Beauty Care: Sydney Grace Navy (Light) Mystery Bag (2022) Review & Swatches

Navy Blue (Light)

Sydney Grace Navy Blue (Light) Mystery Bag (2022) ($35.00) contained six eyeshadows, one loose eyeshadow, one loose highlighter, one cream eyeshadow, and an empty 9-pan palette (not shown). The only “dud” was the cream eyeshadow, which was more finnicky to work with. The rest of the products were lovely–pigmented, blendable, and long-wearing. Bonfire is exclusive to this set.

Navy Blue (Light)

$35.00.

A-

9.5

Product

9.5

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

92%

Total

Are You Shore

Are You Shore is a blackened navy blue base with flecks of bluish-teal and silver sparkle throughout.

Medium coverage
Thin, a little watery, too readily spread
Best applied on the back of hand, swirled, then applied
Long-wearing (9.5 hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$8.00/0.34 oz. - $23.53 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to "dry down to a smudge proof finish" that isn't waterproof but "will last all day on the lids." The brand recommends working "one eye at a time" as the formula "dr[ies] fairly quickly." It's an incredibly pigmented formula in most instances, where a little dab is more than enough to cover the mobile lid. I always find squeezing out product onto the back of my hand or onto a metal palette is the best way to get going with these.

It was recently formulated to extend the shelf life, which went from six months to 12 months, but there were changes to the base formula, which I found shortened the wear time for me overall--by an hour or two. Previously, they wore between eight and 10 hours on me with most shades on the longer end of that range.

With the updated formula, the wear was more eight to nine hours with a tendency to crease over fade, so if I applied it to the inner tearduct or the brow bone, the wear was more like nine hours or even ten hours, but if I wore the same shade in my crease, it would have creasing by eight hours. Otherwise, the formula tended to apply, blend, and work like the original formula--I just noticed that the wear time was a little reduced.

The texture was smooth, like a liquid-cream hybrid as it wasn't runny but it was more spreadable than a cream eyeshadow you'd find in a jar. The majority of shades applied evenly to bare skin with little effort, and the edges remained blendable enough (even as it was mostly dried down) to soften and fuse with other shades. They're very lightweight and the majority of them sat well on my lids without emphasizing lines or texture (sometimes an issue with liquid/cream, more metallic products).

It didn't have that dry down that felt so set and locked in that if you kept trying to blend it out (after it was dry) you'd get flaking; these never flaked or lifted. Based on past experiences--in general with cream eyeshadows--I recommend working with your powder eyeshadows first (unless you're using it as a base), and then going in with the cream eyeshadows and going back over any areas to further blend if necessary. That being said, I was able to layer powder eyeshadow over them without them lifting or becoming patchy. They're some of the easiest cream eyeshadows I've worked with to incorporate into multi-shade looks. The wear varied from eight to ten hours on me before there was slight fading or a bit of creasing.

If you're someone who tends to use their cream eyeshadows as sheer washes of color, I think this formula is "too" pigmented and dries too quickly to make sheer application as effortless as you'd want. If you love the effect of and finish of creamier, metallic eyeshadows and want true, full coverage application, these are worth looking into. I recommend squeezing out the smallest amount of product on the back of your hand or onto a mixing palette, and then using fingertips or a flat, synthetic brush to apply to the lid. I prefer a brush as it gives more working time than when I used my fingertips.

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Cream Shadow (2020) swatches.

Ingredients

Aqua (Distilled Water), Glycerin, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetyl Alcohol (and) Butylene Glycol (Emulsifier), Fractionated Coconut Oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride), Phenoxyethanol (and) Benzoic Acid (and) Dehydroacetic Acid (Preservative) +/- Mica (Mica 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI77289), Chromium Green (CI77288), Carmine, Iron Oxide (CI 77499, 77491, 77492), Tin Oxide (CI 778161), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ultramarines (77007), Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Zinc (CI 77947), Bronze and Copper Powder (CI 77400), Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, and Aluminum Powder))

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.

