Subtl Beauty Review

About Subtl Beauty

Subtl Beauty is a cosmetics brand that seeks to enhance that understated yet undeniable glow that every woman has. Its clean products are packaged in stacks that give you all your makeup essentials in a compact, conveniently carryable form.

One study examined the impact of makeup on women’s happiness and self-esteem in a society where women are often pressured to meet society’s standards of beauty. The research highlights that makeup has the potential to positively affect women’s overall health and self-esteem. 

Subtl Beauty was founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Rachel Reid, who had divined that women were too often coming up with their own makeshift solutions for portable makeup containers. Noting that most beauty products are still packaged in oversized containers intended for home use, she set out to design a compact container system for women on the go.

The result was the Subtl Beauty stackable makeup system: thin, disc-like makeup containers that can be slipped into a pocket individually, or screwed together to let you transport all your essentials in a small, compact cylinder. This makes giving yourself touch-ups or even a full-on application in non-makeup-friendly locations approximately 1,000 times easier.   

The 100% female-run company is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and manufactures its products in San Diego, California. Its cosmetics are paraben- and fragrance-free, and several are also vegan-friendly.

Are you looking to maintain your glow while reducing the hassle of your makeup regimen? This brand could be the solution you’re looking for—but how will you know for certain unless you can be sure that it can deliver? This Subtl Beauty review will give you an overview of the brand and its products, customer reviews, and more so that you can make a properly informed decision.

Pros & Cons

That’s the big picture—now it’s time to go in for a close-up. We’ll get into the fine details of the brand’s products below, but let’s kick this Subtl Beauty review off with a glance at the company’s most notable pros and cons.

Pros

• Compact and Portable: Subtl Beauty’s stackable makeup pans and customizable palettes are designed to be travel-friendly and easy to carry, making them convenient for on-the-go use or touch-ups throughout the day.
• Customizable: The brand allows customers to choose and arrange their desired makeup products in a single compact, giving them the flexibility to create their own personalized makeup palette.
• Multi-purpose Products: Subtl Beauty focuses on creating multi-purpose products, such as a foundation that can double as a concealer, which can help simplify your makeup routine and save space in your makeup bag.
• Cruelty-free and Vegan Options: Subtl Beauty is committed to being a cruelty-free brand and offers vegan options for customers who prefer animal-friendly cosmetics.
• Minimalist Aesthetic: The brand’s minimalist packaging and design aesthetic may appeal to those who prefer a clean and simple look.

Cons

• Limited Product Range: Subtl Beauty’s product range is relatively small compared to larger cosmetics brands. They primarily focus on core makeup products like foundation, concealer, and blush, which may not meet the needs of those who prefer a wider variety of makeup options.
• Less Shade Variety: Due to the compact size and customizable nature of their products, Subtl Beauty may offer a more limited range of shades compared to brands with larger product lines. This may make it challenging for individuals with specific skin tone or undertone needs to find their perfect match.
• Less Accessibility: Subtl Beauty primarily operates as an online brand, which means that customers may not have the opportunity to physically try out products before purchasing. This lack of accessibility may be a drawback for those who prefer to test and swatch products in-store before making a decision.

It’s important to note that individual experiences and preferences may vary.

It’s always a good idea to research and read reviews from other customers to get a well-rounded understanding of Subtl Beauty’s products and determine if they align with your specific needs and preferences.

Features

Subtl Beauty offers several features that make it unique and appealing to its customers. Here are some notable features of Subtl Beauty:

• Customizable Palettes: Subtl Beauty allows customers to create their own personalized makeup palette by choosing and arranging their desired makeup products in a single compact. This customization feature gives users the flexibility to have their favorite shades and products in one convenient palette.
• Stackable Makeup Pans: The brand’s makeup products come in stackable pans that can easily be added or removed from the palette. This stackable design allows for easy organization and customization, making it convenient for travel or on-the-go touch-ups.
• Minimalist Packaging: Subtl Beauty adopts a minimalist and sleek packaging design, which appeals to those who prefer a clean and simple aesthetic. The compact size of their products also makes them space-saving and ideal for those with limited storage space.
• Multi-purpose Formulas: Subtl Beauty focuses on creating multi-purpose products that serve multiple functions. For example, their foundation can double as a concealer, offering versatility and simplifying your makeup routine.
• Cruelty-Free and Vegan: The brand is committed to being cruelty-free and offers vegan options for customers who prefer to use cosmetics that are free from animal-derived ingredients.
• High-Quality Ingredients: Subtl Beauty prioritizes using safe and beneficial ingredients in their products. They strive to avoid harmful or potentially irritating ingredients commonly found in conventional cosmetics and instead opt for natural and plant-based ingredients.
• Online Shopping Convenience: Subtl Beauty operates primarily as an online brand, allowing customers to conveniently browse and purchase their products from the comfort of their own homes.

