Armani Beauty Relaunched the Iconic Luminous Silk Foundation—And We Have Thoughts
Does the new formula stack up to the original?
Given the constant influx of new beauty products that hit the market, it's difficult for any one formula to reach icon status these days. However, there are a few classics that have withstood the test of time—and ruthless TikTok reviews—to retain their place on the top shelves of beauty fans around the world. One such product? The Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation. Known for its dewy finish, breathable coverage, and long-lasting luminosity, the foundation is deeply beloved by the beauty community, and has been since its initial launch in 2000. It would make you wonder: why mess with success after 26 years? Well, in a move that is sure to rattle more than a few beauty vanities, the brand just launched a reformulation of the Luminous Silk Foundation.
Cue the dramatic music.
"Even for an icon like Luminous Silk, consumer expectations evolve," explains Rena Hayashi at Armani Beauty R&D. "The driving inspiration was to meet today's demand for foundations that offer an even more seamless, true-to-skin match and act as an extension of one's skincare routine, not just makeup." Still, the questions remains: how can you improve on near-perfection?
"The secret to maintaining [the foundation's] unique appeal, while enhancing it, lies in a complex mixture, featuring a unique oil blend and advanced fillers, which together meet and exceed the high expectations of Luminous Silk's loyal users," says Hayashi, adding that in addition to the formula's signature hydrating glycerin, it now contains calming niacinamide.
Additionally, 18 of the 44 shades (previously there were 40 in the Luminous Silk collection) are new, following rigorous consumer testing and research, while also eliminating all traces of white pigment. "There are two new pigments incorporated," says Hayashi. "A new green pigment has allowed us to expand the shade range for those with olive undertones, providing a more accurate match. An ultramarine blue pigment was incorporated into our deeper shades...to help enhance luminosity and intensity in the makeup finish, crucially avoiding the ashiness that was previously an unmet need for individuals with deeper skin tones."
Now that the new formula has finally arrived after four years of development, there was nothing left to do but give it a test drive. So, the entire Marie Claire beauty team got to swatching. Keep scrolling for our honest thoughts on the new Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation—and whether or not we'll be mourning the original.
Hannah Baxter, Beauty Director
Shade 4
"I'll say my one caveat with this foundation, or rather, foundation in general—I rarely wear it. I'm more of a spot-treat-with-concealer, skin-tint-for-dullness type of girl. However, I've always had the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in the back of my cabinet for events, or anything where I want to feel particularly polished. I was lucky to preview this formula over the summer, so I already knew that the development was solid, but I hadn't applied a full face until the winter freeze turned my skin painfully dry. I used one and a half pumps and a stippling brush to apply and that was plenty of product to cover my face and a bit of my neck to blend. Overall, I'm still very happy with how creamy and lightweight this foundation is, but I think I need to prep with a better primer, especially between my brows and around my nose where I tend to get dry flakes. The finish was also a little more velvet, demi-matte than I expected, but I can't deny that my complexion looked flawless. Even after a full eight hour day, the foundation still looked even and seamless—no settling into fine lines. With time I think I'll figure out the right skin prep to help this reformulation really shine, but I'm glad that the best parts of this iconic formula have remained intact." — Hannah Baxter, Beauty Director
Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Shade 8.6
"I absolutely love this foundation. I was a bit hesitant about the reformulation, but, not only does this version glide onto the skin like butter, it doesn’t feel extremely heavy throughout the day, especially if you only do a light set with powder. Additionally, the color match is perfect, 8.6 is practically my skin in a bottle, undertones and all. Honestly, I have no complaints about this foundation at all. The packaging is as luxurious as you’d expect from Armani, and most importantly, there’s a pump for easy dispensation of the product. It’s a late contender for one of my favorite makeup products of the year, but nonetheless, it is absolutely in the running." — Ariel Baker, Beauty Writer
Danielle Jackson, Senior Beauty Writer
Shade 8.6
"As a person who wears foundation almost daily, I don’t actually like to feel makeup on my face, so I was really impressed by this new formulation because of the way that it sits on my skin without feeling heavy, oily, or greasy. One to two pumps was just enough for me to get a nice amount of coverage on my face—my only hangup is that I wish there was a little more depth to the shade range, as 8.6 was a tad lighter than what I’d normally use, yet the shade that followed was a little too deep for me." — Danielle Jackson, Senior Beauty Writer
Samantha Holender, Senior Beauty Editor
Shade 3.75
"I’m very much of the don’t-mess-with-perfection mentality, so when I heard that Armani was reformulating this cult-favorite, every fiber of my being told me to stockpile as many bottles of the OG formula as I could get my hands on. But I did breathe a sigh of relief once I actually tried the new version. I’d be lying if I said it was the same—the newer version is definitely on the glowier, wetter side, which is actually ideal for my skin in this moisture-robbing weather. In the summer, I’ll probably have to use a hefty amount of powder, but that’s a problem for another day. For now? I’ll be wearing this on repeat." — Samantha Holender, Senior Beauty Editor
Siena Gagliano, Beauty Editor
Shade 4.5
"There are only a handful of makeup products that feel untouchable, and Luminous Silk has always been one of them. So when I heard Giorgio Armani was quietly reformulating it, I was admittedly unhappy (ask any of the MC beauty girls). I mean, the original earned its status for a reason. My first wear didn’t help, either. Between a rough acne day and my own resistance to change, I wrote it off too quickly. But after giving it another try, I rethought my opinion. The new formula is thinner and noticeably more radiant than its satin predecessor, and once it settled, my skin looked genuinely beautiful—glowy, smooth, and very Armani. It does get oilier through my T-zone than the original, which means I reach for powder more often, but the finish *may* be worth it. I need a few more wears before I decide, ultimately, whether I’m pro-reformulation, but I can’t deny that my skin looks pretty." — Siena Gagliano, Beauty Editor
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is available only online at giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com and Sephora.com on December 22nd, and all retailers in-stores on January 19th.
How We Tested
For this story, the Marie Claire beauty team meticulously tested the new Armani Beauty Luminous Skin Foundation over at least eight hours on multiple occasions to asses the quality, wear-time, and comfort. We compared this new formula to the prior product to determine whether or not the reformulation is worthwhile.
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