Table of Contents:
- Why I Switched to Subtl Beauty's Travel Makeup Stak (A Real Review)
- First, What’s a Subtl Beauty Travel Makeup Stak?
- Subtl Beauty’s Stak Helped Me Destress Before Traveling
- Subtl’s Travel Makeup Stak Helped Me Learn Beauty Basics
- What’s In My Subtl Beauty Travel Makeup Stak?
- Why Lug When You Can Stak? Destress and Travel Smarter With a Subtl Makeup Kit
Why I Switched to Subtl Beauty's Travel Makeup Stak (A Real Review)
If you’d asked me three years ago what was in my makeup bag, I would’ve told you loads of samples from Ipsy, a handful of Boxycharm products that weren’t my jam, and every makeup brush known to mankind. Seriously, my monthly beauty boxes were always chock-full with an ungodly amount of makeup tools, to the point that I had a readily available backup for each.
I was drowning in makeup products and makeup tools that I didn’t find myself reaching for on a daily or even weekly basis. Not to mention, my makeup bag was begging for a little extra space to breathe – the poor thing was losing zipper links from being Build-a-Bear-level stuffed. After mental reflection on my very apparent makeup overload, I had an epiphany…
Your girl needed to rip up her ticket to the beauty subscription train, do a good declutter, and find products that’ll actually be used. So, ADHD be damned, that’s what I did. As for finding the right makeup for me, I realized a travel makeup kit was likely the best course of action – it had everything I needed in one compact place, was affordable, and could hit the road with me.
Enter Subtl: a small, female-founded travel makeup brand with more admirable qualities than I can count. They’re deeply committed to sustainability, always innovating with new products, and genuinely listening to their community. Just last year, they announced the Brow BFF with celeb Bethenny Frankel – a product their community has steadily asked for.
Read on to hear why Subtl’s ingenious travel makeup Stak was the best choice for me (and my makeup bag!), along with more info on how Subtl Beauty's refillable Stak works:
First, What’s a Subtl Beauty Travel Makeup Stak?
If you’re new to the idea of a travel makeup Stak like I was, let me explain Subtl Beauty’s system: You can start by taking their Beauty Quiz (it only takes a few seconds – major brownie points!), which will swiftly match you with Stak shades perfect for your unique needs, skin tone, and aesthetic. If you’re not into customization, Subtl Beauty also offers pre-made Stak options.
As for their makeup, Subtl has a Stak solution for every step of your routine, including Cream Concealer, Bronzer Powder, Lip and Cheek Tint (my personal favorite), Highlighter Makeup, Shine Control Translucent Pressed Powder, Vegan Lip Balm, and more. Each of these products comes as a refillable layer in the innovative Stak. See more in Subtl Beauty’s video below:
Cool things to note about Subtl Beauty and the brand’s travel makeup Stak:
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Female-founded in 2019 by Rachel Reid
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Small travel makeup business praised by the likes of Byrdie and SHAPE
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Vegan and cruelty-free
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Gluten, fragrance, and paraben-free
Subtl Beauty’s Stak Helped Me Destress Before Traveling
As someone who doesn’t travel as much as I’d like, I’ve found myself on-the-go more with Subtl Beauty’s travel makeup Stak in my life. Before, I’d allow the looming stress of an upcoming trip to take over my life: What makeup should I pack? Do I have everything I need? What If I grab the wrong eyeshadow palette? Are eyelash curlers allowed on an airplane or through TSA?
Today, I hit the airport with peace of mind knowing my Stak has everything I need… besides an eyelash curler, but I’ll email Subtl about that later. Gone are the days of worrying about which bulky palettes to pack, or if I’d leave any makeup necessities behind; instead, I have the pleasure of knowing everything I need makeup-wise is always stacked and ready to go.
There’s truly nothing like the unstressful exhilaration of walking into TSA, stak-in-bag, knowing you’ll breeze through without a second glance (unless they're checking out the Subtl goods in your carry-on – it’s prime conversation material, after all). Give it a go, and you might start to see “normal” beauty products as scattered, like loose change, and a catalyst for makeup bag chaos.
Subtl’s Travel Makeup Stak Helped Me Learn Beauty Basics
There’s a bit more to Subtl than just travel makeup – they want to help, teach, and inspire.
