding a full-face makeup set that can fit into a small clutch, while still leaving room for all our other purse-worthy items. It is for this reason that I was thrilled to learn about and try out the hot new brand subtl stacks.
When trying to figure out a brief sentence to sum up the subtl stacks makeup brand, it was hard to hone in on just three descriptions, because, simply put, subtl stack is the whole package. And I am not just referring to excellent literal packaging – though the packaging is, in fact, excellent. I am furthermore referring to the fact that subtl’s unique brand condenses an entire purse’s worth of makeup into one convenient, light, and easy-to-carry stacked cylinder that is less than two inches high and two inches wide…and, even better, is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, fragrance-free, and talc-free.
The idea behind subtl’s makeup is straightforward: You first go on subtl’s website and answer a few questions about your skin type, skin tone, and makeup preferences. At this point, they provide the perfect shade recommendations, for the different makeup items in their set – Lip & Cheek, Lip Balm, Concealer, Shine Control Powder, Duo Eyeshadow, Highlighter, and Bronze.
Most recently, subtl has released a Ready Set Go Stak, which includes a 4-Piece Brush Set, Shine Control Pressed Powder, Lip Balm, Lip & Cheek in Terracotta Tour Guide, and a customizable Cream Concealer, as well as the option to include a customized highlighter and a customized eyeshadow duo. This pre-made set is ideal for travelers and minimalists, covering all basic makeup needs for professional results.
You then get the makeup set in the mail, and follow the directions on the quick, highly visual instruction card. Additionally, the instruction card has three QR codes on the bottom, and the middle QR code leads to a link that shows an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to use the stack. With QR codes, you simply need to open the app on your phone that is for taking photos and focus the phone lens on the code – a link will appear, which you then click, to go to the tutorial.
You create and use the stak as follows:
First, you unbox each makeup item – for example, in the Ready Set Go Stak, the shine control powder, lip balm, lip & cheek blush, and concealer – from their containers. Each of these items is one of the stacks – which subtl refers to as “staks” – that you ultimately stack together to make the convenient cylinder on-the-go makeup set. When you have unboxed each item, you then twist off their protective covers. subtl advices you to save a few of the protective covers in the event you need them – I found that the case with the brush set that is included with the makeup is roomy enough to store the extra protective covers.
Next, you take the stak that includes the mirror and mini brush, and you separate the two. The brush stak will become the base of your stacked set, while the mirror stak will become the lid. From there, starting with the brush stak on the bottom, you simply twist each makeup item stak on top of each other, finally topping it off with the mirror stak lid. Voila! Just like that, you have created your stack of makeup from subtl, that is small enough to fit in any clutch, or perhaps to stash in the basket of an e-bike or the dashboard of a car.
But subtl is not just a convenient and easy-to-use brand – it is also super sustainable and customizable. The bottom right QR code on the instruction card lets you return and exchange the concealer in your stak if it is not the right shade. With a complexion range that spans the full spectrum, this option allows the consumer to customize their stak to their complexion.
Possibly even more exciting than this, is the system subtl uses, to make its brand completely sustainable. The stacks are built in such a way that, when you run out of one of the items of makeup, you can order refills, which averts the need for more plastic to be used, by letting you keep each stak’s original plastic component and bezel – see our description of the image below where we explain what we are referring to.
When the time comes that you have used up one of the makeup items, and you order a refill, you will be sent a new “pan” of the makeup item. For example, in the photo below, the round pink blush is discreetly being held in a thin circular metal container – this container, which holds the different items of makeup in the individual staks, is the “pan”, which has been pushed out of the “component”, aka the bottom part of each stak. The purple ring behind the blush in the picture below is what they refer to as the “bezel”, which you put on top of each pan, pressing the new refill pan back into the old component so that you once again have a complete stak of that makeup item.
When you have received your refill pan, to get rid of the old, used-up pan, you simply push out the back center of that pan, by pressing your thumb against it on the spot where the label is, which will cause it to pop out. You then pop the new pan into the old component (the bottom part of each stak) and push the old bezel back into place on top. You now have a fresh new stak of that refilled makeup item, which can once again be added to the stack set.
Not only do subtl’s makeup refill abilities create a highly sustainable brand, but it also makes their brand more accessible and affordable, as the pan refills cost less than the original staks. Furthermore, the instruction card’s bottom left QR code lets you get free shipping on the refill order, by using the code BACK4MORE.
The quality of the makeup is superb, which is likely due in part to their natural ingredients. Happily, I found that the lip balm, which includes ingredients such as castor oil and shea butter, helps to keep my lips moisturized. This is a surprisingly rare feat for a lip balm to obtain, as almost every lip balm on the market dries out your lips more over time, creating something akin to a dependency on lip balms. subtl’s makeup is also infused with coffee seed oil, which helps you look more awake, as well as ingredients like Myrica Cerifera (Bayberry) Fruit Wax, which is known for being a great moisturizer.
Another novel aspect of their packaging is that each stak has the name of the item of makeup it is – “Lip & Cheek”, “Lip Balm”, “Concealer”, and so on – listed on the sides of their components, making it so that it is easy to find the individual makeup stak you need when you are carrying the full makeup stack, and perhaps just want to touch up one area. It’s pretty neat how the stacks are built in such a way, that when you have twisted them together, the names of the items on the side all line up.
subtl’s makeup set is then finished off with a set of four brushes, in a handy brush case. However, the makeup itself is made so that you can apply it with your fingers, if your purse or clutch is very small, or you just don’t want to take the brush case with you. If you do wish to use a brush, but do not want to carry the larger case of brushes, the mini brush in the bottom stak provides a convenient go-to solution.
There is nothing we at XOXO Fashion Magazine love quite as much as Love Day, and we are beyond hyped to have found this convenient, ethical, clean makeup brand, whose makeup stack is super easy to take on the go. The fact that this makeup brand ticks almost every box that we love to see – sustainable, cruelty-free, affordable, and the list goes on – is even better.
This Valentine’s Day, we hope you have an absolute blast – and, if you are in the mood to take that little clutch you adore in your closet out for a night on the town, we urge you to get a subtl stak to carry in it, for Love Day, and for every other day as well.
XOXO,
Your Fashion Bestie