It’s important to note that these features are based on general considerations, and it’s always a good idea to review specific product information on Subtl Beauty’s website or packaging to understand the features and benefits of individual products in their range.

5 Subtl Beauty Bestsellers

From eyes, lips, and cheeks to highlighters, concealers, and bronzers, Subtl Beauty has all your must-haves covered. Without further ado, here are our closer looks at some of this brand’s signature products. 

Subtl Beauty Eyeshadow Duos

Two shades are always better than one! These dynamic Eyeshadow Duos pair a matte shade with a corresponding shimmer shade, both of them vegan, talc-free, and long-lasting. Made with hyaluronic acid, chamomile extract, acai berry extract, and vitamin E, these formulas are as nourishing as they are stylish. 

These duos come in five different shade combinations, as per below:

1. Sunset—rose gold (shimmer) + brick red (matte) 
2. Crush—mauve (shimmer) + lavender (matte)
3. Jelly—pink champagne (shimmer) + dusty pink (matte)
4. Dune—bronze taupe (shimmer) + brown (matte)
5. Nectar—golden brown (shimmer) + cinnamon brown (matte)

Choose your combo and start getting glam! Each Subtl Beauty Eyeshadow Duo will run you $16. 

Subtl Beauty Cream Concealer

Do your undereyes start getting shadowy around midday? Is that blemish just refusing to stop drawing attention to itself? Not to worry, the lightweight Cream Concealer has got you covered (literally). With its handy packaging, this is the perfect tool for on-the-go cover-ups if you happen to see a little somethin’ somethin’ on your chin during the workday or before an event.

With almost 20 shades to choose from—from pale-pink “Brookline” to dark-chocolate “Highland”—this product is impressively inclusive for a small, indie beauty brand. You can use the helpful Shade Finder on the product page to find the color that’s right for you. Cruelty-free, gluten-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free, the Cream Concealer is $14. 

Subtl Beauty Lip and Cheek

Nothing says “convenient” like this Lip and Cheek multitool. These little pots promise 60 applications of non-greasy, vegan, cleanly formulated tints that are enriched with hydrating jojoba oil and skin-conditioning coconut fruit extract.

There are six shades for you to choose from: 

1. Plum
2. Riveting Red
3. Coral
4. Dusty Rose
5. Mauve
6. Perfectly Pink 

Enhance your pout and glow up your cheeks with the Subtl Beauty Lip and Cheek for $14. 

Subtl Beauty Espresso Stack

The aptly named Espresso Stack is designed for those deeper skin tones that are often neglected by a lot of cosmetics lines. This threefer Subtl Beauty stack gives you a trio of products:

1. Cream Concealer in your choice of five shades
2. Lip and Cheek in “Plum”
3. Highlighter in “Rosé”

The concealer shades you can choose from are Hays (warm), Ellsworth (cool), Beechview (cool neutral), Overbrook (warm rich), and Highland (neutral rich). The Espresso Stack can be yours for $38. 

Subtl Beauty Starter Stack

If the idea of customizing your makeup regimen gives you unwarranted anxiety, not to worry: the Starter Stack will get you going on the right foot. This five-product stack includes Subtl Beauty’s bestselling products in its most popular shades—the only one where you’ll have to select the shade yourself is the Cream Concealer, and surely you can handle that!

The rest of the set includes the Shine Control Powder to reduce oiliness, the Bronzer (in “Latte”), the Highlighter (in “Champagne”), and the Lip and Cheek tint (in “Mauve”). Stacked together in an easily stowable cylinder, this is the definition of on-the-go beauty. 

The Starter Stack is $60, representing a 10% savings on a customized stack.

Who Is Subtl Beauty For? 

Subtl Beauty positions its cosmetics as suitable for people of all ages, from teens to those aged 70 and up. Its formulas are applicable for all skin types, including aging, acne-prone, sensitive, and everything in between. 

