Kim Kardashian's Skims Face Wrap: A Beauty Hype or a Time-Wasting Trend?
THE SKIMS SECRETS: I Tried Kim Kardashian's Face Wrap and It Was a Total Disaster
The beauty world has been abuzz with the latest must-have product from Skims, Kim Kardashian's shapewear empire. The Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap, touted as "shapewear for your face," promises to give you a slimmer jawline and a more defined complexion. But does it really work? I put it to the test, and what I found out will make you question everything.
As a beauty editor, I've tried some wild treatments in my time - from salmon sperm facials to injectable wrinkle fillers. But even I was hesitant when I heard about the Face Wrap. The idea of wearing a compression garment on your face sounds like something out of a bad sci-fi movie. And yet, Kim Kardashian herself promised that it would "snatch" your jawline and leave you looking like a million bucks.
But what exactly does the product do? According to the Skims website, the Face Wrap provides "strong, targeted compression for shaping and sculpting." But what does that even mean? Is it meant to minimize double chins? De-puff your face? The company's website is curiously vague on this point. In fact, I had to scour Kim's social media posts to figure out how to use the thing.
I ordered the Face Wrap in the "cocoa" shade (the only one left on eBay), and waited a month for it to arrive from the US. When it finally did, I was shocked to find that there were no instructions included. It wasn't until I dug through Kim's Instagram posts that I found a cryptic mention of wearing it at night or around the house.
But Dr. Ash Soni, a plastic surgeon and founder of The Soni Clinic, had some bad news for me: "There's no evidence that wearing a garment like this on a regular basis can achieve a tighter jawline," he told me. "I don't believe this can change the anatomy of the jaw in any way, shape or form, or provide more of a lift."
Ouch. I was starting to feel like I'd wasted my £52 investment. But I'm a glutton for punishment, so I decided to give it a try anyway.
The Face Wrap is surprisingly difficult to put on - it's like trying to wrestle a balaclava onto your face while simultaneously struggling with a pair of underpants. Once it was finally in place (with the help of some creative Velcro adjustments), I looked...well, let's just say "interesting." My husband pointed out that I resembled something from a horror movie.
But the real test came when I started wearing it regularly. At first, I thought it felt like being mildly strangled by a pair of underpants - the fabric was firm but not quite firm enough to be comfortable. But after 30 minutes or so, I got used to it. Sort of.
The verdict? No difference. Not one bit. In fact, the only noticeable change was an indentation mark along my chin left behind by the wrap's seam. Which is pretty ironic, considering the product's name and description.
Dr. Soni weighed in on this point as well: "If you're looking to achieve a more defined jawline, injectable treatments like Sculptra can help stimulate collagen production," he said. "Effective skincare with collagen and elastin-stimulating peptides can also improve overall skin quality."
Meanwhile, the Face Wrap's description boasts about its "collagen yarns for ultra-soft jaw support." But does it really deliver? The evidence says no.
And yet...despite my lackluster experience with the product, there's still a waiting list on the Skims website. Why? Well, maybe it's because Kim and her sister Khloe both recently shared photos of themselves wearing the Face Wrap on Instagram. Or maybe people are just desperate to get their hands on anything with the Kardashians' name on it.
As for me? I'm sticking to my injectable fillers and collagen-rich skincare routine, thank you very much. And if I ever try the Face Wrap again (which is unlikely), I'll be wearing a pair of stretchy pants and a blindfold. Based on this experience, I'd say it's not worth the £52 investment - or the time spent wrestling with the confounded thing.
THE SCHOLARLY NOTE:
In conclusion, while Kim Kardashian's Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap may have generated buzz in the beauty world, the results are underwhelming to say the least. If you're looking for a more defined jawline or improved skin quality, there are far better options out there - like injectable treatments and effective skincare routines.
But hey, if you want to spend £52 on a face wrap that looks like a rejected prop from The Walking Dead, be my guest. Just don't say I didn't warn you.