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Armani Bronzer + Blush

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush

June 20, 2023

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush

Armani Beauty launched their Luminous Silk Glow Blushes ($38) earlier this spring. I’m late to the game trying these but after falling in love with 51 Amore I picked up more shades including one of the new colors 11 Warm Nude and thought I’d put these on your radar.

The Luminous Silk Glow Blush is a soft natural looking blush with a silky smooth texture. If you’re looking for a natural blush that is easy to apply with medium buildable coverage these are the ones to check out! Powders have a finely milled texture which makes it blend right into the skin.

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush

Lasting power is excellent (I love powder blushes in general). I have 5 shades now and all of them perform exceptionally well.

  • 11 In Love/Warm Nude is a neutral nude beige, on me it pulls more neutral-cool
  • 30 Offbeat is a bright apricot matte
  • 50 Euphoric is a golden pink, on my complexion it looks more like a highlighter, but if I layer this on top of another blush or cream blush the pink base shows more
  • 51 Amore is the perfect rose pink
  • 52 Ecstasy is a beautiful cool bright pink

My favorite is 51 Amore. I also love layering these together. The peachy ones 30 and 50 layer really nicely together.

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush swatches

If I had tried them all in person before ordering, I would have probably skipped 11. I think it will work nicely on lighter or cooler skin tones. For my medium tan olive skin it pulls a little too neutral. I prefer Laura Mercier Fresco or Charlotte Tilbury First Love for the perfect neutral blush (on my skintone).

Looks below with coordinating lip colors. For my base I’m wearing the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Concealer and Setting Powder all in Shade 6.5.

Armani Blush in 11 In Love (some sites list as Warm Nude) + Dior Beauty Lip Maximizer in 038 Rose Nude

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush 11 In Love

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Armani Blush 30 Offbeat + Armani Lip Power 103

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush 30 Offbeat

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Armani Blushes in 30 Offbeat + 50 Euphoric Layered + Armani Lip Power 103

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush 30 Offbeat & 50 Euphoric

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Armani Blush 51 Amore + Lip Power in 109

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush 51 Amore

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Armani Blush 52 Ecstasy + Lip Power in 109

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush 52 Ecstasy

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A couple more Armani mentions. I still really love the Luminous Silk Foundation formula. Everytime I use it I am just blown away by how smooth and naturally glowy my skin looks with this base. I use the Shade 6.5. The Luminous Silk Concealer is one of the best full coverage concealers I’ve used. I also use Shade 6.5 which pulls a little lighter than the foundation so it’s perfect for brightening. The Luminous Silk Glow Setting Powder is another favorite. It’s a glowy powder but not too glowy for all over the face. However if you don’t like any glow or shimmer all over it may be too much for you in which case I’d recommend trying either the Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Setting Powder or Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (my 2 holy grail setting powders right now).

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Concealer, Powder in 6.5

It’s also been a while since I reviewed the Lip Power Lipsticks and I don’t think I ever swatched all the shades so here is the lineup of what I have. They’re creamy, full coverage, comfortable and have great lasting power.

I wear Shade 103 and 109 the most. I think those are the most wearable and flattering. They’re also the ones I get the most “what’s on your lips?” questions for. Shade 107 is a newer shade which ended up being a little too dark on my complexion. If you’re all about the 90s brown tones I think you’ll love it. For me I’ll probably save it for fall/winter.

Armani Lip Power Lipstick

Armani Lip Power Lipstick swatches

Bottom line, love the Luminous Silk Glow Blushes. I wish they had more colors to choose from but I love what they have right now.

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Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and all Armani retailers.

Armani Fragrance Nordstrom

Armani My Way Eau de Parfum

December 4, 2020

Armani My Way Eau de Parfum | The Beauty Lookbook

I’ve been playing with some new fragrances this holiday season and one of my latest discoveries is the Giorgio Armani My Way Eau de Parfum. Armani has been a favorite since the day it launched and I’m excited to partner with Nordstrom to share a look at this beautiful fragrance alongside some of my go-to makeup staples.

