Update on the It cosmetics CC cream I reviewed in August: I’ve discovered that it looks best when applied with a foundation brush and buffed like crazy before powdering. Otherwise it tends to gather in my pores and look icky. It gives good coverage but definitely breaks me out; I’m assuming it’s the sunscreen ingredients since most plain sunscreens do the same thing to me.

Update on the Murad lightening serum: I’ll probably finish this container but I haven’t noticed any significant difference in either my face or the tops of my hands. Hydroquinone as a lightener these days seems to be controversial - I couldn’t find any solid evidence that it causes problems for most people, but its reputation isn’t that great either.

Sephora play box, August:
Make up forever eyeshadow - the shade they chose is a brownish pink-plum with shimmer, which happens to be (excluding the shimmer) the same exact color as the dark places around my eyes, so it takes some intentional concealing effort to make it look intentional rather than just hyper pigmentation. Formulation seems quite nice and the shimmer is just enough without being too much.
Urban Decay Perversion mascara - I actually quite like this. It doesn’t lengthen, just darkens and makes lashes a bit thicker, but not crazy spidery. I’ve got fairly long lashes naturally, so I don’t really need extra length, just a bit of emphasis.
Clean reserve warm cotton perfume - when sprayed on, this smells exactly like laundry detergent. Not an objectionable scent, just not one I’d seek out in perfume. It gets a bit more interesting once it’s been on a bit, with a nice longer-lasting slightly deeper smell.
Lancome liquid glow moisturizer - very liquid, like a gel that’s melted, so not the easiest to spread without wasting. Absorbs nicely and didn’t seem to break me out.
Algenist eye balm - very nice consistency, seemed to moisturize well without being too greasy. I’d only use it at night; I don’t think it would work under makeup. I haven’t noticed any improvements in wrinkles, dark circles, etc. as it claims but I’m not convinced any cream can actually do that. The full-size is an eye-popping 67 bucks so I doubt I will rebuy once this smaller size is empty.
Sephora collection eye pencil - seems OK, doesn't move much.

Lush dusting powder in ‘silky underwear’
I’d seen this recommended online and picked up a small container when marking time at a shopping mall while traveling. Instead of being talcum-powder-based, the two main ingredients in this are cornstarch and powdered cocoa butter. Thus it has a bit of - not exactly slipperiness, but some slide to it. I like the scent, personally, but it’s very ornate and woodsy/dark; some people may prefer something lighter so as not to interfere with perfumes etc. I still use the Monistat chafing gel, Aquaphor, and/or Body Glide for serious working out and areas that get a lot of friction. But this is a nice option for areas that get a little red and irritated due to summer sweat or a lack of breathability in an outfit.

Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Brightening and Smoothing Daily Moisturizer, SPF 15 (Ulta)
I got a small tube of this as a free sample. Listed as oil-free, it however has a bunch of other stuff in it, including three chemical sunscreens, silica, and dimethicone. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t work under my water-based foundations, but it worked well with the silicone-based foundations I have (the Tarte primer/bb cream and the It cosmetics cc cream). Like most silicone-heavy products this clogged my pores and gave me a bit of a breakout. I’d call this more of a primer with sunscreen than a moisturizer - if you’re not sensitive to silicones and you are looking for a one-step daytime primer, this would be a good one to try.

Nubian Heritage Coconut & Papaya body lotion (Ulta)
Another free sample, this lotion claims to be ‘polishing and renewing’. It’s quite thick, and I found I didn’t like using it on most of my body. On hands and feet at night it was nice. The tropical smell is quite strong and long-lasting, another reason I didn’t like using it during the day because I felt like it overpowered any other scents and I walked around all day smelling like papaya.

Love to read your reviews and comments as well.