Estee Lauder, Armani and Nars Have Reformulated Their Top Foundations. We Tried and Tested Their Updates

Three makeup staples have been reformulated, but are they any good? Our beauty editor put them to the test.

In 2026, foundations aren’t simply about covering up.

The makeup category has experienced a shake-up, with three big-name beauty brands reformulating their much-loved foundations to highlight skincare ingredients that break new ground in complexion care.

These next-generation foundations now apply like makeup but perform like skincare – they’ve been upgraded with lighter textures, multi-dimensional finishes and expanded shade ranges.

But how do these newly tweaked foundations stack up? Our beauty editor put all three to the test and shares her verdict.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Longwear Matte Foundation, $93

What’s different: It’s been almost 30 years since Estee Lauder developed its best-selling foundation and, in the time since, Double Wear has earned a glittering reputation for its staying power and impressive shade range.

The tweaked formulation sees Double Wear enter new territory as a foundation that gives good coverage without feeling heavy thanks to the addition of skincare ingredients – some to hydrate, others to balance oil production – like niacinamide, brown algae extract, glycerin and hyaluronic acid.

Double Wear boasts an impressive 60 shades, but the pigments have been altered slightly for a true-to-skin finish. They won’t oxidise after application, meaning what you see in the bottle is the same shade that’ll stay on your face. However, a number of makeup artists have said the shade range now is slightly different to the original, so it pays to get shade matched with the new formula to ensure the best fit for you. Plus its lighter, more fluid texture means it’s easier to apply and work into skin than ever before.

As far as lasting power is concerned, Estee Lauder upped its existing 24-hour claim to 36 hours (although we don’t condone being awake that long, or sleeping in your makeup).

What the brand says: For Mallory Osses, Estee Lauder’s national makeup artist for Australia and New Zealand, the vibrancy and tone of the shades is completely different to the original. “There’s a stark difference in the quality of the foundation and how you can live and perform in it. The shades now look like skin,” she says.

The lighter viscosity of the product hasn’t impacted its ability to deliver full coverage, Osses says, and the makeup artist of 13 years says the new formulation incorporates clever technology.

“It took seven years, 100 scientists and 300 formulations to get it right. They pushed boundaries to create something innovative, but still reliable, like the original,” she says.

One of Osses’ favourite things about the new Double Wear is that she doesn’t have to recommend different foundations for day and night. “You can sheer it down to wear on the weekends, or dab it on with your fingertips or lightly with a sponge. Then you can build it up for nighttime wear or special occasions, whenever you want a full coverage, flawless finish,” she says.

She’s confident the new Double Wear will “offer consumers more than just the cover up, but long-term benefits as well”.

“That’s the amazing thing about the silica powders,” she says. “You can control oil production long-term – even when you’re not wearing Double Wear, your skin will be more balanced than it was four weeks before you tried it.”

Osses says using a dry sponge will deliver medium to full coverage without compromising on a smooth texture, or if you prefer to build up coverage in layers, then a flat foundation brush is a great option. She advises waiting a few seconds in between layers so that the formula has time to adhere to skin. For best results, she recommends using it with the Double Wear Concealer, which launched last year.

My honest thoughts: I dispensed one pump and worked the product from the middle of my face outwards, using a dense foundation brush to smooth the product across my cheeks, forehead and chin.

It did an excellent job of disguising my pigmentation, and I found pressing the formula into my skin with my fingertips allowed for a more natural-looking finish.

While it’s not as thick as the original, this product lasted. My face looked as fresh at 8am when I applied it as it did after a busy day spent in the office and at events.

The new formulation stands up to its claims of being both budge- and transfer-proof (Estee Lauder says it’s weather-proof and gym-proof too).

Number of shades: 67

Available from: Selected department stores, including Mecca or Mecca.com.

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $135

What’s different: The original launched 25 years ago and quickly became a cult favourite with makeup artists, celebrities and editors alike for its ability to create medium coverage while leaving skin with a luminous, lit-from-within finish.

The enhanced formula harnesses new pigment technology (ultramarine and green pigments) to mimic natural skin tone for more accurate shade matching, while its flexible wear promises 24-hour staying power without compromising on that radiant finish fans know and love from the original.

An expanded range from 26 to 44 shades makes it far more accessible to a variety of skin tones.

The addition of skincare ingredients like glycerin, niacinamide and Mediterranean flower extracts boost hydration and firmness while balancing oil production, for improved skin tone, luminosity and plumpness.

It comes in two formats, a 30ml full-size or 18ml travel size.

What the brand says: According to Jason Branigan, Armani Beauty AU National Face Designer, he felt apprehensive about the reformulation. “My first thought was: ‘It is loved by many. If it’s not broken, why fix it?’ Now that I have tried the upgraded formula, I can see why it was time,” he says.

Branigan says beauty technology has come a long way in the quarter-century since Luminous Silk first launched, with the addition of ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin working with skincare “to help further enhance your natural glow, boost hydration and improve longwear comfort even on dry skin”.

Branigan says Luminous Silk remains a staple in his kit for bridal clients, editorial shoots or runway looks.

He prefers to apply it with a brush but he says the formula is equally as workable when applied with fingertips or a sponge over the top of the Luminous Silk Illuminating Primer. He adds it to the high points of the face and blends from there, building coverage only where needed. For a flawless finish, Branigan allows it to set for a couple of minutes before moving on to the next makeup step.

My honest thoughts: Luminous Silk has been one of my go-tos for special occasions like weddings for years, having used it myself or applied by the pros. So you can imagine the alarm bells that rang in my mind when news broke that the original formula was changing (and judging from the public outcry on social media, I wasn’t the only one).

The good news? Just when you thought Luminous Silk couldn’t get any better, it has.

It applies like a second skin and the lightweight texture glides on and is easily blendable with fingers or a foundation brush. It’s hydrating, yes, but doesn’t leave oily or combination skin (like mine) with excess shine.

The medium coverage foundation gently blurred my pores and smoothed out my uneven skin texture, all without feeling heavy or mask-like.

The upgraded formula makes it even easier to create a radiant, youthful complexion inspired by dewy, glass-skin beauty trends.

Number of shades: 44

Available from: Selected department stores, including online only at Farmers.co.nz.

Nars Natural Matte Longwear Foundation, $107

What’s different: It’s been five years since Nars first unveiled a matte foundation, with the Soft Matte Complete Foundation launching in September 2020.

Now, the brand has updated its soft-focus matte formula, which applies like a serum but promises 24-hour wear. It’s a sharp pivot for the brand, which is known for its cult favourite Light Reflecting Foundation.

Unlike other matte formulas, which can look flat, Nars’ take is lightweight to apply and breathable like a serum, diffusing the appearance of pores with its soft-focus, medium-to-full coverage.

Key ingredients include niacinamide and peptides to improve skin texture and elasticity. Together, Nars claims these powerhouse ingredients offer visible refinement in skin texture in as little as two weeks, while delivering shine control for up to 24 hours.

My honest thoughts: Of all the foundations on this list, believe me when I say this foundation dries down fast.

It performed best when I applied it sparingly, starting from the centre of my face and blending outwards with a dense foundation brush. I worked quickly to ensure a smooth, even finish, and didn’t need to set it with translucent powder thanks to its comfortable, mattified feel.

While it’s fast-drying, it didn’t feel drying on skin, which I loved. It doesn’t mask skin, rather it diffuses imperfections, leaving pores appearing softened and texture more refined without appearing chalky or one-dimensional.

I’m familiar with Nars’ Soft Matte Complete Foundation, having tried it a few years ago, but this fresh matte formula is far superior.

I opted for the shade Vienna, which was a near-perfect match for the cooler undertones of my skin, and layered it with a touch of bronzer to match my fake-tanned chest.

I wore this foundation on an unseasonably hot and humid day, and it stayed true to colour without shifting or oxidising. My skin has been particularly oily all summer, so I was delighted to try a foundation that delivered a velvety matte finish from morning to night with no touch-ups required.

It excels on normal, combination and oily skin types. Those with drier skin might like to opt for something more hydrating, unless they’re adept with layering moisturising base products like serums or lotions underneath first.

Number of shades: 48

Available from: Mecca stores or Mecca.com.

New & Noteworthy

Other newly launched foundations to have on your radar in 2026.

Clarins Double Serum Foundation, $105, incorporates foundation alongside the brand’s original Double Serum, so you can get skincare results and makeup coverage all in one pump. The dual chamber bottle is the same as the serum, which can be adjusted to increase or decrease the ratio of foundation to serum to allow for more or less coverage. Available in 37 shades.

Maybelline Lifter Plump & Glow Foundation, $36, is formulated with 2% niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to care for skin while it perfects. The skincare-makeup hybrid is buildable, able to create everything from a sheer, luminous glow through to a more full coverage skin finish. Available in 24 shades.

Mecca Max Life Proof Satin Blur Foundation, $42, is a medium buildable coverage foundation designed to leave a satin skin finish without feeling heavy or cakey. The vegan and cruelty-free formulation serves double duty to smooth and blur the appearance of imperfections or uneven skin texture, for a diffused look. Available in 40 shades.

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