Skims vs. Kylie Cosmetics: Which brand should you buy?

While both founded by members of the famous Kardashian-Jenner family, Skims and Kylie Cosmetics serve entirely different lifestyle needs. Skims offers high-quality, inclusive shapewear and loungewear focused on comfort and body positivity, while Kylie Cosmetics provides trendy, affordable, and high-pigment makeup for creating bold, glamorous looks.

Let's explore everything you need to know to decide whether you're shopping for comfort-first apparel or statement-making beauty.

Skims: The Standard in Inclusive Shapewear & Loungewear

Founded by Kim Kardashian in 2019, Skims is a shapewear and basics brand committed to body positivity and inclusive sizing. It offers comfortable, seamless essentials designed to enhance natural curves while celebrating all body types. Target customers are those looking for functional, modern, and versatile essentials that serve as the foundation of a stylish wardrobe.

• Product mix: A wide array of shapewear, undergarments, loungewear, sleepwear, and activewear designed with a minimalist and versatile aesthetic.
• Price point: Mid-range to premium, with core items like bodysuits and bras running from $30 to $70. The higher price is justified by the fabric quality and innovative construction.
• Quality: Known for innovative, high-performance fabrics that smooth, contour, and support without feeling restrictive. The seamless construction ensures a comfortable, invisible fit under clothing.
• Sizing/Fit: A leader in inclusivity, offering sizes from XXS to 5X. The fit is consistently true to size, with detailed size guides to help customers find their perfect match.
• Return policy: Offers easy returns and exchanges to ensure customer satisfaction.

Skims delivers high-quality, comfortable essentials designed to fit and flatter a wide range of body types, positioning itself as a modern solution for foundational apparel.

Shop Skims: skims.com

Kylie Cosmetics: Trendy & Viral Makeup Essentials

Launched by Kylie Jenner in 2015, Kylie Cosmetics quickly became a beauty industry force, led by its viral Lip Kits. The brand appeals to a young, social media-savvy consumer who loves to stay on top of the latest beauty trends. It focuses on creating glamorous, bold looks with highly pigmented formulas at an accessible price point.

• Product mix: A full range of cosmetics including lipsticks, glosses, palettes, foundations, blush, concealers, and a skincare line.
• Price point: Affordable to mid-range, with most products priced between $15 and $40. The brand frequently offers sales and bundles, making it budget-friendly.
• Quality: Formulations are known for being highly pigmented, easy to blend, and long-lasting. The packaging is sleek, modern, and immediately recognizable.
• Product availability: Primarily sold through its own website, Kylie Cosmetics is also available at major beauty retailers like Sephora and Ulta.
• Return policy: Aligned with industry standards, offering replacements or credits for damaged or incorrect orders, though general returns are often for store credit.

Kylie Cosmetics is the go-to brand for anyone seeking a wide selection of affordable, fashion-forward makeup to create bold, vibrant, and fun looks.

Shop Kylie Cosmetics: kyliecosmetics.com

Skims vs. Kylie Cosmetics Comparison

Price Comparison

Kylie Cosmetics is significantly more accessible from a price standpoint. With most items under $40, it's easy to build a full makeup collection without a large investment. The brand's frequent sales and promotions make its products even more budget-friendly.

Skims operates at a higher, mid-range to premium price point. Core items range from $30 to $70, putting its pieces in the category of an investment purchase. While more expensive, the cost reflects the quality of fabrics, innovative design, and durability, offering long-term value for wardrobe essentials.

Quality & Materials

Skims' main selling point is the quality of its materials. The brand is known for its proprietary fabrics that are soft, stretchy, and supportive, offering compression and shaping that remains comfortable for all-day wear. The seamless construction in many of its best-sellers is a key technical feature that sets it apart.

Kylie Cosmetics defines its quality through cosmetic formulas. Its products are highly pigmented, delivering vibrant color in a single swipe. The textures are generally praised for being smooth and blendable, from its matte liquid lipsticks to its buttery eyeshadows. Quality here is measured in performance and look, rather than physical materials.

