Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Got a Really Good Facelift

I wore Armani Beauty's archetypal Luminous Silk Foundation for my college graduation. I wore it again on my first day of work at Byrdie, again on my wedding day, and again for hundreds of parties and downtown outings in between. Through hormonal acne, sunburns I regret, and wrinkles that I don't , Luminous Silk has been the cosmetic liquid of my life.

And this certainly isn't an original take; the product is widely considered the best prestige foundation among beauty editors, makeup artists, and consumers alike. So naturally, Armani Beauty is... changing the formula. For the first time since its launch in 2000, the famous foundation has undergone a revamp in both formula and packaging. So, why fix what's not broken? It's all about evolving with changing consumer preferences (and aesthetics). Ahead, all the details about the new Luminous Silk 2.0 and our beauty editors' reviews.

The New Luminous Silk

Both the formula and the packaging have received some modernizing. For starters, the updated formula was created to feel even more second-skin (and skincare-mimicking) than the original. The feel is now far more gel-like, with a base of skincare ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide. The brand has also revamped the shade range to create "an enhanced formula with more pigments, for an optimized shade range to flatter more skin tones," according to the Armani Beauty Instagram . Such pigments include green for olive skin tones and blue for deep skin tones, which allows the shade to go richer, darker, and truer-to-skin without a dull cast. Consumers will now find a total of 44 shades—26 original and 18 brand new.

As for the packaging, I think the brand has found a Goldilocks design that honors Luminous Silk's heritage while still ushering the formula into the future. The most significant change here is the glass, which has evolved from a frosty finish to completely transparent. It not only modernizes the project, but the function here is huge as well. In the below photo, you can see how my shade looks drastically different in the frosted bottle—almost deeper and cooler. (If you ask me, the clear packaging will make it much easier for consumers to shade match in-store.)

Now for the icing: The product name has now officially changed from Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Foundation to Luminous Silk Perfect Natural Glow Foundation. The brand name has also been condensed to a sleek "Armani" at the base of the bottle.

Besides these gentle modifications, everything else about the packaging is exactly as it was. The bottle is the same size and shape, you still get 30mL (or 1 fl oz) of product, the component is the same pump you hold near and dear, and the cap still clicks gently into place.

The Reviews

Holly Rhue, editorial director

"As I've mentioned—and will continue to mention for eternity—I live and die by Luminous Silk. So I'm thrilled to report that this is still my number one foundation of choice. Dare I say it is better than the original? The O.G. Luminous Silk never felt heavy, but this updated formula feels more skin-like than what should be possible—all without sacrificing on coverage or wear. It's not necessarily different, just better—like a really good facelift from Dr. Stephen Levine. I was lucky to get a lab sample from the brand back in July, so I can safely say this formula has successfully carried me through both an August heatwave and the single-digit temps we're currently experiencing in New York City. I'm just so in love—normalize making a change when it's actually an improvement to serve your consumers!"

Olivia Hancock, senior editor

"I was already a fan of the Luminous Silk Foundation and didn’t think it could get any better, but the brand proved me wrong. The newly updated formula looks even more skin-like, feels noticeably more hydrating, and matches my complexion more seamlessly than ever before. This winter, shade 7.6 has been an absolute dream match. Luminous Silk is firmly holding onto its spot in my top five foundations."

Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor

"Somehow, I've never actually used the original Luminous Silk foundation, so I can't speak to how the revamp compares to the original. However, I can say that I have been loving this formula ever since I started testing it last week. It really is seamless; shade 2 disappears right into my skin with a super lightweight feel. I love the glowy finish and the sheer coverage looks really natural—it covers redness and acne scarring with ease (but if I was having a 'bad' skin day, I might reach for something heavier.) I have a face that tends to 'eat' makeup, but this wears really nicely, and doesn't get dry or crusty at the end of the day. It's become my daily driver, totally replacing my favorite skin tint."

The new Luminous Silk foundation is available now at Sephora, Armani Beauty, Nordstrom, and more.

$69 at Sephora

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