I Tried This Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Dupe

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is a high-end foundation that consistently finds its way to “best of beauty” lists year after year. Loved by beauty editors, makeup artists, celebrities, and the beauty-obsessed, it’s the one foundation that I had on my wishlist for years.

The price was the only thing holding me back. I eventually broke down and purchased it, and I must say, it’s as good as everyone said it was. But it got me thinking, isn’t there a Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation dupe that won’t break your budget?

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Well, as it turns out, there is! L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup is a foundation that gives you the same luminous, dewy finish as the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation but at a fraction of the price.

First, let’s take a look at what makes Armani Luminous Silk Foundation so unique and why it’s become such a cult favorite.

Here’s an interesting statistic: InStyle magazine crowned Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation their Best Beauty Buy Liquid Foundation 13 years in a row! So maybe there is something to all these claims about this foundation being a holy-grail beauty favorite?

It took a little digging to determine what exactly Micro-fil technology is, and, surprisingly, the company doesn’t provide more information on what it does for your complexion.

I couldn’t find many details, but from what I’ve read, it appears to be a technology that improves texture by providing a silky and lit-from-within radiant finish.

Of course, the main drawback is the price…

The full-size 1 oz bottle of Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is pricey. It’s currently $65 for 1 oz. Ouch.

The good news is that it is also sold in a smaller size. So for a lower price, you can try the foundation before purchasing a full-size bottle.

The smaller bottle is 0.6 oz for $44. Not a great deal for the price, but it’s less expensive than the full 1 oz bottle.

At least the smaller bottle, like the larger bottle, comes with a convenient pump to dispense the foundation, unlike other high-end foundations (like Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, which requires you to purchase the pump separately for $12!).

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Shades

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation comes in 40 shades that are classified into the shade groups Fair, Light, Medium, Tan, and Deep.

Since the foundation is rather expensive, you want to get the shade that best matches your skin tone. Your best bet is to go to a store that provides shade-matching, such as Sephora or another department store.

Some retailers have shade-matching tools on their websites. Armani’s website has a Foundation Finder.

I used the tool, and the shade they suggested for me was one of the two shades I was considering purchasing, so it was helpful.

Since my skin is in the cool family, I purchased 4.75, a light, cool shade. I crossed my fingers and hoped that I chose the right shade for my skin tone.

I am happy to say that while slightly light, I can use this foundation without blending it with other shades.

This foundation is formulated with 40% pure water to hydrate skin all day. It contains vitamin C and vitamin E, along with antioxidants to protect your skin and keep it looking healthy.

Liquid Light Technology provides an instant glow.

This Armani Luminous Silk dupe comes in 15 shades to match a variety of cool, neutral, and warm skin tones. It’s formulated for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

L’Oreal True Match Lumi contains an octinoxate sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 20.

Although I don’t care for chemical sunscreen since it tends to irritate my skin, I went ahead and purchased True Match Lumi Foundation anyway.

For the low price, I figured that I would at least give it a try.

The shade C4 – a cool Shell Beige, was too dark for me, so I purchased N1-2, Soft Ivory/Classic Ivory. That shade was much closer to my skin tone.

L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup is not quite as thin a formula as Luminous Silk, but very similar.

While I think it provides better coverage than Luminous Silk, I had a hard time applying it with my fingers and needed to use a brush. It took some blending this Luminous Silk dupe to get it look even and smooth.

The formula wore well for many hours. This is an excellent Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation dupe at a very low price. No foundation I’ve ever tried is quite like Luminous Silk, but this one may be the closest.

L’Oreal owns Giorgio Armani, so it would make sense that a solid dupe would come from the same family of brands.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Review

If you want to skip the dupe and go straight to the best-selling Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, here’s my experience with it:

I now understand what all the fuss is about. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation sinks into your skin and somehow evens skin tone through its buildable coverage.

It’s funny how this foundation has quite an expensive price tag to make it look like you’re not wearing foundation. Somehow it succeeds!

It doesn’t require a lot of blending and leaves a gorgeous blurred finish to my skin. I don’t find it extremely radiant, but it’s not completely matte either. It’s right in between, the perfect balance.

I like Luminous Silk Foundation better than another holy-grail foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup.

Armani is so much lighter and more skinlike. On days that I absolutely need more coverage, I will add a few drops of Luminous Silk to Double Wear to thin it out.

The mixture provides more of a matte full-coverage finish.

I wish the price tag wasn’t so high, but sometimes you really do get what you pay for. This foundation certainly won’t appeal to everyone, especially those looking for more coverage from a foundation.

If you are on the fence about trying this foundation, perhaps you can try the smaller size or test a sample before buying.

How to Apply Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

On the first application, I used only my fingers and no other foundation EVER applied so smoothly and quickly.

It disappeared into my skin even over many skincare products (multiple serums, a moisturizer, and sunscreen), without a lot of manipulation, which is unusual.

Armani recommends using a blender brush to apply the foundation.

Applying it with a foundation brush like this one from It Cosmetics works well for me. I don’t use a beauty blender since it might soak up too much product. For the hefty price, you don’t want to waste a drop!

The formula is rather sheer but easily buildable to near-medium coverage. Even at medium coverage, this foundation looks so natural and skinlike!

Those looking for full coverage may be disappointed, as it takes a few layers to build toward medium coverage. I don’t think you could get a radiant skinlike appearance with a thicker full-coverage product.

Is Luminous Silk Foundation Full Coverage?

No, Luminous Silk Foundation Full Coverage is not full coverage. It’s light to medium coverage that is buildable. I would say you could get medium coverage with 2-3 layers.

How Long Does Luminous Silk Foundation Last?

Luminous Silk Foundation lasts just about all day on me, from morning till night. I don’t notice much wear or fading, and it looks nearly as good at the end of the day as it did when first applied.

That’s one of the best qualities of this foundation, helping to justify the high price.

Since I have combination skin, I might touch up with powder to avoid some oiliness at the end of the day around my t-zone, but otherwise, it wears well for several hours.

It photographs beautifully too! If you’re looking for a foundation for special occasions or photos, this is a great option.

Is Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Good for Dry Skin or Oily Skin?

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is formulated for all skin types. The foundation is oil-free and water-based.

Upon the first application of the foundation, I was expecting it to be dewier than it was. I typically love a matte finish, so I was happy with the more natural finish.

This Armani foundation left a slight glow on my skin, so I think the brand’s description of a silky radiant finish is spot on.

Oily skin types might typically avoid a radiant finish foundation like this one, but the oil-free formula provides a beautiful airbrush finish that wears so well throughout the day, even on oily skin.

Keep in mind that you can also use makeup setting products like a powder, primer, or setting spray to ensure the foundation performs to your liking.

Final Thoughts: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Dupe

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is beloved for its breathable, lightweight, incredibly natural-looking coverage. But with the exceptional performance comes a high price tag.

Luckily, L’Oreal True Match Lumi Makeup is a dupe that provides many of the same benefits as Armani Luminous Silk for a small fraction of the price.

While I still enjoy using Luminous Silk, when I want a similar radiant look (with SPF), I always reach for True Match Lumi Makeup.

Have you tried Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation? If so, let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear your results!

Thanks for reading!

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