The Armani My Way Eau de Parfum is something I would describe as a bright sweet floral. If you like tuberose and jasmine you will love this. It also has notes of bergamot, orange blossom, vanilla, white musk and cedarwood, but to me the floral notes dominate. It has a slight fruity undertone to it which makes it sweet, but not too sweet. Lasting power is quite amazing – just a few spritzes lasts all day long. It’s definitely one that lifts and brightens the mood – it’s a happy kind of scent!

Armani My Way Fragrance | The Beauty Lookbook

Armani My Way | The Beauty Lookbook

Armani My Way Perfume | The Beauty Look Book

A few of my makeup staples from Armani include:

Luminous Silk Foundation – among the best of the best for a natural glow foundation with good lasting power, medium coverage and a wide shade range! My match is usually 6.5 or 7 depending on time of year. I am wearing Shade 7 in this post.

Luminous Silk Concealer – one of the best opaque full coverage concealers that is still easy to blend. I wear shade 6.5 for brightening and spot concealing. A little goes a long way so you don’t need a lot.

Eyes to Kill Mascara – I’ve tried this in both the Classic and Wet Waterproof formula. Both have been staples for years for that defined volume and length.

Fluid Sheer – The Fluid Sheers were my very first Armani purchase back when I discovered the line. I really love Shade 2 for the perfect champagne glow. Right now since I’m more tan I like Shade 11 because it’s such a pretty soft bronze. I apply them as a highlighter on the cheek bones.

Armani Makeup Staples: Luminous Silk Foundation, Concealer, Eyes to Kill Mascara, Fluid Sheer

Wearing my favorites listed above. Also wearing the Eye Tint in Shade 44, Neo Nude Powder in 5.5, A-Blush Liquid Tint in 32, Ecstasy Mirror Gloss in 101.

Armani Makeup Favorites | The Beauty Lookbook

Armani My Way Perfume | The Beauty Lookbook

Armani My Way Perfume | The Beauty Lookbook

Armani My Way Perfume | The Beauty Lookbook

Armani My Way Perfume Review | The Beauty Lookbook

Armani My Way is available in a few size options and sets. Mine is the 1.7 fl oz/50 ml option for $97.00 (retail). If you’re looking for a gift for someone who already has everything, you can’t go wrong with gifting them their favorite fragrance. It’s something they can always use! If you love sweet florals I think this is worth checking out.

Available at Nordstrom.

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Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

Armani Base Makeup

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Hydrating Primer + Concealer Review

April 23, 2020

Armani Luminous Silk Collection

One of my favorite tried and true foundation formulas is the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. It’s one of the best formulas for that natural flawless glow and one I’ve repurchased many times over. I’m so excited to partner with Sephora to give you a closer look two new additions to the Luminous Silk lineup. This year marks the 20th anniversary for the foundation and they’ve added their new Luminous Silk Concealer and Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer. You can find all three available now at Sephora, just in time for the Spring Savings Event (use code SPRINGSAVE):

  • Rouge members save 20% off 4/17 to 5/1
  • VIB members save 15% off 4/21 to 4/29
  • Insiders save 10% off 4/23 to 4/27

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Hydrating Primer and Concealer 6.5

Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer

Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer

The Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer is an ultra smooth silky primer. It has a soft peach pink tint but blends into a transparent finish on the skin. A little goes a long way and it glides on easily. Although the foundation is so good I can often wear it on its own, I do find the primer noticeably grips the foundation for smoother longer wear. It’s hydrating but lightweight.

Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer

Best Naturally Glowy Base: Luminous Silk Foundation

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5

I’ve featured the Luminous Silk Foundation here countless times – it’s one I wear on a weekly basis for that natural radiant glow. It’s a great everyday foundation with medium buildable coverage. I love that it comes with a pump dispenser and it’s easy to blend with fingers, a brush or a sponge. I alternate between shades 6.5 and 7 depending on how tan I am. They’ve recently added 10 new shades for different undertones and the color range now includes 40 colors. I like this formula because it looks like my skin but better. It evens out the skin, leaves a smooth finish, doesn’t crease or transfer, looks natural. Even in humid warm weather it lasts long on me when set with a powder.

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5

Luminous Silk Concealer

Armani Luminous Silk Concealer 6.5

As a lover of the Armani bases, I was really excited to try the new Luminous Silk Concealer. I found 6.5 to be the best match for my needs. It’s a multi-purpose concealer with caffeine to reduce puffiness around the eyes. You can use it for brightening or spot concealing. It’s quite opaque but very easy to blend with fingers or a sponge. It has medium to full coverage with a natural dewy finish and satiny dry down. I would recommend going with the same shade of concealer as your foundation.

Armani Luminous Silk Concealer 6.5

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Review 6.5

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Concealer and Primer

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation Concealer and Primer

I love how long the formula lasts on my skin. I do set with a loose or pressed powder to keep everything in place. (I really love the Neo Nude Powder.) I hope you found this Luminous Silk review helpful! I highly recommend the foundation for any skin type. It works for a wide range of climate conditions as well for me and I’ve worn it for years.

You can shop my Armani favorites from Sephora below. Have you tried the Armani Luminous Silk or any of the other foundation formulas? What did you think?

 

 

Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

Armani

Armani Neo Nude Collection Review

June 7, 2018

Armani Neo Nude Collection Review and Swatches

The Armani Neo Nude Collection launched earlier this spring exclusive to Nordstrom and Giorgio Armani Beauty. This collection hands down has been the most requested review in my entire blogging life! It’s taken me a while to compile this as pieces sold out so it took me a long time to track enough down for a review. At the time this post is going live everything has restocked at Nordstrom!

The entire collection is focused on creating that no makeup makeup look with a luminous sheer glow. To me the vibe is similar to that of the Chanel Les Beiges 2018 launch. Each has their own unique take on what they wanted to focus on. If you like natural makeup this Armani Neo Nude collection is going to be right up your alley.

What I have been playing with:

A-Line Highlighter + Blush

Up first are the cheek products. The products are called Neo Nude A-Line which Armani calls complexion enhancing watercolor makeup. These are water-based liquid colors that blend seamlessly into the skin for a glowing complexion. I tried the A-Blush and A-Highlighter.

Armani Neo Nude A-Highlighter 11, A-Blush 30 and 50

I tried one A-Highlighter 11 which is a soft champagne for a very natural glow and two A-Blushes 30 is a peach and 50 is a pink. All blend out and sheer out quite a bit for a barely there tint. I’ve done face swatches where I had to layer quite a bit to get the color to show in a photograph with flash. In real life you can see the tint better with just a few dabs and blending. It won’t disrupt powder or foundation if you apply on top. They blend nicely but do not have the texture or finish like a cream blush so these lasted on my skin a lot longer!

Armani Neo Nude A-Highlighter 11, A-Blush 30 and 50 swatches

The highlighter barely shows up on my skin but in person it gives a very natural glow. The blushes give a natural tint of color. Given how much they sheer out I think I would have had no problem ordering the darker ones sight unseen but wanted to play it safe. By comparison the Glossier Cloud Paints give a similar finish in terms of pigment. The NARS Liquid Blush will give a more opaque buildable cheek look. I skipped the contours as I’m not really into contours. Given how these blended I think I may give them another look, but for now I’m sticking with my Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel to contour.

Ecstasy Balm

Next are the Ecstasy Balms which are supposed to enhance your natural lip color. Shades are 1 a light pink, 2 a sheer coral, 3 a soft plum. Color-wise they are very very sheer. Formula wise they feel nicely hydrating without feeling thick or goopy.

