Luminous Silk Foundation

You can probably get a good idea about this product from the many other reviews on this site. It’s my favourite foundation and the one I use everyday. I just wanted to point out a few things about it: - It does not have a lot of slip and it dries down fairly quickly. I therefore think it looks much better when I apply it in a small section at a time, blending quickly (I use a damp beautyblender). Otherwise it can set before I have time to blend (I do however not use a lot of product since I prefer light/light-medium coverage) - It’s very skin like! While it has a nice medium coverage, I apply it sparingly in small sections and blend it quickly with a beautyblender. It sheers it out a bit and looks very natural and unnoticeable even outside in natural light. It’s very impressive especially considering the coverage. I use it for “no makeup makeup” applied in a sheer layer all over. I can also get a nice medium coverage with a normal amount, or high coverage if I build it to use as a concealer over blemishes and redness and then just apply it sheer everywhere else for more perfected look (that still manages to look like light and natural makeup rather than a mask). Either way looks nice. - It sets to an initially velvet/matte finish with a hint of shine when first applied. Not flat or chalky/powdery matte it looks nice, but It is not my preferred look. However it softens into a nice satin/luminous satin which I like after a short while. Also it contains absolutely no shimmer not even Pearl/micro-shimmer! I have checked it outside in direct sunlight and there isn’t any, so if you dislike shimmer of any kind rest assured this does not have it. - It’s not super long wearing, but it’s not too difficult to remove either which is nice if you have sensitive skin like I do. Also it wears off really nicely and evenly! It just gradually fades. Without really any significant settling into lines or emphasising texture or whatever. It can look a bit too luminous after a while though, so I would recommend you powder it if that is a concern (I like MUFE Ultra HD loose powder), but it’s not too bad. - It is a bit finicky when you apply it and can stick to dry patches a bit. Applying it in small sections, one at a time, and blending well usually solves the issue. It’s not slap it on quickly and head out the door type of foundation that I can just apply with fingers. You do need to baby it a bit I think. But if I take a bit of time and apply it right it usually looks great. - It works on my sensitive skin even with the alcohol and the fragrance. The fragrance is mild (beach sunscreen like smell?) and dissipates. Their is alcohol in this, but it’s in quite a low amount I think judging by the ingredient list and my experience with the product. It doesn’t smell like alcohol and it also doesn’t have that cool/cold/absorbent/refreshed kind of sensation that alcohol usually gives products. Alcohol is usually an issue for my skin, but my skin is fine using this even everyday! The fragrance hasn’t bothered my skin either. I have used a whole bottle and have repurchased. I’m about MAC NW15-20 (Mostly neutral slightly-cool and quite muted) I use shade 5 and it’s a fairly good match.

I work as a makeup artist and as you can imagine I have tried many foundations over the past years. This is by far one of the best foundations I have ever tried. It goes on smoothly and the best way to apply it is with your hands. You can build this easily without ever looking heavy and it looks so natural on your skin. It looks like your skin but better and there is nothing better than those no makeup makeup looks. This gives you the skin of a Hollywood star. I don’t really get all those negative reviews

Shade 3 is a fair (around NC10), yellow toned shade. Pros: Beautiful natural, satin finish. Cons: Mid - medium coverage at best. Breaks my acne prone skin out. Hella expensive.

This is a fine foundation. It's easy to apply, leaves a beautiful finish and smells good*. It's nicely hydrating for my desert-dry skin... But I don't quite get it's cult following. It may have deserved it's cult-y rep at one time, but not any more, when so many amazing lower priced options exist that look just as beautiful on, and last longer. (L'Oreal True Match and True Match Lumi come instantly to mind, as does Too Faced Dew You.) I bought mine online from Sephora (after a couple of cocktails one night I suddenly didn't care about the ridiculous price tag, and PayPal one-click happened so fast I didn't even have time to second guess my purchase.) After it arrived I ended up exchanging it for a darker shade (I went from 5.0 to 5.5) which was easy to do and allowed me to downsize to the mini bottle the second time around....after a couple of tries with 5.0 I knew I wouldn't need an entire $64 bottle of it. It leaves a beautiful luminous finish that pretty much disappears once you apply a setting powder, which is necessary to make this foundation last more than a few hours...yes, it wears off that fast, for me at least (even when primered and set! I'm also an online teacher, so most foundations have to be powdered otherwise my forehead looks like a giant strobe light on camera.) The foundation comes in many shades and the undertones of both 5.0 and 5.5 worked well for me....they are warm but not too yellow. I recommend you get a sample first and see how it wears before you spend the money. If you love it, go for it, but remember there are many drug store options that are just as good, at one third the price. *There's no reason any foundation should be scented....fragrance is just something that could irritate your skin, so it comes down to personal preference and whether or not your skin can handle it.

I've been using Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua 20beige as my liquid foundation and got really sick of the perfume and alcohol in that. I got myself the Luminous Silk on a whim in shade 4 and I must say I am really impressed. It looks like second skin and feels weightless. It has a really nice natural look and evens out my skintone beautifully without looking cakey or dry. I have combo oily tzones and dehydrated cheeks. I get dry around the mouth and oily in my nose and forehead. I also have large pores on my cheeks this does not accentuate anything bad and gives me a healthy glow without looking greasy. I'd say its a natural finish so it isn't matte but it is not dewy. This has never broken me out even wearing it everyday for 6-8 hours a day. I use this with a sponge or Smashbox Blurring Foundation Brush and it looks amazing. I do not set this with powder either and I am very happy with how it looks throughout the day. I also set this foundation with Luminous Silk Compact in shade 2 with Smash Box Sheer Powder Brush. They work beautifully together ****I must warn those with dry skin to moisturize well because it can look dry if I dont prime with a hydrating base since I do have drier cheek and mouth area. I use Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base and they pair really well together. Also this foundation dries down pretty fast so work one side of the face at a time!! Sometimes I do miss my Chanel Vitalumiere because its so much easier to work with and no fuss whatsoever. I honestly still prefer the Chanel deep down. I will finish this bottle since its so expensive but I might go back to vitalumiere aqua after.

I love this foundation, such a natural look. But the price of their products are very expensive.

Hate this foundation. It's patchy and settles strangely. Drying. Waste of money.

I bought this foundation because many people have said that it is the best foundation ever. I have combination skin and this foundation looked awful! I applied it with a blending brush and also with a beauty blender on a different day but it looked terrible either way. It was very patchy and made my skin look worse when it was on. By the end of the day the foundation had pretty much come off completely and I have never experienced this with any foundation. I think the product is overrated and definitely overpriced. I wouldn’t even by this foundation if it was £5! The only nice thing about this foundation is the packaging

I have recently tested this foundation. I wore it for 8 hours and was very very disappointed. First it settled into all lines and pores on my face, making it look worse. After 3-4 hrs it became super shiny and practically melted away from my skin. I think for people with combination skin and first signs of aging this product may not be worth it. I recommend bobbi brown skin foundation and chanel ultra teint velvet.

Pros -Natural finish -Great colour match -Subtle undertones Cons -Silicone/slippery texture no great for building coverage so I wouldn’t recommend for those with darker blemishes. -Expensive. -Not ‘beautiful’ or radiant. -Doesn't mix well with most foundations. I liked this foundation because it really did look like skin however I think that’s partly due to the sheer-medium coverage. On a drab skin day it will look drab and crepey, on a good day it will look clean and plain. I’m my opinion it’s overpriced. A powder foundation like Jane Iredale would achieve the same effect, if not better. Recommended for those with normal/ combination skin.