SKKN By Kim, Kim Kardashian’s latest beauty venture, crashed into our lives a while ago now, with UK shipping available for overseas fans. As a new Kim K stan (I don’t know why it’s taken me this long, but honestly Skims is life), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some of the bits to review them.
There’s been lots of conflicting opinions floating around about the new skincare collection, with one half of shoppers praising the sophisticated formulations and chic aesthetic, the other slamming the extortionate pricing and ‘greenwashing’ some believe SKKN to have been involved in, with regards to packaging and sustainability credentials. So is it really worth giving a go?
Before trying, I spoke to an expert about whether the ingredients in the formulations are really all they’re cracked up to be, as well as her opinion on the entire line.
Megan Felton, co-founder of skincare agency lion/ne, said she felt a little “disappointed” at the lack of innovation within the line, especially in terms of ingredients.
“I really like Joanna Czech [who worked with Kim on the formulations] and she has done a good job, but it just feels like it’s been done before,” she says. “I loved what Hyram did [with his Inkey List line] when he paired a ‘predictable’ ingredient with something new and fresh; Kim could have gone down that road.”
“Formulation-wise, I am also concerned there are a lot of acids in these products and so there’s a danger in terms of excess use of exfoliating ingredients.”
“Skincare should be fun and this is a fun brand, I love the aesthetic and they’ve done an amazing job in that area. But you’re buying a brand, not the ingredients.”
Read next:
- SKKN By Kim: everything you need to know about Kim Kardashian’s skincare range
- The hair oil used by Kim Kardashian you can buy for £6
Is SKKN by Kim worth the money?
I picked up three of the brand’s full-sized products, along with two smaller free samples to see what it was all about – and am here to give you your unbiased, totally balanced review of what’s worth it.
One thing I have to point out is the price discrepancies between paying in U.S. dollars and pounds. Obviously, Kim’s line is already pretty expensive, but buying from the UK comes with an even heftier price tag. For example, the Hyaluronic Acid Serum is $90, which converts to around £74, but its GBP price is a whopping £92. Eeeep.
For everything you need to know about SKKN, you can check out our guide to the brand. But in the mean time, keep reading to discover which one product is actually worth you forking out for while taking this all into consideration…
SKKN by Kim Cleanser review
This is a nice cleanser, and one that does its job well, cleaning the face and leaving skin feeling fresh and hydrated. But is it any better than many cleansers I’ve tried without the crazy mark-up pricing? I’m unsure.
Strip back the chic packaging and handy pump, and the product is a pretty standard cleanser, with humectants like 17% glycerin and aloe vera. It feels pleasant and comes in a pretty generous size, but the replenishment suggestions push for a monthly replacement – meaning paying £44 per month, which for most is not sustainable.
While cleansing is a crucial step, it’s not one you need to spend all your cash on – it does get washed away down the sink at the end of the day, after all. You’re much better forking out for an expensive serum, or even a moisturiser, IMO.
My other bug bear with this product is that it stings when you get it in your eyes. Do I think you should be able to squirt cleanser in your eyes willy nilly and not expect any kind of irritation? Of course not. But for a product that promises to remove makeup (including from your eyes), I do have a real issue with this.
In short, the cleanser is a good, solid product, but I don’t believe it’s worth the extra spend.
SKKN by Kim Toner review
Despite many of my beauty friends trying to talk me into it, I’ve always found toner to be a supplementary step rather than an always necessary one.
But the type of toner I do like is one that exfoliates, and actually does the work. I’d much rather this than a relaxing, essential oil-packed formula that doesn’t do much for skin aside from make it feel as though it’s had a nice spa break. So for this reason, I’m actually quite on board with the SKKN toner.
It packs a real punch, with double acidic and enzymatic exfoliation that harness the power of AHAs, antioxidants and enzymes. The product slotted into my routine well, perhaps because one thing I am rubbish at remembering is to exfoliate enough – and this filled the void. It feels a little tingly on skin but you can feel it getting to work, and skin instantly looks a little fresher and brighter after use.
Another reason I like this product best out of the bits I tried was the size and value for money. It’s £47 but it’s huge and will last you for at least a couple of months, especially when considering you should only be using it two-to-three times per week. It gives you a little more bang for your buck, and for that reason I recommend it if you’re in the market for an exfoliating toner/essence.
SKKN by Kim Hyaluronic Serum review
Real talk: I get a little irritated when a brand charges ridiculous money for a hyaluronic serum. Why? Well, because there are so many affordable ones on the market that prove they can be done cheaply without scrimping on quality in a big way. Inkey List, The Ordinary and Vichy all have great finds under £20. So how on earth can a brand justify charging hundreds upon hundreds for one? (Dr Barbara Sturm, I’m looking at you.)
Kim K’s iteration is £93, which while not as outlandish as certain other brands, is still pretty overpriced. But I’ll be honest: if it was cheaper, I would definitely buy it.
You see, it is good. The texture is lovely and lightweight, and totally non-sticky (unlike many other formulas I have tried), and it glides on and sinks in like a dream.
I did only have a small sample of this so cannot attest to any long-term results, but the serum makes for an enjoyable experience and did make my complexion feel fresh.
Product-aside, I simply cannot justify the expense however. If you’ve got £££ to spend, I’d say go for it. If not, opt for a more affordable alternative, of which there are plenty.
SKKN by Kim Vitamin C Serum
This is another really nice serum that I’d perhaps invest in going forward if it was more reasonably priced – and I say that with a pinch of salt with the knowledge that I, Rebecca Fearn, use a £100+ Skinceuticals vit C serum on my face every single day (it really is the best).
The product contains 9% ethyl ascorbic acid, which is a stable vitamin C derivative. As someone who can experience sensitivity with actives, I had no problems with this and believe it could therefore be tolerated quite well by most.
If I’m honest there’s not much to say on this, particularly as again, I only had a sample size. It’s a nice product, a good vitamin C, but is too expensive to wholeheartedly recommend in good conscience.
SKKN by Kim Face Cream
Finally, we’ve arrived: the hero product. I’d heard rumblings of the Face Cream being a winner from within the industry, but didn’t want to believe I could love an £87 moisturiser, when the one I use daily (from La Roche Posay) is under £20.
I was begrudgingly proven wrong however: this is a really lovely product and one I would recommend forking out your cash for if you can only buy one thing (and let’s be honest, that’s probably the case for most of us with these price points!).
I’ll start with the tiny negatives and build to the reasons I like it; bad news first, good news after kinda vibe.
The packaging on this product feels distinctly less sturdy than the full-sized cleanser and toner I have, which I was a little disappointed at. It’s obviously gorgeous to look at (as is the whole range), but I wanted it to feel weighty and expensive to reflect its price. I’m also concerned at the amount of product you actually receive in the pot. The website recommends replenishing every month, but if you were using it every morning and night, you’d likely get through it quicker.
However, the product itself very nearly makes up for these failings. The cream is very easy to like, even if you don’t want to. It’s rich, creamy, luxurious, and yet still feels lightweight and sinks into skin well. As well as shea butter and squalane, the moisturiser also contains alfalfa complex, which the brand paint as a natural retinol-like extract, making it an added bonus on its ingredients list, too.
I can’t fault the formula, texture, or finish of this – just again, its hefty price tag. But if you want to treat yourself to a little Kimmy K-approved skincare treat, go for this one. You won’t regret it.
Want all the effects of SKKN but without the price tag? These SKKN dupes are worth a look in.
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