That said, the company does recommend that you consult a dermatologist or healthcare worker before starting a drastically different skincare regimen and that you do a patch test of each product before you apply it liberally. Allergic reactions or irritations are not as cute as light pigment on your cheeks, so it’s always best to cover your bases. 

The brand provides information about which skin types each product is suitable for on the website’s FAQ page. For instance, the Shine Control Powder and Lip and Cheek tints are suitable for all skin types, but Subtl specifies that the Cream Concealer is friendlier for dry or combination skin. 

Alternatives

While Subtl Beauty offers unique features and customizable palettes, there are several alternative cosmetics brands that provide similar options or cater to specific needs. Here are a few alternatives to Subtl Beauty:

• Makeup Geek: Makeup Geek offers a wide range of individual eyeshadows and customizable palettes. They have an extensive selection of shades, finishes, and formulas, allowing you to create your own personalized eyeshadow palette.

• Buxom Cosmetics: Buxom Cosmetics provides customizable palettes called “Empty Customizable Eyeshadow Bar Palettes.” These palettes allow you to fill them with your choice of Buxom’s individual eyeshadows, blushes, or highlighters.

• MAC Cosmetics: MAC Cosmetics offers a Build Your Own Palette option, where you can choose from their range of individual eyeshadows, blushes, and powders to create a personalized palette. They provide a variety of shades and finishes to suit different preferences.

• Anastasia Beverly Hills: Anastasia Beverly Hills offers a selection of individual eyeshadows, blushes, and contour powders that can be placed in their customizable palettes. Their range includes a wide variety of shades and finishes.

• ColourPop: ColourPop offers individual pressed eyeshadows and pressed powder face products that can be placed in their customizable palettes. They have an extensive range of shades and finishes at affordable prices.

• Natasha Denona: Natasha Denona offers a range of individual eyeshadows and face products that can be placed in their customizable palettes. They provide high-quality formulas with a focus on pigmentation and blendability.

• Inglot Cosmetics: Inglot Cosmetics offers a unique Freedom System that allows you to customize your own palette with their individual eyeshadows, blushes, and powders. They provide a wide range of shades and finishes to choose from.

It’s important to consider your specific preferences, budget, and desired product range when choosing an alternative to Subtl Beauty.

Each brand may have its own unique features and product offerings, so researching and reading reviews can help you find the one that aligns best with your needs.

Comparison: Subtl Beauty vs. RMS Beauty  

Rose-Marie Swift founded her namesake brand in 2008 with the goal of providing cleaner alternatives to mass-produced cosmetics, many of which continue to include potentially harmful ingredients. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, the brand’s products have been used by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Chrissy Teigen, and Emma Stone. 

Both Subtl Beauty and RMS Beauty purport to have the same dedication to clean, no-B.S. cosmetics, offering products that are cruelty-free and do not include harsh chemicals. Both also claim that their items are suitable for all skin types, including aging, oily, acne-prone, dry, etc.

When it comes to dollars and cents, though, it’s clear that RMS Beauty comes with a higher price tag. For instance, the Subtl Beauty Lip and Cheek tint, Cream Concealer, and Highlighter compacts are priced at $14 each. This is much lower than the comparable RMS Beauty “Un” Cover Up concealer and Lip2Cheek products, which sell for $36 each. 

In fact, none of the core stackable products from our spotlighted brand sell for higher than $20 each. So it’s pretty easy for this Subtl Beauty review to conclude that, when it comes to price, our little beauty brand that could has the edge.

Subtl Beauty Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

As Subtl Beauty is still a young, relatively small-scale company, it has yet to be reviewed on the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot. Also, as its products are currently only available through the brand website itself, there are obviously no customer reviews on the sites of third-party retailers.

But don’t worry, this Subtl Beauty review won’t let you down. We surveyed the feedback on the brand website, the Subtl Beauty Facebook, and consulted independent reviews in order to give you a rounded picture of this up-and-coming cosmetics company.

Let’s start at subtlbeauty.com itself, where an overwhelming 85% of the total 1,483 customer reviews award the brand 5/5 stars. When we break it down to individual products, that score doesn’t sink much lower. The Lip and Cheek tint pulls in 5/5 stars from 173 reviews, with customers particularly appreciating the product’s two-in-one convenience.

