Giorgio Armani • Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF20 • Liquid

Where To Buy?

eseq on 6/23/2009 2:39:00 PM more reviews by eseq

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Although I am a self-proclaimed foundation addict I had never tried any of the GA foundations before the lasting silk. I am so glad I found this one! I have combo/oily skin and my foundation needs change drastically in the humid summer months. The lasting silk is proving to be my go-to for the summer. I use one pump, dab it all over my face and then buff with a skunk for sheer/medium coverage. I set with a loose powder and find that this foundation really lasts and still looks good at the end of the day!

I ordered 5.5 based on the terrible swatches on the GA website and it is pretty light (not a MAC fan but I'd guess it to be comparable to around NC25). I've been using it though b/c I've still got my winter pallor lol. I ordered a second bottle in 6.5 for when I get a bit of color (inevitable for me even though I use sunscreen daily). Wish this didn't have any spf b/c I use a separate sunscreen but what can ya do? Still loving this found.

LOVE that it's in a pump, really wish more companies would follow suit.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Deandra on 6/22/2009 3:11:00 PM more reviews by Deandra

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

This has a lovely texture and I really appreciate the SPF 20 because I don't have to apply sunscreen underneath. Lasting Silk blends easily and it melds nicely to the skin so it doesn't look masklike. I used a sponge at first but then at the urging of a GA SA, I bought the GA designer shaping foundation brush which works well to blend it quickly before it dries; then you can use a sponge to touch up. Using the brush helps prevent you from wasting product, she insisted. The foundation holds up well on combination to oily skin - lasts all day. (If your skin is dry you should look into one of the other formulas instead such as Luminous Silk.) I have been a big fan of Luminous Silk for the beautiful and natural texture, however; with Luminous Silk you have to apply SPF underneath or go without since the foundation has no SPF. I was excited to get Lasting Silk as a summer foundation because my skin is usually oilier when it's hot. I recommend getting the right color match in person with testers. In Luminous Silk I was wearing a 3, but the colors in Lasting Silk are lighter and so I certainly wouldn't go any lower than a 4 if I were trying to get the same color. And because it is summer and my face is slightly darker than usual, I actually bought the 5 in Lasting Silk. I'm not tan by any stretch of the imagination, but my skin gets a little more color in summer. In Laura Mercier Oil Free I wear Warm Ivory. In MAC I usually wear NC20 or NW20 depending on the formula. In Winter, 4 in Lasting Silk might be dark enough for me. The 4.5 color is too yellow for my neutral skin. Lasting Silk foundation feels comfortable on my skin, not heavy or oily, and I will probably buy this again, but luckily I have a brand new bottle to get through before I decide. The price is ridiculous but the product is great. I knocked off one lippie because actually the finish of Luminous Silk is silkier than Lasting Silk.

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mjacqueline on 6/21/2009 12:39:00 AM more reviews by mjacqueline

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this in shade 7 which is a great match for my NC 35 skin. It blends very easily and feels light as air when I apply it. It lasts the whole day. One pump gives a natural sheer coverage and two pumps gives me a near flawless finish. I have oily skin, I do have to blot after a few hours though.

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*TOP REVIEWER* babyscorpion on 6/13/2009 1:05:00 AM more reviews by babyscorpion

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This foundation is amazing. It is a sheer to medium coverage, but it lasts most of the day for me. I have a problem with foundations lasting all day. The coverage is so nice. I do not even know how to explain it. It blends well. I have used the Beauty Blender sponge, the GA designer foundation expert shaping brush and the Sephora #55 Airbrush and they all work amazing with this foundation. The SA at the Armani counter recommended the GA blender brush, but i did not buy it, since i have the other one.
I think for the summer time this is my one of my favorite foundation. Just for reference I have 5.5 and in MAC I am NC20-25'ish and MUFE 118.
Highly recommend checking this one out, but make sure that you go to a counter to get color match. I see a lot of NC20-25 that are between 5, 5.5 and 7. Worth checking out.

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kiune on 6/1/2009 10:54:00 AM more reviews by kiune

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Not bad. No lasting power on me though, for some reason. I'm sticking with my Shiseido formula. Good color match.

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libralibra on 5/20/2009 8:27:00 PM more reviews by libralibra

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Another fantastic foundation from the mighty Armani. It took me a while to get it right. Since I wear the #5 in LSF, I ordered this in 5. The Lasting Silk #5 is the perfect combination of pink yellow, but it was too light for me. Then I ordered the 5.5. Didn't like because it was too yellow (and I prefer yellow toned, but the yellow was excessive). I read the reviews here and decided to order the 7 since it was neutral. When I received it I was surprised to discover it was not that dark and just like #5 perfect combination of yellow and pink. It is a tad, just a tad too dark so I mix it with #5 to lighten it a bit. But gosh, this is just perfect. I do wish Armani cosmetics were available in more stores because I almost gave up on this, and now I simply can't be without it.

