Giorgio armani luminous silk foundation review

Discover The Perfect Foundation, Foundation Finder by Giorgio Armani Beauty. Choose the shade, finish, and coverage you want to match for your skin tone.

Even though NARS Sheer Glow is still my favorite foundation, I will occasionally try other formulas to see if there's something I like just as much. Since I already own wonderful matte formulas (like the MAC Pro Longwear and MUFE Mat Velvet+) and Sheer Glow offers a natural satin finish, I was looking for something along the lines of a dewy finish. Practically every review of the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($62) is a positive one so I decided to try.

My foundation reviews tend to get the most views and I understand why. I will also thoroughly research a foundation before purchasing it (specially if it's expensive). For that reason I will try to be through, specific, and concise.

Color Match

As always, the best way to get the optimal shade for you is to go to the makeup counter personally and get matched. If possible, ask for a sample to take home. Most stores will do this without a problem (such as Nordstrom, Sephora, Macy's, etc.) but I know that not everyone lives in the U.S. where there are great return policies and generous samples. Or you might simply not have accessibility to physical stores. I tried to gauge which shade would suit me best online, but the results were varied. Search engines tend to struggle when you're trying to compare shades with numbers and without actual names. Anyhow, bloggers generally said that either 4.5 or 5 would suit a light-medium yellow undertone (NC30 in MAC). Someone mentioned that 5 would be slightly too dark for an NC30 but I actually disagree. I find 5 to be equal to a NC25. With blending and contouring, 5 suits an NC30 skin tone well but if you're on the darker spectrum of NC30 then I definitely suggest going a shade darker. Also, I found that the Luminous Silk in number 5 does not have such a strong yellow tone as my NARS Sheer Glow in Punjab.

Formula

This is a lightweight foundation with a runny texture. However, once you blend it into the skin you begin to notice that it has a "slick" resistance. I don't want to say it feels oily or silicone-like but it definitely doesn't feel as watery as my other foundations. Surprisingly, this translates into a blurring effect that makes your pores appear smaller and your skin look very soft and luminous. The finish might vary a tad depending on climate and skin type but I would describe it as satin or slightly luminous (not full on dewey). The coverage is buildable light-medium. This foundation doesn't look cakey in the slightest but it doesn't have the most skin-like finish out there. What I mean by that is that people who don't tend to wear foundation might feel like they look like they're obviously wearing it with.

Longevity

This might be my favorite characteristic of the Luminous Silk. This foundation looks better the longer you wear it. I've worn it both to school (indoors) and during nights out (outdoors) for over six hours and it still looks amazing as I'm about to take it off. You do get slightly shinier throughout the day so it's a foundation I always set with powder.

Pros

• Luminous perfecting finish that is not overly dewy
• Minimizes pores
• Looks better throughout the day
• Suitable for dry skin, combination skin, and normal skin

Cons

• I don't recommend this for oily skin
• Not suitable for people who want medium-full coverage
• Very expensive

The verdict is that I absolutely love this foundation complexion. The hype is real. I'm not a fan of dewey finishes because of how they feel and the fact that I live in very humid weather, but this has the right amount of luminosity. The finish is so flattering, it's something you have to experience for yourself so I urge you to get a sample if you can. It's the most expensive foundation I have ever tried but it definitely delivered.