Armani Ecstasy Balm review and swatches neo nude collection

On me they didn’t change or alter my lips like the Dior Addict Lip Glows. The Armani Ecstasy Balms are essentially sheer balms with a very tiny bit of tint to them. They feel extremely comfortable and hydrating. If you really want that no makeup makeup look you will like these. I think for summer it’s nice to have one. For more color you might want to opt for the Chanel Les Beiges Balms from this season or the YSL Tint-In-Balms or even the YSL Volupte Liquid Colour Balms.

Swatches below, on the lips they are done on bare lips:

Armani Ecstasy Balm review and swatches neo nude collection

Armani Ecstasy Balm review and swatches neo nude collection

Fusion Powder

Last but definitely not least are the Neo Nude Compact Foundations. Just as an FYI my compacts have these labeled as Neo Nude Fusion Powders so in case you see both names online know they are the same. I ordered shades sight unseen. My Luminous Silk Powder Foundation shade has been #4 for as long as I can remember. The shades in the powder line have gaps and many of them are pink-toned. Since powder and foundation or the combination can oxidize on my skin I often go slightly lighter if I cannot find an exact match because the blending always adjusts the color.

Armani Neo Nude Compact Foundation Fusion Powder

I can get away with all options I ordered in 4, 5.5 and 6.5 all over the face. However 5.5 is the best match even though it does have a slightly pinkish undertone in the compact. It is sheer enough and my tan has enough warmth that it works and blends in seamlessly, but if I could have my pick my best shade match would most likely be 6 which they do not make. The Armani Neo Nude powders are finely milled with a natural luminous sheen similar to that of the Laura Mercier Candleglow Powders (difference is the LM ones are baked and have different undertones). The Neo Nude Powders blur away fine lines and pores and makes my skin look glowing without shine. I have no idea if these are limited edition but they are so nice I’m ordering backups right now.

A closer look at the texture of #4 and then swatches of all the colors I have. These are 2 tiered like the powder foundation, there is a compartment underneath for a brush that you can use for touchups. I prefer to use a regular powder brush to apply all over. My favorites of the moment are the Laura Mercier Blending Brush and MAC 140S.

Armani Neo Nude Compact Foundation Fusion Powder 4

 

Armani Neo Nude Compact Foundation Fusion Powder Review 4, 5.5 and 6.5 swatches

 

Beauty Looks

Two looks with each blush and two different lip combos, wearing:

Armani Neo Nude A-Blush 30 + Ecstasy Balm 1

Look 2 below, same as above, only differences are:

Armani Neo Nude A-Blush 50 + Ecstasy Balm 2

Bottom line love. I really did not think I would love another natural makeup collection as much as I did Chanel Les Beiges but the Armani Neo Nude is really beautiful. Collections are similar but different as they have a different focus and different formulas.

I think every item I tried with the Armani Neo Nude is outstanding. I would say that the Ecstasy Balms are not the most exciting since they are so sheer it’s hard for me to justify the price. Yet I’m still happy with them and think they’re great for a truly effortless tint + shine. Plus they feel nice on the lips. If you already own a lot of tinted balms or want more color, skip these. The Neo Nude Powder is a must-have if you can find a good match. A quick look a the counter showed there were quite a few shade options. They are sheer enough that you don’t need an exact match. The Blushes and Highlighters are perfect although I do think they can be duplicated with other shades from NARS or Glossier. I like the Armani ones because of the finish – the humidity is rising here but I have high hopes since these aren’t creams that they will last through the heat.

You can find the Armani Neo Nude Collection at Nordstrom and Giorgio Armani Beauty. I highly recommend checking the collection out.

All items purchased by me except the A-Highlighter and A-Blushes which were press samples.

