If there was a Hollywood Walk of Fame for makeup, Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation would certainly have a spot. There’s no denying that it's one of the most iconic foundations of our time – hello, it’s loved by A-List celebs including Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande.
Prepare to feel old (soz), but the foundation first launched in 2000, and even though its radiant finish wasn’t exactly a ‘thing’ in the ‘00s (remember the ultra-matte finish of Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse? *shudders*) it has stood the test of time as being one of the most iconic foundations to exist.
Those who already use – and love – the Luminous Silk Foundation will know that this formula was ahead of its time when it graced beauty bags way back when. The noughties were all about matte finishes and full-coverage formulas and, as you may guess from the name, that’s the exact opposite of the Luminous Silk Foundation.
What is the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation?
The brand describes the foundation as a "silky, lightweight fluid foundation for seamless application". Yes, there are many formulas that promise to give the glow (NARS' Sheer Glow is a goodun), but Luminous Silk is different from the rest.
It's formulated with micro-fil technology to brighten and blur as well as glycerin to boost hydration. Those with dry skin would certainly get along with it – the silky formula keeps the skin plush and plumped – but it's also oil-free so those prone to blemishes will also love it! It's also available in 40 shades with a variety of undertones, so you're bound to find a good match.
Even though the foundation seemed ‘out of place’ at the time, we count our lucky stars that Armani’s Magic 8 Ball was *performing* in the 2000s, as it wasn’t long ‘til radiant formulas became MVPs in our makeup bags – making it Luminous Silk’s time to shine.
Here's what happened when Cosmo's e-commerce beauty team gave it a go... for the first time...
Kara Kia, Ecommerce Editor
Shade: 6.25
When it comes to my makeup style, I’m into the natural look – although I’ve fallen prey to the blush blindness trend lately and can’t resist rosy cheeks. That being said, I stopped wearing foundation about a decade ago and reach for a tinted moisturiser instead. It’s not until a few months ago that I was seduced back by the perfecting effect of a foundation – NARS Light Reflecting Foundation – and since then, I’ve been eager to find the new signature base of my beauty routine. While NARS and Armani are both fantastic formulas, I believe in context, so will be comparing for the sake of beauty journalism.
My best match of Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is 6.25, whereas I’m shade Barcelona in NARS and 2.3N in The Ordinary’s Serum Foundation. Although the match was beautiful, I found that the actual shade guide was confusing and some of the image examples don’t match up with the shade swatches. As compared to NARS however, the pump on Armani Luminous Silk was better. It was super smooth and offered a lot more control over how much product came out.
Application felt lovely on the skin with buildable light-medium coverage, which is my preference, but it was streaky compared to other foundations and sunk into my under-eye lines a bit more than serum consistencies (an easy fix with a good primer). What I did love was the finish; it looked silky (of course), lightweight but also radiant and glowing, without being oily or dewy. It had a soft-focus effect that was beautiful and seemed to blur my spots and pigmentation instead of looking like I was caking on product to cover them up.
All in all, Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is worth all the hype it receives. It’s ideal for different skin types – acne-prone, dry, mature – but some oilier skin types say that it doesn’t last throughout the day and so might need a powder touch up. My only caveat is the price, but for a luxury, make up artist-approved foundation, it’s worth the investment.
Clare Stephenson, Senior Beauty Ecommerce Writer
Shade: 5.5
The other day, my auntie told me that makeup is part of my DNA – and I couldn't agree more. I've always been fascinated by the stuff and growing up, I had a list of products I dreamt of trying. Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation was at the top. Testing out this formula for the first time felt like an 'I've done it!' moment, so you bet the stakes were high.
I'd done my fair bit of research, so I already knew this was a long-loved foundation for a reason – MUAs from Lisa Eldridge to Patrick Ta swear by it – and I'm pleased to report that Armani didn't let me down.
It offers everything I want in a foundation. The texture is silky and lightweight so it seamlessly melted into my skin, leaving behind a natural glow. I'm obsessed with the finish; it's not matte nor is it super dewy. It's beautifully luminous but still blurs around the areas I need it most (like my T-Zone and under my eyes). I'd say my complexion looked smooth and fresh, and that's exactly what I want.
It doesn't offer a thick blanket of coverage, but the beauty of it is you can easily layer without it turning cakey. In the photo, I'm only wearing one layer to even out my skin tone and cover redness, but it's got enough flexibility to be used as a full-glam formula. Either way, it lasts well without fading or turning blotchy. I tested first it in our office, home to the worlds most temperamental heating system, and it managed to withstand dry conditions and it stayed in place when I jumped onto the sweaty tube to get home.
I get it, the price tag is spenny (£47) so I told myself this would be my special occasion foundation. After trying it, however, I don't think I have the will power.
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
Kara Kia is the Ecommerce Editor for Women's Lifestyle at Hearst UK, leading Cosmopolitan UK's digital shopping strategy across fashion, beauty and lifestyle. With over eight years of experience as a journalist and editor, Kara specialises in skincare, makeup, haircare and helping women find their personal style — trying and testing every product she recommends. A trusted voice in fashion and beauty ecommerce, Kara's most-read guides include the best wedding dresses under £1000, the best affordable jewellery brands, the best Korean skincare products, and the best products for curly hair. She also covers major shopping events including Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day for Cosmopolitan, Red and Prima. Kara previously held the role of contributing Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Editor at ELLE UK and Harper's Bazaar UK; before joining Hearst, she was Fashion Content Editor at NET-A-PORTER's Porter Magazine, Associate Editor at PopSugar, and wrote for Refinery29 and LOVE Magazine. An experienced interviewer, she has spoken to Zendaya, Alicia Keys, Simone Biles and Tyla about life, work and style. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica and formerly based in Toronto, Kara now lives in London. Follow Kara on Instagram @kara.kia
