Foundation isn’t the flashiest type of make-up, but it might be one of the most important. The right tone can quickly transform your face, but it isn’t always easy to find the right shade for your skin.
In the past, many women couldn’t find foundation shades for their faces, but Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk line of foundations brought high-quality make-up to a much broader group of people. Since the line was created in 2000, it has added shades over the years, but change has been slow. Until recently 25 were available, but now Armani is adding six new shades.
It’s safe to say that Armani’s decision to add a large batch of new shades has come for the push for a more open and inclusive society. The shades are all on the darker side, helping to address the fact that for many years make-up in America and Europe was created for Caucasians. Brands have made token efforts to sell their products to people of color, but we’re only now getting to the point where people with darker skin are getting something close to the full range of options that people with lighter skin have enjoyed for a long time.
Women with skin tones unaddressed by leading brands have long complained about the gaps in foundation collections. Women with darker skin have had to get creative, often buying two foundations and combining them to achieve the right tone for their skin. This isn’t just frustrating, it can feel like a tax on the color of your skin. This is why it’s such a good thing that Armani is adding more shades of Luminous Silk.
Despite the new additions, Armani’s famous line is still lagging a bit behind some of the newer brands. The Fenty 40 line from singer Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty brand showed that a single brand could address the vast majority of skin types. So is Armani rushing to match Fenty? As of now, company officials are saying that they aren’t trying to copy anyone.
There’s a good chance that Armani will continue to add new shades, but as of now, it doesn’t look like they are in a hurry.