Style & Aesthetic

Skims has a minimalist, modern, and neutral aesthetic. The color palette focuses heavily on nudes, blacks, and muted earth tones, allowing the pieces to function as versatile basics that can be layered or worn alone. The style prioritizes clean lines, simplicity, and a look that celebrates the body’s natural form.

Kylie Cosmetics is all about a bold, glamorous, and trend-driven style. Its product releases and marketing campaigns are youthful and vibrant, featuring dramatic looks, bright colors, shimmers, and gloss. The packaging is sleek and recognizable, fitting a glamorous, social-media-ready aesthetic.

Fit & Sizing

Inclusivity in fit and sizing is a core principle for Skims. Offering an extensive range from XXS to 5X, the brand ensures a comfortable and flattering fit for a very broad spectrum of body types. Sizing charts are detailed and accurate, helping shoppers easily find their correct size on the first try.

For Kylie Cosmetics, inclusiveness is shown through its shade ranges. The foundations and concealers come in many shades to match different skin tones, and the brand consistently offers lipstick and blush colors that flatter a diverse customer base. Its focus is on making its colors work for everyone, rather than physical fit.

Shopping Experience

Both brands offer excellent e-commerce experiences. The Skims website is clean, modern, and easy to navigate, with detailed product information, high-quality imagery, and helpful sizing guides to inform purchasing decisions.

The Kylie Cosmetics website is more dynamic and vibrant, heavily promoting new launches, sales, and limited-edition collections. The experience is geared toward excitement and urgency, encouraging shoppers to grab new products before they sell out. The ability to shop at Ulta or Sephora also gives Kylie a brick-and-mortar advantage.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both brands are evolving in this area. Skims has been making public commitments toward more sustainable practices, including using eco-friendly materials and working toward better transparency in its supply chain.

Kylie Cosmetics has historically faced some criticism for disposable packaging and fast-fashion-like product cycles. However, the brand has started making shifts toward more responsible practices, such as updating packaging and being more transparent about its formulations.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice comes down to what you are looking for, as both brands excel in completely different categories.

Choose Skims if:

• You're searching for high-quality shapewear, bras, underwear, or loungewear.
• Inclusive sizing and a mission of body positivity are important factors in your shopping decisions.
• You prefer a minimalist, neutral aesthetic and are willing to invest in versatile wardrobe basics that will last.
• Comfort, fit, and innovative fabrics are your top priorities.

Choose Kylie Cosmetics if:

• You need new makeup, from everyday lip glosses to bold eyeshadow palettes.
• You love keeping up with the latest beauty trends and enjoy limited-edition collections.
• You're on a budget and want highly-pigmented, effective cosmetics at an affordable price.
• You enjoy a glamorous, bold aesthetic and aren't afraid to experiment with new looks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Skims or Kylie Cosmetics more expensive?

Skims is more expensive, with a mid-range to premium price point where items typically cost between $30 and $70. Kylie Cosmetics is more affordable, with most of its products priced between $15 and $40.

Are Skims and Kylie Cosmetics run by the same person?

No. Skims was founded by Kim Kardashian, while Kylie Cosmetics was founded by her younger sister, Kylie Jenner.

Which brand focuses more on quality?

Both brands emphasize quality but in different ways. Skims' quality is in its innovative and high-performance fabrics, construction, and durable wear. Kylie Cosmetics' quality is measured by its cosmetic formulations - rich pigmentation, blendability, and long-lasting performance.

What is Skims best known for?

Skims is best known for its size-inclusive shapewear and comfortable, seamless undergarments that feel like a second skin.

What is Kylie Cosmetics best known for?

Kylie Cosmetics became famous for its viral Lip Kits and is now known for its trendy, affordable, and highly pigmented makeup collections, particularly its lip products and eyeshadow palettes.

Can I buy Skims in stores?

Yes, besides its official website, Skims is sold at select high-end department stores like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Where can I buy Kylie Cosmetics?

You can purchase Kylie Cosmetics on its official website and in-store and online at beauty retailers like Sephora and Ulta.

Is Skims sizing accurate?

Yes, Skims is widely praised for its true-to-size and consistent fit. Their comprehensive size guides are very helpful in confirming the best size for you.