I was expecting wonders from this foundation. I am so dissapointed. I heard so many great things about this foundation that I was sure this one was it. It wasn't. I am about a NW25 and I bought the 5.5 this turned out to be WAY to light.

My advise. Go for the Face Fabric or the Designer Modelling Compact. Those both are awesome IMO.

I might put this up for swap.

Overview: Not impressed, horrible scent, a bit "meh".

Pros: Really does last long. Light texture. Does its job.

So I definitely regret purchasing this, but this foundation isn't really *that* bad. It's almost there, but not quite. First of all, the shade. The shades are very limited, the LSF has a lot more. I am NC35-37, deeply yellow toned, and the closest match was 6.5, Tawny (when I think of tawny I think tanned yellow brown), but perhaps due to the SPF it's actually quite light. But all in all not a bad match for my skin, though it does look a bit cool and obvious in some situations. The next two shades are too pink and the other too dark. Since I don't think I can return it, I'm going to MAC pro and buy the airbrush formula in "ochre" to mix it in. I hope it goes well. Oh, another thing: THE SMELL! Thank god it's weak and meant as a masking fragrance but it reeks of cheap bar soap that my dad used. It just reminds me of old men, showers, and just not a happy thing. Compared to, say, Dior foundations, which has a sweet, sexy fragrance, Armani blows. He is definitely eccentric if he personally chose this scent for his foundations.

Ever since I heard the news that Prescriptives went out of business I've been trying to hunt down a replacement for my beloved Virtual Matte foundation. While it's not quite the same, Lasting Silk comes very close. It provides medium-to full coverage but still manages to look totally natural and feels like I have nothing on my skin. I've never tried a foundation that offers this much coverage but still feels lightweight and melds into my skin rather than looking like a mask sitting on top. I find that it holds up well all day too, even after blotting. This brings me to my one complaint: I'm pretty oily after a few hours of wear. With Virtual Matte and a good dusting of powder I don't have to blot for at least 5 or so hours, but with this I'm greasy within 2-3 hours. Still, this is the best foundation I've tried in a while, and the fact that it works even remotely well for my very oily skin is a small miracle. For color reference: MAC NC 20, Prescriptives Virtual Matte in Fresh Ecru, Chanel Mat Lumiere in Porcelaine (.5), Becca concealer in Biscuit, and I wear 4 in the Lasting Silk, which is an excellent match (4.5 was a good match, but just a touch too yellow.)

This is a nice product. Feels weightless and has good coverage. It is long lasting but I have tried other products which I would rate as better. Overall a good product. Packaging is nice and its always nice to have a GA product on my dresser...

I think this might be HG material! It feels so weightless and silky. I returned my GA Luminous Silk Foundation because it was too sheer and just did not provide enough coverage for me, even with powder foundation on top of it. It made me look oily and clammy. So after reading all the rave reviews for Lasting Silk I had to exchange the LSF for it. I'm glad I did because this has much better coverage. My face looks matte but still has a hint of glow and dewiness. I set it with GA Loose Powder and I look flawless and airbrushed. Love it so far!

After reading all the reviews on this... I had to try it. I am pretty oily in the T-Zone. I work in a office but most of the times do not have time for touch ups for I need something that will last me all day without needing a crowbar to remove at the end of the day. So I went and got this at Neimans last night and as I have tested it today... I do have some shine breaking through at 11am. Don't get me wrong this foundation feels amazing on your face and it still looks decent but I can still feel the olies on my face. So for 58.00 I wouldn't buy again. And I probably going to return what I bought last night. 58.00 is too much to pay for just ok. I think if you werent a very oily girl this would be great. So I am on the fence about this. Going to try Estee Lauder Double Matte. Something has to work on the this oily Skin.

The quest for a HG foundation has been arduous. I have problematic skin - sensitive and dry, and prone to break outs whenever, and wherever. I've tried a handful of foundations ranging from ones anchored towards sensitive or just regular formulas. My first foundation was the NARS powder in Saint Tropez which was a near-perfect color match (I know a lot of people use MAC numbers to give a general idea but I've never tried MAC). NARS was great at first but I developed super-dry skin which made powder foundations very bad so I had to scrap it. From then on, it's been a complete and utter mess trying to find something that would work for my skin, and in my skin tone.

I had heard many great things about this foundation, and also some mediocre stuff about it so when I happened to be at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa which has the Armani make up line in the department stores, I just had to test it. The SA told me that I was closer to a 6.5 but probably a mix of 6.5 and 9. She applied the 6.5 on me, and I agreed that it was a tad too light for my skin tone. The cheapo in me wanted to just buy the 6.5 by itself and hope no one notices how slightly lighter I was than I was normally. She then applied a mix of the two, and the color match was just ... marvelous. I knew then that I had to buy both bottles ... and I knew that my bank account hated me for it.

I've been using the foundation for about two months, and I make my own mix of the two shades at home (I worked out the ratio, it's something like 5:1). Because of my sensitive skin, I was worried that it would reek havoc on my face, but it was pleasant to say the least. The coverage for me is medium which is what I was aiming for since full coverage foundations always seem to rub me the wrong way. It's enough to minimize the amount of scarring I have on my face but still seem like I'm wearing little to no make up. I have to note that I have to use a primer before applying this foundation even though I don't have oily skin because without it, it just slips right off. I love the finish which for me is slightly dewy, closer to natural. I dust some finishing powder on it (BareMinerals Illuminating Mineral Veil) and it's like I have a new layer of skin.

