Sydney Grace Pure Joy Highlighter Review & Swatches

Christine — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 15:00:00 +0000

Pure Joy

Sydney Grace Pure Joy Highlighter ($12.00 for 0.25 oz.) is a deep, dirty plum base packed with dirty, gold shimmer that gave it a metallic finish. It was almost a plummy taupe overall, and what made it so complex as the cooler undertone of the plum color with the warmer undertone of the gold shimmer. The color payoff was opaque with very little product, so I’d highly recommend using a lighter touch and building up coverage to make it easier to control the application, placement, and so on. The consistency was denser, creamy without being too thick, and blendable on my skin. The cooler, purple-plum tones came through more noticeably as I blended and diffused the color out, and the golden sheen was apparent on the higher points as the light reflected off of my cheekbones. This shade stayed on well for eight and a half hours on me before fading slightly.

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

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Fenty Beauty Stone Cold (LE, $36.00) is cooler (85% similar).
Anastasia Riviera (DC, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Fenty Beauty Sand Castle (PiP, $36.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Anastasia Tourmaline (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (80% similar).

View Swatches

Possible Dupes

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

MAC Superb (P, $42.00).
Estee Lauder Modern Mercury (LE, $65.00).

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), Caranuba Mica (Mica 77019 and Caranuba Wax), Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Myristate, Zinc Stearate ((+/- Mica (Mica 77019), Fractionated Coconut Oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Silk Powder, Allantoin, 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 Flurophylogopite, Zinc (CI 77947), Bronze and Copper Powder (CI 77400), Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, 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.