Tag: Armani

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation

I went on quite the shopping spree at Sephora in San Francisco last week. While I have a Sephora at home, there is something about locations in big cities that offers so many unknowns. Visiting can be a really eye opening experience, discovering “new to me” brands and products. But this visit actually led me to an old favorite. And I am not sure I will ever be without a bottle on my vanity like I have for the past couple of years.

It is odd because when people ask my favorite foundations, I often mention Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation but it hasn’t maintained a presence in my routine. I scoped up a bottle (5.5 was a great match for me), and have worn it every day since.

This lightweight foundation has a translucent finish, but still with polish. The texture is more like a tinted moisturizer. The micro-fit technology leads to a rather thin consistancy that wears weightlessly. But the pigments provide more foundation-like coverage. Just that peek of natural glow allows for a more natural look. Apparently I am not alone: “Quite simply, the best foundation there is.”—Linda Cantello, International Makeup Artist.

Available at Sephora.

Holiday Glowing Skin

Icy winter weather is back again and we are officially in the throws of holiday celebration. While I am not “taking off” any days this week, I will be slightly lighter on the posts. Instead, I’ll be practicing holiday looks and fine tuning some You Tube tutorials for you in the New Year! Speaking of holiday looks, my favorites this season has been neutral eyes and lips with radiant and glowing skin. I’ve discovered some tips and tricks and wanted to share!

Best Brushes

I believe that great tools can make any product work better. I have more brushes than I can count, but I seem to reach for the same ones each and every day. I never once have regretted spending the money for a quality brush because, if you take care of them, they will last forever (note: I wash mine with this every week and dry laying flat overnight). Here are my brush MVPs:

Armani Beauty Designer Foundation Brush: While I still reach for this brush, I find the Armani version is more nimble because of its size. The sharper end can get into the contours of your face. And the synthetic brisstles play well with even the thickest of foundations, not leaving one single streak.

Laura Mercier Long Secret Camouflage Brush: When you have a blemish, there is just no better tool to apply concealer. The tapered tip allows for extreme precision and feather like strokes will keep the product from becoming cakey.

Bobbi Brown Powder Brush: I’ve had this brush for years and – to this day – it retains its strands and shape like a champ. It picks up powder and buffs on skin without being cakey or over-delivering product.

Chantecaille Cheek Brush: Made of goat hair, this super super soft brush can do everything on the cheeks. The tapered end deposits pigmented blush like a champ, but can also perfectly contour a bronzer under the cheek bones.

Le Metier de Beaute Eye Shadow Brush #1: This brush made of natural goat hair and perfectly shaped for applying shadow on the lids. I love the look so popular for Spring of a bold color just to the crease. This fluffy, square brush gets just enough pigment in all the right spots.

CHANEL Precision Eyelash Curler: I used to be a devotee of the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler (I had mine for about eight years). But it wasn’t until I replaced it with the CHANEL version that I got that true lifted curl that lasts. The shape of this curler is much better suited for my lashes. Game changer.

Shop my favorite brushes:

Sophie from Angel Food Style

This past September, I met Sophie of Angle Food Style at New York Fashion Week and have been hooked on her fashion blog ever since. I love her fresh, classic and Southern California looks that always are so polished. I loved visiting Los Angeles when I lived in the Bay Area and her gorgous photos take me right back there. Doesn’t hurt that she is one of the most genuine and nicest women I have met in the blogging world. And loves Maltese puppies as much as I do (that is a saying A LOT).

Besides a perfectly polished outfit, I noticed Sophie’s makeup always looked natural and finished without being overdone…(not to mention her “hard to ignore” natural beauty). With our endless chats on Twitter and Instagram, I knew she was a girl after my own heart – a true beauty junkie. If we meet up again, you will find us in Sephora undoubtedly.

Angel Food Style on Belle Belle Beauty Two

So… I am so excited to have her on Belle Belle today to talk about her day-to-day look with a couple extra touches to make it holiday-ready. This everyday face has a “bit more oomph than the summer-appropriate mascara/bronzer/lip gloss situation”.