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kareygirl on 5/20/2009 8:13:00 AM more reviews by kareygirl

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This is a very nice foundation. Not the best I have ever used but I would recommend using this with an armani foundation brush and use whisper light blending strokes starting from the center of the face and working outward. I found it took just one pump to give my face enough coverage and it blended much better this way than with my fingers or my prescriptives foundation brush. I like that it has enough uv protection to allow me to feel I can skip an additional sunscreen if I'm in a hurry.

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jesha on 5/11/2009 5:53:00 PM more reviews by jesha

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

As others have noted, this is a bit lighter than other Armani foundations, and that's a good thing. While Luminous Silk in 2 is a good match for me it is just slightly too yellow--this foundation is pretty close to perfect. My skin is very fair and it's difficult to find foundations that aren't too orange or yellow.

I also like the fact that it provides good coverage and has SPF 20. It does seem to last well throughout a long day, and, like other Armani foundations, has a lovely subtle fragrance. I'll be buying this again.

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nickaboo on 5/10/2009 4:19:00 AM more reviews by nickaboo

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

A great offering from the Giorgio Armani foundation line. Definitely lives up to its name, lasting more than 12 hours an average for me and provides really excellent coverage. All that is needed to keep the oilies at bay is a very light dusting of loose powder (I use Nars loose powder with a synthetic powder blush).

Like has been said below, the best tip I can give for this foundation is to use it sparingly. A small pumps is all I need to get medium coverage, making my skin look poreless until the end of the day.

Although I initially thought that the formula would be too drying for my dehydrated, ultra-sensitive, react-to-anything skin, I am very happy to say I've used this foundation for a week straight, with no drying or reactive consequences. Also no breakouts in sight! (Which is more than I can say for Maybelline's Liquid Mineral Power foundation, but that's for another review).

Colour-wise, this foundation does run lighter than the Luminous Silk Foundation. I am a #5 in winter, and a #5.5 in summer for LSF. However, I found that #5 LSF is more comparable to #5.5 LSUVF, and #5.5 LSF is more like #6.5 LSUVF. So, I bought both #5.5 and #6.5 in LSUVF which could have worked out very, VERY expensive as I live in Australia, but I thwarted the high-cost gremlins and ordered from the US.

Overall, a really fantastic foundation that is perfect for long days in the office, or running errands all day on the weekends. I'll definitely buy again, but I don't see myself running out for a long time, due to the handy pump dispenser and little need to use a lot.

ETA: I am NC25-30 in winter, and NC30-NC40 in summer.

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rachybloom on 5/4/2009 2:17:00 AM more reviews by rachybloom

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I LOVE THIS STUFF. It's ridiculously expensive (around $60.00USD), but it's worth it. The MA told me that it works well with most skin types, except super dry. I have somewhat dry skin and it works fine on me, but I do make sure to moisturize very well.

It's a beautiful finish, neither matte nor dewy. Just naturally beautiful. And it really does last all day. Another thing I like is the lightest color (#2), is a great match. I'm a MUFE115 and that is SLIGHTLY too dark for me. I love that this is a perfect match. I apply with MAC109 brush and prep my skin with the GA Primer. Top it off with either MUFE HD Powder or MAC MSFN (either works fine). I've never tried any other GA products really, but this product is fantastic and if you have the money to throw around, I'd definitely recommend it.

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cougess on 5/2/2009 4:13:00 PM more reviews by cougess

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love Armani foundations. Currently I am using the designer compact foundation (in the flat glass jar) which I like for its ability to go through airport security (its a solid not a liquid). Thought I'd give the newest product a try and after 3 days I am favorably impressed. The finish is more luminous that the solid foundation and its very light. I think the key to this product is to use it sparingly and apply it with a foundation brush not your fingers. I then set it with a light dusting of powder. The brush allows you to even it out and blend it into your skin. You need to go to a counter to get color matched. I think its worth the money.

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mu46032 on 4/30/2009 8:25:00 PM more reviews by mu46032

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

This is even better than my beloved Sisley foundation!. Its super lightweight, non-irritating, and has SPF! I I found a good match in #5. The MA at Saks told me that this was a good neutral shade for fair to light skin like mine. I am LM Nude, PX champagne, BB Sand. I am fairly oily, yet I also have some dry patches from acne meds.

The MA reminded me that this is not an oil-controlling foundation, so I would steer away from this one if that is what you are looking for. The coverage and finish reminds me of Prescriptives Virtual Skin, except that this seems less pore-clogging and just better for your skin in general.

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clay2626 on 4/29/2009 5:55:00 PM more reviews by clay2626

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have this foundation in 4.5 and am between MAC NC 20-25, I believe it is maybe too light for me so I have ordered 5.5 (armani allows returns on purchases through their website) and will see how that works. I do like the coverage, its easy to apply and has medium coverage. I have alot of redness in my face and this covers well enough that I would repurchase. I have oily skin and am curious to see how long this lasts on me. Currently I am using Guerlains Parure Extreme in 02 (one of my all time favorite foundations) which lasts about six hours on my oily skin, less when it gets real humid so I am looking for a long wearing foundation that lasts in hot weather, Estee Double Wear was too cakey for me and I could not find a matching color that I was happy with. I have tried the LSF in 4.5 and though I love it, it did not hold up well on my skin so I am hoping this new foundation from Armani will be the one that will help me through the summer heat.

Update: I went up to 5.5, it still has a warm-yellow toned color to it but not a drastic change-this foundation is wonderful, one of the longest lasting foundations I have ever used. I think this replaces my guerlain parure as my favorite. I have very oily skin and this lasts my entire work day so I am happy.

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MotherPanda on 4/29/2009 9:49:00 AM more reviews by MotherPanda

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I have to mention, my skin texture is very fine, un-noticeable pore and less of freckle.

I have got different types of GA foundations, LSF #4.5, Designer Shaping Cream #6, Designer Compact #5.5. I feel that it's not easy to find a correct shade for me. I'm Hong Kong, yellow tone but not olive. This time, I got #5.5 for Lasting Silk UV Foundation. It's a bit warmer than LSF #4.5 and more closer to my complexion.

It's extreme lightweight because of its water essence. Your face are dressed barely foundation so that it's good for making a unde make-up. If you have tried to mix the LSF with Fluid Sheer, this is the texture of Lasting Silk UV Foundation but semi-mat, not glow.

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*TOP REVIEWER* michkal on 4/27/2009 8:27:00 AM more reviews by michkal

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

On me, this is one of those foundations that makes my skin look worse than without it. The SA gave me 6.5, which I found to be on the orange side. It has a greasy look and feel. It makes the imperfections, such as small bumps, stand out even more. It settled into my pores which made them look much more noticeable. One plus is the sunscreen, but I wear that under foundation anyway. I wound up exchanging this for BB skin, which I feel is much better. The colors at BB are better for me, the finish is b
etter, and I blot a lot less. I don't recommend lasting silk, especially for the price.

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airedale3 on 4/25/2009 7:02:00 PM more reviews by airedale3

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This makeup makes my skin look fabulous. BUT, it has fragrance. What a disappointment. This would be my holy grail if only it did not have fragrance. Why the heck does makeup need fragrance?
This foundation is creamy and goes on beautifully. It does give a luminous appearance to my skin. If only it did not smell!

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*TOP REVIEWER* sweetcaroline on 4/25/2009 1:14:00 AM more reviews by sweetcaroline

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have the MSF in 5.5 and loved it for my normal-oily T-zone skin except for the fact that it wears off in like 3 hours on me. It just fades away and I need to reapply. So when I heard about a long lasting UV foundation, I ran to Nordstrom to grab it! I chose shade 6.5 which is a tad darker than what I would normally wear, but I plan to use this in the summer when I self-tan regularly. I use 1-2 pumps and the coverage looks flawless and a matte finish (but not flat). Looks like my skin, but better. I wears about 8-12 hours of me, depending on how often I blow or scratch my nose. The skin around my nose and mouth fade the fastest. I wore this on my 12 hour work shifts and did not have to touch up or blot once! I wear this on top of Kiss Me's Face Factor SPF 30 and Avon Magix primer. So far, I am really liking this! Could be HG material!

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*TOP REVIEWER* missvox2 on 4/23/2009 9:43:00 PM more reviews by missvox2

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using this foundation for the last couple of weeks. I am usually a 6 in the LSF, also MAC NC25-NC30. The Lasting Silk runs light and the numbering is off. There isn't a 6 but a 6.5 like the rest of the Armani foundations. The MA tested 5.5 and 6.5 on me and the color is really close almost identical on me. The 5.5 is more olive yellow and the 6.5 has a touch of warmth. I notice that the 5.5 in LSF is more on the pink side and darker than the 5.5 LSUVF. During my consultation he instructed me to wait a minute after application for the foundation color to set or "oxide" due to the sunscreen formula. This would give your true color result. So I recommend you test it first for a match and not go by the numbering system. The coverage is featherlight and gives you a medium to buildable heavy coverage and moisturizing. There is also a fragrance in this which I don't mind. This one is more of a hit or miss, you really have to test this out. The MA said out of all the Armani foundations this one is made in Japan.

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*TOP REVIEWER* swolf123 on 4/17/2009 12:26:00 AM more reviews by swolf123

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Swatches #4-5 at the end of my review.

Update: I live in a dry climate (SF) and this seems to give me some dry patches throughout the day. I still like it but I have recently tried LSF in #5, which I think allows my skin to breathe a bit more and the color is a little less pink than #5 in LSUV.

My History/1st impression:
I've been on a hunt for months trying to replace my old standby (EL DWL #1). I have searched high & low, but nothing has come close to being a suitable match in color, texture and coverage. This new foundie might be what I am looking for, but it's still too early for 5stars. It is classified as Semi-Matte. It has a buildable coverage from light to medium (LSF is sheer to light). It applied and seemed very similar in texture to Shu Face Architect & MUFE HD, but w/ a better color selection.


What I first got/Colors:
I purchased #4 sight unseen from Evilbay, to match my light-medium olive complexion. For reference, I also wear BB Sand #2, Chanel Cameo, & EL DWL #1. Upon first application and inspection, I thought the color was very light, especially compared to my EL DWL #1 & LSF #4. It actually looked as light as Shu #774. Then I noticed it darkened a bit. So then I ran a side by side comparison on my hand, and found that after about 10-15 min it dried down to the same level as my EL DWL #1. Regardless of my unscientific test, application and dry down on my face was similar to the color it started with on my hand. Making it way lighter than LSF #4 and my old EL in #1.


Colors:
I went to the GA counter to find my right shade, but they were out of 4.5 already. I went w/ #5 since it was more neutral than 5.5. I also got a sample of 4.5 to try at home; still too light & looked artificially yellow on my olive complexion. FYI, the tones are really about a half a shade apart, w/ numbers ending in .5 being yellow. All colors w/ no .5 added to the end, are neutral to pink. However I noticed they left out tones #3, 6, & 8 to name a few. LE?


Wear:
Upon first application my skin looked the most airbrushed & healthy it has ever looked w/ any foundie. It covered pretty seamlessly over my recent recovering breakout, and looked flawless over my nice skin. It is long wearing (not like EL DWL though) and it doesn't rub off very easily (except on my nose). B/C of the finish and type, I would not suggest this for someone in a a cold, windy or very dry climate. It would also be bad for dry skinned types, who do not moisturize. I am acne prone & sensitive, and this has actually improved the condition of my skin.


Update on Wear:
It's been warmer in the Bay Area the last few days, so I've finally been able to appreciate this semi-matte formula. Long wearing yes, but my nose and upper lip area were a tiny bit oily by the end of the day. I usually use MUFE Super Matte on my T-zone in the morn, but I'm usually too busy to reapply through the day. I also found that the formula does oxidize a little, but not in a bad way. It actually looks better after it finishes adjusting. It is also the most lightweight medium coverage I have ever tried & I don't look too made up either. Another happy surprise is that in a short time I have noticed a dramatic improvement in my hyperpigmentation; which I can only assume is from the added SPF 20 protection (I wear SPF 30 lotion as well). Nothing is perfect, but this is as good as I can find w/ my coloring, skin type, & coverage needs at the moment. Not sure if this will be in rotation during winter, but that is a long time away. Bye, bye EL. Also, I found MUFE Full Cover in #4 matches Lasting Silk #5 perfectly. For reference I used the GA Designer brush for application.

Swatches #4-5 after the Jump.

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Koren on 4/11/2009 7:45:00 PM more reviews by Koren

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I just can't resist a new Armani foundation! I was a big fan of GA Matte Silk foundation and was so disappointed when it was discontinued. This new Lasting Silk foundation makes up for that and more! It's the most natural light-to-medium coverage foundation I have ever used. And it really lives up to its name: It lasts all day! And looks good doing it. It's one of those foundations that diffuses light -- or lines and pores in my case. Unlike other foundations, I just don't see it settling into the pores on my nose. Armed with my Armani Foundation brush, I get a natural flawless finish that feels weightless. And the SPF of 20 appeases some of my guilt for my non-religious use of sunscreens! I've worn it every day since I got it and am already thinking "backup." I bought #5, which is what I always wear. I found it slightly lighter than my LSF #5, but still a good match for my NW20-NW25 skin. Lasting Silk is a water-based, slightly luminous matte foundation, which I think will be especially perfect for the spring/summer months. I have pretty normal skin--not too dry not too oily--but I don't think I'd recommend this for those with extremely dry skin.

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