Are You Shore

LELimited Edition. $8.00.

B-

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

80%

Total

Bonfire

Bonfire is a light taupe with neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish.

Opaque coverage
Smooth, more velvety feel, not too powdery
Blendable, easy to apply, not prone to sheering out
Long-wearing (8.5 hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$5.00/0.06 oz. - $83.33 Per Ounce

The matte eyeshadows tend to be pigmented (typically semi-opaque or opaque, often buildable if they aren't opaque) with a soft, more velvety texture that has slight slip but isn't so thick that it gets difficult to use, applies unevenly, or has a lot of fallout. I've found that most of the matte eyeshadows apply and blend out without much effort but a few may take a bit more effort to diffuse along the edges. The matte formula tends to wear between eight and eight and a half hours on me.

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Matte Shadow swatches.

Ingredients

SILK MICA (MICA (77019), BORON NITRIDE, L-LYSINE MICA (MICA 77019 AND LAUROYL LYSINE), CARNAUBA MICA (MICA 77019 AND CARNAUBA WAX), MAGNESIUM STEARATE, MAGNESIUM MYRISTATE, ZINC STEARATE ((+/- MICA (77019), FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL (CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), CHROMIUM HYDROXIDE GREEN (CI77289), CHROMIUM GREEN (CI77288), IRON OXIDE (CI 77499, 77491, 77492), TIN OXIDE (CI 778161), MANGANESE VIOLET (CI 77742), FERRIC FERROCYANIDE (CI 77510), ULTRAMARINES (77007), SILICA, SYNTHETIC FLUROPHYLOGOPITE, ZINC (CI 77947), BRONZE AND COPPER POWDER (CI 77400), NYLON 12, CARMINE (75470), ALUMINUM (77000) PHENOXYETHANOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, POTASSIUM SORBATE, AND HEXYLENE GLYCOL

Bonfire

LELimited Edition. $5.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

Abundance

Abundance is a medium, slightly rose-tinged brown with muted, warm undertones and a matte finish.

Opaque coverage
Smooth, more velvety feel, not too powdery
Blendable, easy to apply, not prone to sheering out
Long-wearing (8.5 hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$5.00/0.06 oz. - $83.33 Per Ounce

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Matte Shadow swatches.

Ingredients

Abundance

LELimited Edition. $5.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

Crashing Waves

Opaque coverage
Smooth, more velvety feel, not too powdery
Blendable, easy to apply, not prone to sheering out
Long-wearing (8.5 hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$5.00/0.06 oz. - $83.33 Per Ounce

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Matte Shadow swatches.

Ingredients

Crashing Waves

LELimited Edition. $5.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

Baby Boy

Baby Boy is a deep, bluish-gray with strong, cool undertones and an intense, metallic finish.

Opaque coverage
Smooth, moderately-dense but not stiff
Picked up evenly with dry brush, applied evenly, blendable
Long-wearing (8.5 hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$6.00/0.06 oz. - $100.00 Per Ounce

The shimmer eyeshadows are more consistent in pigmentation with the majority of shades having opaque color coverage. The more metallic/sparkly the shade is, the creamier and more emollient the eyeshadow felt in the pan, which often yielded really smooth application and good adherence to the lid, though a few worked better with a fingertip or a dampened brush for true-to-pan color or to get a truer finish/sheen.

Most shades, however, worked well with brushes, and I didn't have trouble applying or blending out most of the shimmer shades. The more satin to pearl like finishes tend to feel a little thinner but blend out well. These shades wore between eight and nine hours on me with some of the more foiled-like shades creasing noticeably at the end (and the less foiled-like ones fading).

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Pressed Pigment Shadow swatches.

Ingredients

Baby Boy

LELimited Edition. $6.00.

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

97%

Total

Force of Nature

Force of Nature is a light-medium blue with strong, cool undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish.