Subtl’s team regularly interacts with their community through Tiktok, IG, and blogs, where they post makeup tutorials on current trends, answer questions, and cover beginner basics. While I learned most of my makeup skills during the 2016 full-glam movement (lord help me), I didn’t realize I was missing key beauty basics until I dived more into Subtl’s non-makeup offerings.
These are a few Stak makeup tips I’ve learned and put into action from Subtl Beauty:
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Blend Bronzer Powder in your crease for added definition to a minimalist makeup look
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Subtl’s Cream Highlighter in Espresso Martini makes for a goddess-level eyeshadow
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Pat your Cream Concealer in place (don’t tug) for better coverage and less skin damage
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Bronzer and contour aren’t the same thing but can be used together for a cohesive look
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Knowing your skin undertone is important and can open up your makeup horizons
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You don’t need fifty, or even ten, makeup brushes for a full look – just a few quality ones
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Have a pesky blemish? No prob. You can cover acne with one Subtl makeup product
What’s In My Subtl Beauty Travel Makeup Stak?
Curious as to my favorite Subtl Beauty travel makeup products?
This is what makeup stays in my Stak on a regular basis:
These are the Subtl Beauty makeup tools I find myself reaching for daily:
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Dry Makeup Brush Cleaner (it comes with sponge refills!)
This is why I especially love the 3-in-1 Brow BFF – check out my before-and-after:
Why Lug When You Can Stak? Destress and Travel Smarter With a Subtl Makeup Kit
Rachel Reid, Subtl’s founder, set out to create makeup for travel and everyday use after a life-altering realization: Lugging tons of loose makeup products on-the-go, or for an overnight stay with your new beau, wasn’t fun, convenient, easy, or ideal. So, Rachel flew into action by filling some contact cases with her favorite products, soon evolving into today’s Subtl Stak.
Rachel’s dedication to helping people meet their unique beauty needs didn’t stop with her invention of the travel makeup Stak; Subtl Beauty has now launched an entire range of makeup tools, including an eco-friendly dry makeup brush cleaner and a cutting-edge adjustable makeup brush. As Rachel says “Subtl Beauty is here to give your vanity a serious dose of sanity.”
While the Stak has definitely changed my life, check out some other Subtl Beauty reviews:
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“I stumbled across the concept of Subtl Staks on social media. It seemed a bit too good to be true, but they had a ton of reviews from everyday people - not just paid ads or staged ads or those user generated reviews. I needed a quick kit (literally had zero make up products at home) and didn't want to be paying upwards of 30-60$ per item at sephora. I emailed in some photos, and within hours, got a response from a real life representative telling me what my recommended shade would be. It matched pretty perfectly! I was thrilled. It's such an easy to use set and I was able to achieve a simple makeup look without looking too heavy. and with a bit of practice, I got a full face going within 15 minutes just using their makeup brush and my fingertips.” - Joan T.
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"A little over a year ago, I was scrolling social media and Rachel’s beautiful face appeared showing a Stak of makeup. It was simple, had great colors, and was super affordable. I was looking for new makeup. Something that showcased my skin and how hard I’ve worked to make it healthy. Enter my first purchase with Subtl Beauty. The Stak I purchased had a concealer, lip and cheek tint, and bronzer powder in it. I’ve been a Subtl customer for a year now and have never looked back.” - Denisa R.
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“I remember seeing ads for the Original Stak when it first came out and thinking it looked interesting. But I never got one, moved on, and forgot about it. But now I’m going to be moving to a public-facing job after more than a decade working in a closed studio. I wanted something to make me feel presentable, but it needed to be simple, easy, and natural-looking. And out of nowhere, up popped an ad for the Starter Stak! I decided to jump in and give it a try. I sent in a selfie for cream concealer matching, and got back a helpful answer in 5 minutes, and she answered a few more questions for me. I’m thrilled with the results! It’s just what I wanted—easy and fast to apply, and barely takes up any space. I love just blurring out a few areas with the concealer, rather than applying a full face of foundation, and everything else does that little bit to subtly bring out my features and make me feel a little more confident. Already looking forward to adding a few more items to my Stak, and playing around with eyeshadows and different lip/cheek colors. So glad I got my Stak!” - Hannah S.
Click here to take Subtl’s quick and easy Beauty Quiz to get matched with the best travel makeup product shades for you, or check out the brand’s range of pre-made Staks here.
How has Subtl Beauty’s travel makeup Stak impacted your life or adventures around the globe?