Armani Lips

Armani Ecstasy Shine Lipstick Review + Swatches

September 5, 2017

Armani Ecstasy Shine lipstick

Armani Beauty just launched a new lipstick formula called Ecstasy Shine ($38 each for .1 oz, made in France). These are high shine lipsticks with a balmy feel with medium to rich coverage. The lighter color shades have a sheerer finish while the deeper or bright ones are one-swipe wonders on my pigmented lips. They have a finish and texture that reminds me of the first generation of sheer lipsticks Armani launched many years ago (I’m thinking around 2001-ish) but without as much slip or sheerness. Given the balm-like texture these still have some slip but they don’t disappear on my lips as quickly as some of the older Armani formulas. They feel ultra nourishing, comforting and smooth on the lips. There’s a glossy sheen and while they aren’t long-lasting like regular lipsticks or nearly as rich or long-lasting as their Lip Magnets I find they do stay put on the lips until you drink or snack. These feel so nice on the lips I don’t mind reapplying.

I have seven shades swatched:

  • 100 is a sheer light pink neutral
  • 101 is a medium pink-brown
  • 200 is a sheer brown with a hint of pink
  • 300 is a bright orange coral
  • 400 is a perfect classic bold red
  • 500 is a gorgeous sheer-medium hot pink
  • 506 is a pigmented fuchsia pink

Armani Ecstasy Shine lipstickArmani Ecstasy Shine lipstick swatches

Another look + lip swatches, foundation worn is Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation in 21 + 31 mixed (review here).

Armani Ecstasy Shine lipstick review

Armani Ecstasy Shine lipstick swatches

I’m a sheer lipstick and lip gloss lover so these are right up my alley. To me they have more of a summer feel with the color scheme and texture but as one who really doesn’t favor matte lips I’m not complaining. The color lineup is filled with timeless classics. I need to make a trip to the counter to see if I can find a good plum shade. My favorite of course is a neutral 100. I can’t help but feel 506 is a perfect fuchsia and Armani does really good orangey-reds and classic reds. As far as I can tell there’s no detectable scent once on the lips. The lipstick in the tube has a natural kind of scent that smells like an essential oil. Something you might expect in a lip treatment or balm. Once I have it on the lips I can’t smell anything. They have a similar vibe to the YSL Rouge Volupte Shines but the Armani has a little less slip, no fruity scent, and more pigment. I love both formulas but this one from Armani feels more along lines of a classic tinted balm lipstick. Bottom line: glossy, nicely hydrating and a great color range.

You can find these at all Armani counters by now. Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Barneys New York Giorgio Armani Beauty and all other counters. Have you tried these yet?

Armani ecstasy shine provided courtesy of Armani for review.

Armani Lips

Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets Part II: 503, 504, 505, 506 and 507

December 28, 2016

Armani Lip Magnet Review and Swatches

I featured six of the Armani Lip Magnets back in October of this year and many of you asked for more swatches of the colors that fall in the neutral zone. For those who haven’t tried these yet the Armani Lip Magnets are a unique weightless non-drying liquid lipstick that offer beautiful long lasting coverage. I’m more of a gloss or sheer lipstick kind of person for texture and finish. Even though liquid lipsticks last a lot longer most formulas tend to look dry, too opaque, flat or darken drastically on my lips. The Armani Lip Magnets are hands down the best in formula for a natural looking liquid lipstick that dries down to a soft matte finish without that dried-out look. Unfortunately for those who only wear light neutrals or nudes all the colors pull on the dark or deep side. Even the ones that fall in the “natural” category are all rather deep. The color in the tubes can look a little bit misleading in my opinion. Some of the shades look like they could be true neutrals but once you see them on the applicator and swatch you’ll find the colors are a bit on the deeper spectrum of color. Still there are some lovely shades to chose from. I’m not opposed to having a rosy lip or coral pop of color on the lips even though I tend to gravitate towards lighter neutrals. The formula is so good I think it’s definitely worth a try. I do hope Armani expands the color range into lighter territory – the formula is so unique and the perfect liquid lip texture/finish for the person who just doesn’t like the dried opaque feel or look of the traditional liquid lipstick. You can read my original review on formula in this post here. Quick take: it’s long-lasting, unscented, has a unique applicator for precise lining and the ability to fill in the lips, has full coverage, feels weightless and is non-drying.

