“Featherweight but ambitious, its fine particles blend effortlessly into the skin and erase red spots and shine,” reads a caption in the December 2002 issue of Allure. Said makeup artist Troy Surratt in our October 2008 edition: “It makes your skin look like you’re walking around under [photographer] Michael Thompson’s lighting.”
In both cases, the “it” in question is Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation. And those glowing reviews are just two of dozens that have appeared in our IRL and virtual pages since the formula launched some 25 years ago. It was, simply put, a “perfect foundation,” says makeup artist Kirin Bhatty. Note the past tense: That’s because, as of 2026, Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation, as we once knew it, is no longer being produced.,
When the Internet caught wind of the news, panic ensued (“This was my holy grail!” exclaimed one Reddit user) and questions flew. But there was no need to fear: The beloved base isn’t going away—it’s merely remerging after getting a facelift. And like all the most effective aesthetic interventions, the procedure was performed before there were too many obvious signs that it was needed: Bhatty, who is not formally affiliated with the brand, is one of many makeup artists we know who felt the easy-to-blend, ultra-lightweight, perfectly dewy original left little to be desired.
“When reinventing such a beloved product, preserving these attributes is paramount,” says Armani Beauty research and development specialist Rena Hayashi. “We achieved this through extensive trials and tests, meticulously ensuring that any advancements uphold these high standards.”
Those advancements, according to Hayashi, include a “significantly expanded and refined shade range.” While the new formula is available in 44 shades, the OG came in a not-unimpressive 40. But the extra four shades aren’t the difference-maker in and of themselves: Hayashi says the revamp was more about tweaking the existing tones. “A new green pigment has allowed us to expand the shade range, particularly for those with olive undertones, providing a more accurate match,” says Hayashi. “Additionally, a blue pigment was incorporated into our deeper shades, which helps to enhance luminosity and intensity in the makeup finish, crucially avoiding the ashiness that was previously an unmet need for individuals with deeper skin tones.”
The new foundation was also built to provide more skin-care benefits than the original: The formula includes ingredients like moisture-locking glycerin and brightening niacinamide. That’s because today’s consumers “expect foundations to be an extension of their skin-[care] routine,” says Hayashi.
Longtime devotees will also notice that the original frosted bottle has been traded for a shinier, sleeker version, though the sizes on offer (30ml and 18ml) and pricing ($69 and $48, respectively) remain the same.
All that sounds well and good, but the question remains: Did the brand manage to clear the very high bar it set 25 years ago? For Bhatty, the answer is a resounding yes: “The new formula is just as beautiful, just as luminous, and just as trustworthy—it performs on the red carpet and in real life flawlessly,” she says, adding that she’s also found the wear time to be longer than the original. “Overall, I’m so impressed—and relieved!”
But what did our editors think? Scroll down for their reviews, including before and after images.
Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
”If you walked through the halls of Allure in 2018—when I’d first started working here—and asked editors what foundation they’d recommend, most, if not all, would say the original Luminous Silk. The way it smoothed complexions and photographed was unmatched, and I’d use it on special occasions and events: I actually used my bottle of Luminous Silk on my friend when I did her makeup for her wedding. This new formula will likely garner the same reviews. It’s so pigmented, lightweight, and creates a natural-looking, skin-like finish.