Here are the products Sophie is wearing:

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in shade 5.25 (can’t get enough)
Nars Bronzer in Laguna under cheekbones, on temples, chin
Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush in shade 10 “beige” on apples of cheeks
Giorgio Armani Eye Quad in Bourdoir– I mixed the 4 nude shades together and concentrated the darkest shade in the outer corner
Tarte Amazonian Clay Liner in Black on inside bottom waterline, Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Liner to line eyelids (I would die without this liquid liner- use it everyday)
Bare Escentuals Buxom Mascara in black
Anastasia Beverly Hills “Brow Wiz” pencil in Ash Blonde
Nars lip gloss in “sweet revenge”– the perfect nude/pink every day shade

Like me, Sophie is a huge Armani fan. Their foundation, we both agree, is a best of breed. Sophie points out their high quality, “especially in the shadows – the pigments are so luxe and last all day”. Anastasia is a great resource for brow tools – I love her clear brow gel. And I have a Sephora package en route with NARS Laguna – can’t wait to try one of her “staples”.

Make sure to follow Sophie on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!

Undereye Concealer Hit Parade

I’ve come across quite a few undereye concealers lately. There are three that blew me away. Here are my favorites: Read more “Undereye Concealer Hit Parade”

Giorgio Armani Foundations

Armani has consistently received accolades for their breakthrough foundation formulas. It is frequently referred to as “best of breed”. But all the offerings can be somewhat overwhelming. I wanted to break down the different options and tell you why the most recognized, Luminous Silk Foundation, continues to be my favorite.

First, I want to highlight Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15. This formula has been getting a ton of attention and was awarded Allure magazine’s ‘Best of Beauty’ award for Best Breakthrough, 2012. So naturally, I couldn’t wait to try it. Yes, as advertised it is ultra-lightweight. The pure color pigments are suspended in the oil-based formula to make for the thinest possible consistency. And the oil component moisturizes. The coverage is VERY light. I don’t like heavy makeup, but I didn’t get enough coverage and had trouble building it up. But for those who don’t mind very little coverage and need a super light weight feel, this could be an option. I am not sure I saw the value in a luxury price point with this little coverage.

While the Maestro Foundation wasn’t a fit for me, I am WILD about the Giorgio Armani Maestro Eraser Concealer. The lightweight technology translates so well to the heavier coverage of concealer. It covers without feeling heavy or powdery. The moisturizing helps heal dark circles and the finish is radiant and luminous, but not shiny. Instead of the Maestro Foundation, I would suggest picking up the concealer and using where needed and skip foundation all together if you want a more natural look. I think I’ll be hooked on this stuff for the foreseeable future.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is the foundation I keep coming back to. I think I am on my fourth or fifth bottle. I haven’t had it in the rotation lately, so I snapped one up on last week’s trip to Neiman Marcus. The oil-free formula has moderate coverage but the effect looks like your own skin. The finish is not dewy but luminous. Exclusive Micro-fil™ technology allows for “glide-on” application and buildable coverage. If you haven’t sat down with an Armani artist to try it, I highly highly encourage you. After my reunion with it this past week, I am sold that it is the best luxury moderate coverage foundation out there. I love using the Giorgio Armani Blender Brush to apply this (and really any) foundation.

A couple months ago, I tried the Giorgio Armani Beauty Designer Lift Smoothing Firming Foundation. Smoothing Firming maintains the great finish and consistency of Luminous Silk with slightly more coverage and breakthrough anti-aging tools. Like the Luminous Silk, it uses the Micro-fil™ technology for a smooth application, with the addition of a micro-lifting matrix. Emollients and fillers stretch, firm and smooth the skin’s surface. Exclusive Prussian blue pearl pigment revives skin and color corrects. The finish has a luminous glow. For those with with visible signs of aging and want to go the anti-aging extra mile, this could be a good option.

Face Fabric is more of a tinted moisturizer with a powdery finish. The matte, feathery finish isn’t my favorite. You can read more of my thoughts on Face Fabric here.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Lasting Silk UV Foundation was developed with long wear in mind. It also has an oil-free formula making it perfect for those who need staying power and may run on the oiler side.

Also note, the Giorgio Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer (InStyle Best Winner) is a great highlighter. I love mixing these with the Luminous Silk Foundation for a more dewy look or adding the bronze shade to darken in the summer.

Armani is available at Neiman Marcus (free shipping with code FALLFS). Shop my favorite Armani products here: