Beauty editor tests Kim Kardashian's Skims Face Wrap, finds little jawline benefit and potential risks

A beauty editor recently tested Skims Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap, a £52 compression garment marketed as 'shapewear for your face' and touted to tighten the chin and jawline. The product, which sold out quickly after its release, has generated attention for promising a non-surgical way to reshape the lower face. The tester—already familiar with a range of beauty treatments—entered the trial with measured skepticism, noting that the claim of a lasting lift was not clearly supported by evidence or usage guidelines provided by the brand.

At a glance, the Face Wrap resembles a cross between a balaclava and an item you might wear after dental procedures. The garment is described as delivering 'strong, targeted compression for shaping and sculpting' and is made from Skims’ signature sculpting fabric. Yet there is little information about precisely what the garment is designed to do, how to use it, or what results wearers should expect. Questions linger about whether it is meant to minimize a double chin, de-puff the face, or require a specific wear schedule—such as an hour a day, all night, or somewhere in between. The tester found the lack of clear guidance troubling and not unique to this product, as a number of social posts offered varying usage suggestions.

Medical input echoed the tester’s skepticism. Dr. Ash Soni, a plastic surgeon and founder of The Soni Clinic, cautioned that there is no evidence a regular facial garment can alter jaw anatomy or provide a sustained lift. ‘There’s no evidence that wearing a garment like this on a regular basis can achieve a tighter jawline,’ he said. ‘I don’t believe this can change the anatomy of the jaw in any way, shape or form, or provide more of a lift. While there are certain types of compression garments we use to help with post-operative swelling (usually after facelift procedures where there’s been liposuction in the chin and neck area), this garment itself won’t change the contours of the face.’

The tester described ordering the product in cocoa shade—one of two options, along with clay—and noted that shipping from the United States took about a month. When the package arrived, there were no printed instructions. Some social posts suggested wearing the wrap at night, while others recommended daytime use; the brand has offered no consistent official usage guidance. Dr. Soni advised against nightly compression of the face and neck, explaining that the facial lymphatic system could be affected by persistent pressure and potentially lead to swelling or puffiness.

The tester then wore the Face Wrap at home, dedicating at least 30 minutes daily for two weeks. The garment fastens around the top of the head and back of the neck with Velcro tabs, leaving gaps for the ears. The initial sensation was restrictive—akin to a firmer version of Skims shapewear—with the wearer needing to loosen the grip around the neck for comfort. The jaw felt supported enough to limit mouth opening to small sips of water, but while sitting still, the tester gradually acclimated. After the first half-hour, removing the wrap yielded no noticeable difference. A seam created an indentation along the chin, contradicting the product’s ‘seamless’ marketing claim.

By the end of the two-week trial, the tester observed that the area under the chin looked slightly flatter on some occasions when the wrap was removed, but the effect did not persist. In other words, any perceived change quickly reverted to baseline once the garment was removed. Beyond the temporary indentation, there was no lasting tightening of the jawline. Experts noted that the garment’s collagen yarns and other fabric claims do not substitute for evidence-based skincare or procedure-based lift, and the absence of durable results aligns with those critiques.

‘If you’re looking to achieve a more defined jawline, injectable treatments like Sculptra, which stimulates collagen production, can help to give a natural lift and improvement in elasticity,’ Dr. Soni explained. ‘Effective skincare with collagen and elastin-stimulating peptides can help improve overall skin quality, too.’ The Skinmed or cosmetic science behind fabric-embedded collagen is not proven to replicate the benefits of topical skincare or medical procedures. Despite the lack of conclusive proof and the wearability caveats, the Face Wrap maintains a waiting list on Skims’ site, and it has persisted as a talking point given Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian’s public appearances wearing the product.

In the end, the tester concluded the Face Wrap is not worth the £52 price tag. The time and money could likely be directed toward more effective anti-aging options, whether noninvasive skincare or clinically validated procedures. The piece underscores the broader reality of beauty hype cycles: items marketed with strong celebrity endorsements can generate immediate interest and even long waitlists, even when independent experts cast doubt on their efficacy. For now, the Face Wrap remains a notable example of consumer curiosity about non-surgical solutions to aging, but its practical value for most users appears minimal based on this trial.