Armani Luminous Silk, aka the foundation that’s been a go-to for celebs, editors, and makeup artists for decades, has officially been reformulated for the first time since its launch in 2000.
Beauty sleuths across the internet had been suspecting this moment for months, as shades went on sale and weren’t being restocked. Now, it’s official: the original Luminous Silk Foundation is discontinued, and the new version promises the same smooth coverage with even more radiance and hydration.
The upgraded formula is packed with skincare ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide, and plant extracts, and it's designed to improve skin tone, enhance luminosity, and plump the complexion over time. It still delivers that lightweight, buildable coverage but now with an even glowier finish. Plus, it now comes in 44 shades, including 18 new ones that offer more flexibility to complement your complexion.
Now, this all sounds great, but as lifelong fans of the O.G., team Cosmo put the new one to the test to see how its coverage, staying power, and finish compare to the original. Keep reading for our honest review on the new reformulated Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.
About the new Armani Luminous Silk Foundation:
- Shades: 44
- Finish: Natural
- Price: $69
- Key ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, lupine, and lily extract
Lauren Balsamo, beauty director
Armani’s Luminous Silk is in the same category as beauty greats like CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream, Essie Ballet Slippers, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, and L’Oreal’s Elnett Hairspray. It’s been loved by the beauty community and constantly tops best-of lists. So when I heard Armani was tweaking the iconic formula… I was initially skeptical. The O.G. Luminous Silk is the best for full coverage that's both lightweight and natural-looking. It's my go-to foundation for big events (I wore it on my wedding day) or when my skin's really breaking out and I need more coverage than usual. So why mess with a really good thing, right?
When I first tried the new version of Luminous Silk, I was instantly impressed by the upgraded packaging (its sleek, glass bottle has a soft pump that dispenses a little product at a time). As for the formula, it seemed the same at first glance, but as I started buffing it into my skin, I realized that it’s actually much more blurring and blendable than the original. The original Luminous Silk wasn’t super luminous IMO, but this new version definitely gives skin a noticeable glow. I used it over moisturizer (no primer), and my skin looks incredibly smooth—no clinging to uneven texture or weird patchy spots.
Overall, the new Luminous Silk feels and wears pretty similar to the original (which is a good thing!), but it does go on a bit smoother and is more forgiving when it comes to skin texture—two plusses in my book.
Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
Everyone I know was obsessed with the original Luminous Silk foundation, but I usually opted for a skin tint instead. On my complexion, it sometimes looked a little dull and wasn’t as dewy as other foundations, so my dry skin didn’t always get along with it. It was a good formula, just not my top choice for daily wear.
This reformulation, however, is everything I look for in a foundation. It’s truly luminous (the finish is listed as natural, but I’d say it leans more radiant), and it blended out seamlessly on my face, even on my peak winter dry skin. I first tested it in early December and found myself reaching for it all month over my usual tinted moisturizers. I even tested it out on New Year’s Eve, which was a nine-hour-long night out. The glowy base lasted until I was ready to remove my makeup, well past midnight.
Aside from hydration that you can feel and see, my favorite part is that it’s safe for acne-prone skin, which is somehow still hard to come by in 2026. I even wore it a few hours after a facial (don't be like me), right after extractions, and my skin stayed calm. I was a Haus Labs foundation devotee, but this is now my favorite for a fresh, hydrating finish that doesn’t break me out.
Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Luminous Silk was the first foundation I splurged to buy (for my sophomore high school homecoming, FYI). Every YouTuber and makeup artist swore by the formula for creating a soft-focus glow. If it was good enough for A-listers' wedding days, it was def appropriate for my high school dance. I've kept a bottle of this liquid gold in my makeup stash ever since, making it my go-to for all special occasions.
So you'll understand that I was terrified when Lauren told us a few months ago to anticipate a Luminous Silk reformulation to hit my inbox soon. What would I do if my failsafe foundation suddenly wasn't as good?
Thankfully, one single swipe of this on the back of my hand made me realize I would never, ever have to worry about that. Because somehow this new version is actually better. Upon first swatch, it's slightly dewier, but the formula dries down to a natural, skin-like finish. I have combination skin that's been drier than normal lately, but my T-zone still gets super oily. It's got just enough grip to stick to my nose, chin, and forehead without looking shiny in a few hours. I pat my T-zone and under-eyes with setting powder, but otherwise, my base stays locked and loaded for eight hours.
The biggest difference in this formula and the original is that it's a lot lighter. I already thought Luminous Silk was a lightweight foundation. But the 2026 version took notes from all the popular skin tints and somehow is even less noticeable on my face. While I usually wore Luminous Silk for more full-coverage foundation days, I've been wearing this all the time: to go work at a coffee shop, running errands, grabbing quick drinks with friends, office days, dinners—you name it. It can easily be sheered out and worn softly, but it also looks fantastic for a full-glam moment (exactly what I did on New Year's Eve with contour, blush, highlighter, and shadow).
Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large
I’ve been testing this new foundation launch for the past month, and let’s just say it didn’t take long to earn its spot in my rotation. It’s feather-light, melts right into skin, and gives that soft, luminous finish that looks effortless but super intentional.
I usually start with a damp sponge for sheer coverage, then build where I need it — around the nose, chin, or wherever life has been life-ing. Note: I’ve been using the shades 8.6 and 9 on my complexion. It’s buildable without ever feeling heavy, insanely versatile for day or night, and manages to blur while still looking like real skin. No cakiness or drama, just smooth glowy skin every single time.
The final verdict:
The new Luminous Silk Foundation has extra hydration, a more expansive shade range, boasts sleeker packaging, and is acne-friendly. We’re obsessed with how smooth it makes our complexion look—even on oily and dry skin types—and we found it to stay fresh and radiant throughout the entire day. It’s the kind of holy grail foundation for that effortless, lit-from-within glow. However, those who loved the natural finish of the OG or prefer a more matte look might find this one a bit more luminous than expected.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who is constantly testing and reviewing new makeup products. For this story, she, along with Cosmopolitan's beauty editors, tested the new Luminous Silk formula for weeks ahead of its launch to see if it lives up to the original based on coverage, shade range, finish, and more.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