Armani Lip Magnet Review and Swatches 503, 504, 505, 506 and 507 naturals

I bought five more shades to review, I searched a number of websites and it appears 506 and 507 are on backorder until January at most retailers. You may still have luck finding it at your counters.

  • 503 is described as a reddish peach, on me it’s a bright coral
  • 504 is probably the lightest and most neutral out of the current lineup, but it pulls peachy and
  • 505 is a medium-bright rose pink
  • 506 is a soft natural rose (also reviewed in the original post), depending on your lip color it may pull more pink or rose, on me it’s a slightly deeper rose
  • 507 is the perfect mauve plum for me, most mauves are either too red, too grey or too purple, this one is PERFECT!

Armani Lip Magnet Review and Swatches 503, 504, 505, 506 and 507 naturals

For skintone reference, Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Bisque + NARS Powder Foundation in Punjab to set worn, all lip colors swatched on bare lips, no liner or base used:

Armani Lip Magnet Swatch 503

Armani Lip Magnet Swatch 505

Armani Lip Magnet Swatch 506

Armani Lip Magnet Swatch 507

Armani Lip Magnet Review and Swatches 503, 504, 505, 506 and 507 naturals

The Lip Magnet lip swatches lined up side by side:

Armani Lip Magnet Swatches

My favorite for color is still #506 with #507 tied for my perfect plum. Formula-wise these are among the best I’ve tried in liquid lipsticks because they have a soft matte finish, they don’t dry out the lips, they have a nourishing feel but don’t have any slip, they last a remarkably long time, they don’t budge and coverage is perfect. For those who don’t like scented lip products the fact that these are unfragranced is a huge plus. If Armani expands the formula to include a few lighter shades I would be thrilled. Bottom line a winning formula.

I hope you found these swatches helpful! You can find the Armani Lip Magnets for $38 each. There are 18 colors total at the moment. Available in stores and online at Giorgio Armani Beauty, Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

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Armani Base Makeup Skincare

Armani Beauty Prima Skincare, Crema Nuda and Him/Her Lip Care

October 6, 2016
Armani Beauty - The Beauty Look Book

I’ve been testing out some items from Armani Beauty in skincare and just purchased a newly packaged foundation from the line. After a few misses over the spring I’ve been very nervous to test anything even though I’ve used many items from their line for over a decade. I used their Crema Nera cream in the original version for quite some time and absolutely loved it (I believe it’s since been reformulated or repackaged). I have three items from the Armani Prima Skincare line that I’ve been testing for a few months now, the new travel-size Crema Nuda Supreme Glow Reviving Tinted Cream and additional thoughts on the Him/Her Lip Care.

Up first are three items from the Armani Prima Skincare line. This line was designed to keep the glow in your morning makeup look fresh and stay put all day long and the three items that first launched really do work. They smooth the skin, give it a very natural glow without the greasy feel and work well with my makeup (all brands including NARS, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Hourglass).

Armani Prima Skincare Review

I’m one who finds that my face makeup does indeed disappear or absorb into the skin and requires a little touch up mid-day. Foundation and powder usually stay put pretty well but I hate layers of product on my face so while I’ve tried and liked a lot of primers, I don’t think I’ve ever found one I absolutely love. Something is always wrong with primers I test, either it just doesn’t do anything for the foundation I wear, isn’t compatible with my skincare, causes an allergic reaction or it works but has that silicone feel that I really don’t like.

The Armani team sent three items over the summer and after a few bad skin reactions to their Maestro Glow Foundation and UV Primer I was terrified of trying these. I waited several weeks before being brave enough to test them and reminded myself that I had used a number of serums and creams from the line before and had great success with them. (I stopped repurchasing because of the high price points.) I’m glad I did. Thoughts on each.

Armani Prima Skincare Review

Glow-On Moisturizing Balm is a moisturizer that is designed to give skin a natural glow, plump and smooth the skin. It does all the things it claims and has a very unique texture. It’s hydrating but has a very lightweight texture, almost airy and dries to a semi-matte finish. There is a very slight scent to it but it’s pleasant and disappears within a few minutes. For me it has enough hydration to use in place of moisturizer. I have normal combination skin and find it is odd that it gives skin a glow yet has a matte looking effect. Kinda like how Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks are luminous mattes. For me this is what I had hoped the Natasha Denona Face Glow Primer Hydrating Underbase to be (which turned out to be a bit too rich for my skintype).

If you’re more on the oily side or normal for that matter and find foundation disappears within hours the Armani Prima Day-Long Skin Perfector is the best makeup primer I have ever tried. It smooths out the skin and really does make foundation look fresh longer. I have not tested it in hot humid weather but I wish I had this a year ago during our summer trip to Europe to try. Last year there were days in Paris and Rome where I just gave up on wearing any makeup because the heat and humidity caused everything to slide off within minutes. In warm California weather the Day-Long Skin Perfector really does smooth the skin and prime it well for your base makeup. It has a lightweight texture that glides onto the skin. I use it over my moisturizers (La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream, La Mer Moisturizing Soft Lotion, Kate Somerville Nourish Moisturizer etc.) and it’s compatible with all of them. I have small but noticeable-to-me sized pores and this works well to smooth them out. It’s supposed to help absorb excess oil and it does help to keep the shine at bay for me.

The Lip and Eye Contour was featured earlier this week and works to smooth out lips and give them a slightly plumped effect. I have not tried it on the eyes yet. It does indeed smooth out the lip and help prime them for lip color. It does come at a very steep price tag. It’s a nice one that I like but given the price I do not know if it’s something I will repurchase once used up. It does smooth out lip lines and I suspect it will do the same for eyes. With the eye area and skincare I’ve tried a number of items (still testing quite a few). I feel like eye creams are hard to test because they take so much time to see results. If you’ve tried this on the eye area let me know what you thought.

Up next are the Him/Her Lip Care tinted shades in 2, 3 and 5. These were also featured in this week’s lip basics roundup so I won’t recap the full review. A few of you asked for lip swatches even though I felt they all looked pretty much the same and sheer on my lips. I have pigmented lips but they do seem to be darker on some days compared to others. I managed to get lip swatches on a day where my lips were on the lighter side. I swatched them heavily so you could see the color but I normally would not wear them this thick on the lips. They have a nice moisturizing balmy feel. They aren’t lightweight and you can feel them once on the lip area. If you need something weightless these will be too heavy for you. I also swatched all the colors at the counter for reference.

Armani Him/Her Lip Care - The Beauty Look Book

Shades I bought, 2 is peachy, 3 is a lilac, 5 is a plum:

On the skin is MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation shade NC37:

Armani Him/Her Lip Care - The Beauty Look Book

Armani Him/Her Lip Care - The Beauty Look Book

Armani Him/Her Lip Care - The Beauty Look Book

All the options, swatched at the counter:

Armani Him/Her Lip Care - The Beauty Look Book

Last but not least is the Crema Nuda Supreme Glow Reviving Tinted Cream which now comes in a travel sized version with a pump. When the original version came out in the large tub with a $200 price tag my jaw literally dropped and I told myself “I can’t check it out, I just can’t do it.” The most I’ve spent on a foundation before was for Cle de Peau and I did love it but never repurchased. When I saw a travel size of the Crema Nuda for $120 pop up online I was also debating the new Cle de Peau Beaute Radiant Cream Foundation which is $125. It turned out to be too pink for me (I tried O30 too pink and O40 was too dark) and at the price tag I needed an exact or pretty exact match so I passed.

Armani Beauty Crema Nuda Review - The Beauty Look Book

Before trying the Crema Nuda I did reach out to a few beauty friends asking if they tried it. One confirmed it was good but the original price was too much. I went to investigate and a quick hand swatch had me worried because I thought I’d be in between shades. #3 looked very pink and peach when blended on my hand and #4 was clearly too dark. A kind associate gave me samples to try and said to give it whirl on my skin because they blended out differently on the face because of the unique texture.

Armani Crema Nuda packaging

I had a serious OMG moment when I tried #3. It did indeed look a bit peachy-pink at first swipe but a beauty blender smoothed it out and after a minute it adjusted to a perfect match. I’ve never tried anything that made my skin look so blurred and smooth as the Crema Nuda. I do wish that it came in the same shades as the Luminous Silk because the colors in that line are perfect for my skin undertone but formula is too rich. At any rate, the Crema Nuda works for my normal combination skin even though I thought it would be too moisturizing and heavy. It looks very natural with medium coverage. I do still need to layer on a bit of concealer on spots and under eyes but it’s pretty near perfect.

I thought I had mini samples of all the shades but turns out I’m missing the darkest one #6. But for reference here are the colors I did get samples of at the counter. There is a new one #4.5 which once it sets looks darker than #4 even though they look pretty close with a fresh swatch.

Armani Crema Nuda foundation swatches

Here is how Armani Crema Nuda #3 looks on my face with a bit of Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Powder #2 to set (no concealer or other foundations added to the mix). On the lips is Charlotte Tilbury Bitch Perfect K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick.

Armani Crema Nuda #3

A few comparison swatches for reference. As I’ve mentioned in a few recent posts I went to investigate what my MAC shade was because so many of you have asked. In the past years I’ve been anywhere from NC30, NC35, NC40, C3 and C4 depending on how tan I was. I stopped using the MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation because I found I was severely allergic – this was in my college days that I stopped which was over 10 years ago. I was also allergic to their Face and Body and a number of other formulas. Since then many years have gone by and I don’t know if the foundations have been reformulated but I did give the Studio Fluid Fix Foundation a try.

The girls at the store said I was an NC35 but I felt NC37 was a better match (in this formula it’s a bit lighter and less olive). I bought both so I could test and swatch them for you. As my skin gets lighter though I suspect I might be able to pull off NC30 – but I’ll have to investigate further. I still promise to have my base foundation and concealer roundup as soon as possible.

For now here are some swatch comparisons for reference, Set #1:

Set #2:

At the $120 price tag it’s still very expensive but easier for me to justify compared to $200. Plus I really like that it comes in a pump and wears well on my skin. Color options in the Crema Nuda line are limited but since it’s not a full covearage foundation I do think the shades are more forgiving. If you try it I do suggest letting the color sit on the skin as it won’t oxidize but it will adjust.

Bottom line, lots to love from the line. I’m slowly rediscovering bits – I used to be a die hard fan until they started reformulating everything and I’m still upset they discontinued some of the most amazing blush colors and the original formula. I know some will say the new one is better but I stocked up on some of the originals because in my mind those were the best on the market for a long long time.

For the skincare items, I like the Day-Long Skin Perfector the best. Even though it’s the best primer I’ve used I still don’t use it everyday simply because it’s an extra step I just am too lazy for on most days. When I do use it though it does not let me down. I highly recommend it.

Have you tried any of the Armani Prima skincare line? Or the Crema Nuda? I just saw they added more to the Prima skincare line but have yet to investigate. If you have any skincare favorites from the line let me know – it’s been years since I used their serums and creams. I suspect what I used to use no longer exists as new products have most likely taken their place.

Prima items provided courtesy of Armani for review. Other items purchased by me from Nordstrom.