Sydney Grace Red (Deep) Mystery Bag (2022) Review & Swatches

Red (Deep)

Sydney Grace Red (Deep) Mystery Bag (2022) ($30.00) includes three eyeshadows, one powder highlighter, one cream eyeshadow, one lipgloss, one face brush, and a metallic red makeup bag. The products performed consistently with Sydney Grace’s formulas in the past, so if you’ve enjoyed those, I imagine you’ll find the products to your liking. This is the Deep version of the bag; the highlighter and the lightest eyeshadow are exclusive to the Deep version and are different in the Light version.

As far as the brush goes, the synthetic bristles are very soft, and the brush had good weight and density, but I haven’t used any of the Sydney Grace brushes long enough to have full reviews on them yet! On a personal note, the length of the brush head is a bit long for my personal tastes, and I think an eye brush would have been more suitable based on the contents of the bag.

Red (Deep)

LELimited Edition.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

94%

Total

Deep Devotion

Deep Devotion is a medium-dark taupe-brown with subtle, warm reddish undertones paired with an intense, metallic sheen.

Opaque coverage
Moderately-firm press, smooth to touch
Blendable, did not emphasize skin texture
Long-wearing (9 hours)

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

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Laura Mercier Seduction (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
Salt New York Bronze (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Chocolate Dipped (P, $39.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
Haus Labs Bronzite (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
Dior #004 (DC, $56.00) is warmer (80% 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.

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

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.

Deep Devotion

LELimited Edition. $9.00.

A+

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

9.5

Longevity

Application

99%

Total

Stolen Kiss

Stolen Kiss is a light-medium copper with warmer, but more muted, undertones and multi-colored sparkle through a more metallic finish.

Opaque coverage
Lightweight, thin, more emollient initially
Set to more powder-like finish
Applied best with flat, synthetic brush after 3-5 seconds
Long-wearing (9.5 hours)

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

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

KVD Beauty Quartz (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
ColourPop The Twins (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
Bad Habit Sofia (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
Pat McGrath Diamond's Desire (LE, $25.00) is cooler (95% similar).
Natasha Denona Rhea (118M) (2020) (PiP, $29.00) is cooler (95% similar).
ColourPop Celestial (LE, $4.50) is lighter (90% similar).
ColourPop Constellation (LE, $7.00) is cooler (90% similar).
ColourPop Stargirl (LE, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Urban Decay Night Fever (LE, $19.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Makeup Geek Elegance (LE, $9.99) is brighter (90% similar).

View Swatches

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))

Stolen Kiss

PPermanent. $8.00.

A-

8.5

Product

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

9.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

91%

Total

Relentless Beauty

Relentless Beauty is a medium-dark pink with warmer 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).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Coloured Raine Deception (LE, $6.99) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Danessa Myricks Crème Brule (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Sydney Grace Sugar Bear (LE, $5.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Sydney Grace Faithful (P, $5.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Coloured Raine Daydreaming (LE, $6.99) is lighter (90% similar).
ColourPop Romeo (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Huda Beauty Tickle (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
ColourPop Snow Globe (LE, $4.50) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Anastasia Love (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
MAC Rose Before Bros (P, $17.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar).

View Swatches

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

Relentless Beauty

PiPPermanent in Palette. $5.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

96%

Total

You Have Me

You Have Me is a deep, reddish-plum with 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).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Ciate Bijou (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
ColourPop Sip Sip (LE, $4.50) is lighter (95% similar).
Urban Decay Devilish (PiP, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
ColourPop Pretty Cruel (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Anastasia C3 (Norvina Mini Vol. 2) (LE, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Love Glow (Smoke) (LE, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Sydney Grace Darcy (Deep) (PiP, $5.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Spree (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Pat McGrath Saturn Sunset (LE, $25.00) is cooler (85% similar).
Sydney Grace Darcy (Light) (PiP, $5.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$5.00/0.06 oz. - $83.33 Per Ounce

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

You Have Me

PiPPermanent in Palette. $5.00.

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

Longevity

Application

98%

Total

Yours Forever

Yours Forever is a rich, deeper red with subtle, warm undertones and a subtle, metallic 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).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Sydney Grace Princess Pay Pay (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
Give Me Glow Valentine's Red (P, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
Huda Beauty Chameleon #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
Sydney Grace Fire Catcher (P, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
ColourPop Pinky Promise (P, $4.50) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Give Me Glow Ruby Rose (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
Terra Moons La Reina (P, $6.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Makeup by Mario Master Metallics #11 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Sydney Grace Amber Jewels (DC, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Sydney Grace Operose (PiP, $6.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

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

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

Yours Forever

PiPPermanent in Palette. $6.00.

9.5

Product

Pigmentation

9.5

Texture

Longevity

Application

96%

Total

Tracy

Tracy is a rich plum with cooler undertones and a glossy, cream finish.

Opaque coverage
Light-medium thick, smooth
More prone to separating around deeper lip lines
Long-wearing (4.5 hours), lightly hydrating

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

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Sydney Grace Sarah (P, $10.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Fenty Beauty Mauve Wives (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
MAC Heartmelter (LE, $21.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
NARS Bound (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
MAC Love Child (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (80% similar).

View Swatches

Possible Dupes

These are likely to be very similar shades based on our duping algorithm.

Bobbi Brown Spring Bliss (LE, $27.00).
Sydney Grace Alyssa (P, $10.00).

Formula Overview

$10.00/0.15 oz. - $66.67 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be a "cross between a lipgloss and a lipstick" that is "moisturizing." The brand recommends using a lip liner with darker colors. It had the coverage of a lipstick with more of the feel and application of a lipgloss in my experience.

The majority of the shades have good opacity and are near-to or full coverage, which go on with minimal to no streaking but a few shades settled into my deeper lip lines more noticeably. The texture was more light-medium in thickness with moderate tackiness, and while not heavy, it was a heavier gloss than most on the market currently. It has a very smooth feel as it goes on, and it was comfortable to wear, hydration, and lasted longer than the average gloss--five to six hours.

Browse all of our Sydney Grace Lip Cream swatches.

Ingredients

Lanolin, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Polyamide-3, Fragrance Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, and Hexylene Glycol ((+/- Titanium Dioxide (77891), Iron Oxide (CI 77499, 77491, 77492), Tin Oxide (CI 778161), FD&C Blue #1, D&C Orange 5, D&C Red 7, D&C Red 21, D&C Red 27, FD&C Red 40, FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow 6, D&C Yellow 10))