Since 2022, when I decided that foundations were more trouble than they were worth for my skin, I’ve been a skin tints only kind of woman. I was getting close to 50 at the time. Even my old favourites had turned against me, attracting every wrinkle, line, and dry patch. Meanies.
The last thing I had on my beauty director’s bingo card for 2026 was a 180-degree turn back to wearing base almost every day. But that’s where I’ve ended up, and to be honest? I’m happy in more than one way.
First, Clarins made me feel better by mixing my favourite Double Serum into a foundation and giving me a comforting hand to get back to base camp. And now it’s Armani’s turn. The company just changed the formula of its famous Luminous Silk Foundation, and it’s getting a lot of praise from A-list stars like Glenn Close and Olivia Cooke, who wear it on the red carpet.
Hannah Martin, a famous makeup artist known as the queen of soft glow, has also given her stamp of approval. “It’s still everything we love about Luminous Silk: a radiant finish great colours, and lovely medium coverage that you can easily build,” Hannah, who did the Princess of Wales’ wedding makeup, tells me.
“It just feels a little more buttery when you touch it. There are now some skincare benefits that weren’t there before, like niacinamide. Yes, it will definitely go into my Hall of Fame in the spring of 2026.
I’m also adding my own endorsement based on what I’ve seen in the mirror and the compliments I’ve gotten from friends.
The texture of the foundation is very light, which I love because I like skin tints. The coverage is obviously fuller but the blendability makes the end result look soft and airbrushed, not like makeup.
Foundation with Luminous Silk
The Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation is now 20% off at LookFantastic. It costs £39 Look great, credit
The benefits for your skin are also clear: it makes your skin look bright plump and hydrated without making it look shiny You can see in my (unfiltered) pictures that fine lines dullness, and uneven tone are gently blurred away. I promise that any airbrushing is because of the foundation!
Lynne Hyland Lynne with and without Armani Luminous Silk without any filters
It clearly passes the daylight test because I put it on before going for a walk in the park with some friends. “Your skin looks great! What have you been doing?” asked someone I hadn’t seen in a few months A tilt of the head and a look of confusion (she’s a big fan of tweakments). “Is it… Profhilo?
That’s a great compliment, and I’ll gladly take it even though I can’t say that a doctor’s injection made me glow. A skin booster No. But a boost for the skin Yes yes, yes.