“I bought the Lip and Cheek in Perfectly Pink. This is such a great color on me. I love that it is buildable and easy to apply. The formula is buttery on the lips yet doesn’t feel oily on the cheeks. I’ve since ordered the Mauve and can’t wait to receive it,” wrote one satisfied customer.

Only slightly below that winner on the scoreboard is the Cream Concealer, which receives 4.5/5 stars based on 197 reviews. Buyers appreciated how the brand’s personalized approach to customers helped them find the shade that was right for them.

“I love how flawlessly Subtly was able to give me the perfect concealer match based on my previous products,” wrote one reviewer. “I love this concealer for summer – it’s weightless and I only need a little to make me feel more confident in my skin.”

This Subtl Beauty review also found some user feedback at the company’s Facebook page, where 36 reviews result in an average score of 3.4/5 stars for the brand as a whole. Many commenters love both the products themselves and their portability.

Is Subtl Beauty Worth It?

I think back to the times that I would have really appreciated a truly convenient way to transport my makeup, and it makes me happy to know that this brand has set out to find a solution to that all-too-common problem. This Subtl Beauty review is also pleased that the company is making strides to make all its formulas clean, ethical, inclusive, and all that other good stuff.

At the end of the day, this Subtl Beauty review is of the opinion that, for convenience alone, this brand is worth a try. Maybe try a Starter Stack, see how the various products work for you, and go from there! 

Subtl Beauty Promotions & Discounts 

The brand’s rewards and referral program, “Subtl Stash,” lets members earn points that can be redeemed for coupons, free shipping, exclusive products, and more. Every $1 spent gets you 1 point, and you can get larger increments through other activities, including:

• Celebrating a birthday—200 points
• Leaving a review—100 points
• Following Subtl Beauty on Facebook or Instagram—15 points

So what can you use these points on, you ask? Good question! Here’s what you can get when you build up your Stash:

• 100 points = free US ground shipping
• 150 points = $5 off coupon
• 250 points = $10 off coupon
• 350 points = free “Rosé” Highlighter
• 600 points = limited-edition branded baseball cap

You can also refer a friend to the brand, which will get you both a $5 off coupon to apply to your next purchase of $30 or more.

Where to Buy Subtl Beauty

At the time of this Subtl Beauty review, the brand’s products are only available through its website, subtlbeauty.com. Given its slick stackable packaging, though, it’s entirely possible that it may soon become available through other major cosmetics retailers.

FAQ

Where is Subtl Beauty located? 

Subtl Beauty has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company is headed by founder Rachel Reid, and all of its top employees are female. 

Is Subtl Beauty Cruelty-Free? 

All Subtl Beauty products are 100% cruelty-free, and all of them are manufactured in the US so that the brand can maintain this commitment. The Highlighter, Bronzer, and Shine Control Powder are also vegan-friendly, and the brand states that it is currently working on vegan formulations for the Cream Concealer and Lip and Cheek tint.

Every individual product page on the brand website includes a detailed, impressively transparent list of ingredients that indicates their respective properties. There are also notifications of elements that the products may contain.

Where is Subtl Beauty made? 

The brand’s products are manufactured in San Diego, California. By keeping all of its manufacturing in the US, the brand is able to guarantee that its products remain cruelty-free. 

What is Subtl Beauty’s Shipping Policy?

Subtl Beauty offers shipping to the US and internationally, excluding the UK, UAE, and India. Shipping rates and times are as follows:

US

Standard (5-9 business days)—$4 or free for orders of $55 and up

Rush (2-3 business days)—$12

Canada 

Standard (7-10 business days)—$6 or free for orders of $85 and up

International 

Standard (14-18 business days)—$9 or free for orders of $85 and up

What is Subtl Beauty’s Return Policy?

Unused or gently used products are eligible for return within 30 days of purchase. Return credits will be issued to the original form of payment. The returns must be sent in a sealed package to the following address: 

Subtl Beauty

39 Terminal Way

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

As of right now, only the Cream Concealer is eligible for exchange if you are unhappy with the shade you have purchased or it is not the right match for your skin. 

How to Contact Subtl Beauty

Do you have any questions that this Subtl Beauty review didn’t address? You can contact the brand directly via the following methods:

• Email: [email protected]
• Contact form on brand website

The Subtl Beauty customer care team should respond to your query in 24 to 48 hours.

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