I’ve been a ‘skin tints only’ kind of woman since about 2022, when I decided that foundations were now more hindrance than help to my complexion as I hurtled towards 50. Even old favourites had turned against me, becoming magnets for any wrinkle, line or dry patch. Meanies.
So the last thing I had on my beauty director’s bingo card for 2026 was a 180-pivot back to wearing base on a near-daily basis. Yet that’s exactly where I’ve ended up, and honestly? I’m made up, in more ways that one.
First, Clarins softened me up by mixing my beloved Double Serum into a foundation, holding out a reassuring hand of reintroduction to base camp. And now it’s the turn of Armani, which just reformulated its iconic Luminous Silk Foundation, and is winning all sorts of A-list accolades, with everyone from Glenn Close to Olivia Cooke wearing it on the red carpet.
Celebrity makeup artist Hannah Martin, aka the queen of soft glow, has added her seal of approval as well. ‘It’s still everything we love about Luminous Silk: radiant finish, great shades, lovely medium coverage you can easily build,’ I’m told by Hannah, who was responsible for the Princess of Wales’ bridal makeup.
‘It just feels slightly more buttery to the touch. There are some skincare benefits added which weren’t there before; niacinamide to name one. So yes, it’s definitely going into my spring 2026 Hall of Fame.’
I’m also adding my own endorsement, based on what I’ve seen in the mirror and (okay, the clincher) the compliments I’ve received from friends.
The foundation’s texture is delightfully light, very much to my taste as a skin tint fan. And even though the coverage is obviously fuller, the blendability makes the end result flattering and softly airbrushed, rather than looking obviously makeup-like.
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
The skincare benefits shine through as well, managing to be luminous, plumping and hydrating without looking shiny. As you can see from my (unfiltered) photos, fine lines, dullness and uneven tone are gently blurred away – I promise that any airbrushing is down to the foundation!
It clearly passes the ‘daylight test’ because I swooshed it on before meeting a couple of friends for a walk in the park. ‘Your skin looks really good, what have you been doing?’ asked one I’d not seen for a few months. A head tilt and quizzical glance (she’s quite the tweakment aficionado). ‘Is it… Profhilo?’
An excellent compliment, and one I’ll gratefully accept, even though I can’t attribute my glow to the work of a doctor’s injection. A skin booster? No. But a skin boost? Ab-so-lutely.