The only qualms I have about this foundation (and the reason for the lower rating) is that I find it slightly drying and the fact that it's not really transfer resistant. I would try the Luminous Silk but I'm gung ho about the SPF addition to this one. Overall, it's a pretty solid foundation with a great finish.

I hate to go against most here, but this product is a no go for me. I keep trying with GA foundations as so many mags and people rave about them. But for me, it is an eh for me. I used their Matte foundation before it was discountinued and it was ok, but not worth the price. I also have the Face Fabric which was ok but not enough coverage. So when this came out I thought perfect. Boy was I wrong. It was very pretty when tried on, but after a couple of hours, my face became an oily mess. And Im not even that oily. Also this covers but it doesnt cover well. It streaks and becomes quite sticky after a bit. It feels so heavy on my face too. The color 6.5 is nice but its too light for me, but #7 is too peachy. So overall a no no for me.

Pros:
This foundation lasts all day - 14 hours, no joke, like a tattoo.
This foundation is lightweight but has medium pigmentation - it can be sheered out AND it's buildable.
This foundation looks like real skin. (with my Sephora #55 brush - HG)
This foundation has a pump dispenser. (sanitary!! and a must!)
This foundation has shades light enough for my fair complexion (1 pump of shade 2 and 4 mixed is a dream for me - but if I could only buy 1 shade - I would buy shade 4-- I'm pretty fair - with neutral yellow undertones - irish/norwegian - There is pink in my skin - but I'm trying to cover it - pink based foundations look horribly unnatural on me - for a MAC comparision - they always try to match me in the NW15 family - but it's too beigey pink and NC15 is unnaturally yellow on me and when they set - they are too dark - the lightest MUFE HD foundations are pink based and way too dark to match my neck - sometimes I've used Cover FX in shade E0 - but sometimes I feel like it makes me look gray)
This foundation sets in about 2 minutes - and then the color you've got - is the color you have all day --- no oxidation surprise here.
This foundation has a luminous - but satin/matte finish --- it's not going to give you the dewy effect of the original Luminous Silk - but that means better staying power.
This foundation has the bonus of SPF20.
This foundation does not make me breakout and I am acne prone with combo skin.
Cons:
This foundation is hard to find. (Bloomingdales with Space NK's, some Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus or online at giorgioarmanibeauty.com)
This foundation is expensive - $58 bucks - geez.
This foundation has an "all or nothing" pump. If you want more - you have to get a full pump.
If you have very very dry skin - this will probably not wow you. When I first got this - my cheeks we a bit dry and I wasn't in love - then I got my Clarisonic Mia - dry patches are gone and the Lasting Silk UV SPF 20 is amazing.

Overall -
Because this foundation last all day and has shades that look amazing on me - it's my HG. I work 14 hour days and don't have time to run to the bathroom to see if my foundation is fading.
I am willing to pay the price.
I had to drive 45 minutes out of my way to find a counter that carried it. I got samples of multiple shades - tried them out and went back to purchase. Like with any foundation it's all about the color match and the right formula for your skin type. When I went back to purchase - the different MUA tried to match me with shade 6.5 - I mean what? So don't listen to crack pot MUA's - get the shades you want to try - ask for samples - try them out in daylight - match to your jaw and your neck...
When your skin looks right - everything else looks even better.

Oh and I do think that this foundation is best applied with a brush - you'll use so much less product - My sephora #55 brush is genius with foundation.


Shade 2 is VERY LIGHT. - like a pale banana yellow shade (the inside of a banana - not the outside - HA!)
Shade 4 is LIGHT slightly warmer golden fair neutral yellow.

UPDATE 12/16/09
I get a lot of people pm-ing me about this product.... (which is awesome :)
Do I still use this foundation?
YES.
Do I still love it?
YES.
Do I think it's worth the price?
I think it's overpriced - but I can NOT get the same result from other foundations - I do not have a dupe for this - my skin has been difficult to match for color and formula since I was 13 - so I've tried a lot of foundations - drugstore and department store a like and this is it for me.
Do I use a primer with it?
YES - MAC prep+prime spf 50
Do I set it with powder?
Not always - but when I do - I use Laura Mercier's Translucent Powder. It has pretty much the same wear time with out setting it with powder on me.
I have Dry Cheeks and a finicky T-zone that somtimes is normal and other times oily... and I am hormonally acne prone - like clockwork.
They don't have a million shades to choose from - so this won't work for everyone - but I love it - it works for me.
HOPE THIS RAMBLE HELPED. :)

This is the HG of foundations. I have combo skin, that is fair but olive. I used to be a NC20/25 in MAC, and wear a 5.5 or 6.5 in Lasting Silk. Like one of the other reviewers, I am 6.5 in the summer, 5.5 in the winter, and mix the 2 for now. This foundation gives a beautiful "glowing" look to your skin. I recieved at least 7 compliments the first 2 weeks I started wearing it!!! And as far as staying power, its awesome. I work an 8 hour day in healthcare (i.e., no time for touch-ups), and then after work teach a one hour Zumba class (high intensity, Latin dance, i.e.--lots of sweating, and wiping face with towel), and even after all that its still there!!!!!! If it can survive that, it can survive anything! I love this foundation. As far as I am concerned, it is worth every cent.