Opaque coverage
Smooth, moderately-dense but had light fallout
Picked up evenly with dry brush, applied evenly, blendable
Long-wearing (8.5 hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$6.00/0.06 oz. - $100.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Pressed Pigment Shadow swatches.

Ingredients

Force of Nature

LELimited Edition. $6.00.

A-

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

92%

Total

Let's Cuddle

Let’s Cuddle is a blackened navy blue with strong, cool undertones that made appear almost purplish at angles. It had more of a pearl-like sheen.

Opaque coverage
Smooth, moderately-dense but not stiff
Picked up evenly with dry brush, applied evenly, blendable
Long-wearing (8.5 hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$6.00/0.06 oz. - $100.00 Per Ounce

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Pressed Pigment Shadow swatches.

Ingredients

Let's Cuddle

LELimited Edition. $6.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

Firelight Glow

Firelight Glow is a deep gold with subtle, warm undertones and a sparkling, metallic finish.

Opaque coverage
Smooth, dense without being too heavy
Picked up evenly with dry brush, applied evenly, blendable
Long-wearing (8.5 hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Formula Overview
Ingredients

Formula Overview

$6.00/0.14 oz. - $42.86 Per Ounce

It's designed to be worn alone, though the brand recommends a "mixing medium or a glitter glue" to avoid fallout. The loose consistency was denser and more weighed down, which made it less messy to work with than some more finely-milled (but very powdery) loose eyeshadow formulas available. They were very pigmented without much product, and they had similar coverage applied dry as well as wet.

The wet application typically yielded smoother, more metallic finishes and less fallout compared to dry application. Dry application required a bit more finesse as the product applied best by patting and pressing it on and then gently smoothing it into place, otherwise it had some fallout during application. A few shades that were more sparkly looked a bit chunkier applied to my skin when I used it dry (but were smoother and more forgiving when used wet). They lasted between seven and eight hours on me before creasing.

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Loose Pigment swatches.

Ingredients

Silk Mica (Mica (77019), Boron Nitride, L-Lysine Mica (Mica 77019 and Lauroyl Lysine), Carnauba Mica (Mica 77019 and Carnauba Wax), Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Myristate, Zinc Stearate ((+/- Mica (77019), Fractionated Coconut Oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Chromium Hydroxide Green (CI77289), Chromium Green (CI77288), Iron Oxide (CI 77499, 77491, 77492), Tin Oxide (CI 778161), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Ultramarines (77007), Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Zinc (CI 77947), Bronze and Copper Powder (CI 77400), Nylon 12, Carmine (75470), Aluminum (77000) Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, and Hexylene Glycol

Firelight Glow

LELimited Edition. $6.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

94%

Total

PSL Extra Whip

PSL Extra Whip is a light peach with warmer undertones and a bright, metallic finish.

Opaque coverage
Smooth, moderately-dense but not stiff
Picked up evenly with dry brush, applied evenly, blendable
Long-wearing (9hours)

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantalize Glo (Highlighter) (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
Hourglass Euphoric Strobe Light (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
MAC Girl Wonder (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Kosas Tropic Equinox (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
Morphe Spark (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Dior Peach (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Cover FX Moonlight (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Chanel Or Rose (LE, $70.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
ColourPop Coastin' (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Too Faced Warm Glow (Right) (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$9.00/0.25 oz. - $36.00 Per Ounce

The highlighters are supposed to be "smooth and pigmented" that "blend like a dream" and "last all day long." The majority of the shades in the range are incredibly pigmented with a creaminess to the texture that makes them a cinch to apply and blend out on my skin.

I was most impressed by how soft, almost cream-like the powders were, yet they weren't too loosely-pressed nor were they prone to powderiness. Some of the finishes are very metallic or frosted, so when worn at semi-opaque or higher coverage levels, they can emphasize my skin's natural texture slightly. They have worn between eight and nine hours on me.

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Highlighter swatches.