01-08-2025
We Asked Doctors About Kim Kardashian's $68 'Face Wraps'—They All Agreed
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Kim Kardashian's latest addition to her SKIMS empire—a collagen-infused face wrap—has sparked a flurry of concern among industry professionals who argue the product, despite its sleek design and celebrity backing, offers little to no real cosmetic benefit.
The Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap, priced at $68, claims to "boast our signature sculpting fabric and features collagen yarns for ultra-soft jaw support," according to the SKIMS website. A spokesperson for the brand told Newsweek: "We changed the shape wear game forever—and we're not done. [We are] introducing the Seamless Sculpt Face Wrap: a must-have addition to your nightly routine."
Promoted as a nightly tool to lift and contour the jawline, the wrap promises a blend of innovation within the booming beauty industry. But dermatologists, plastic surgeons and aesthetic doctors are skeptical, warning that the wrap's promises may not hold up under clinical scrutiny.
The face wrap appears to have drawn inspiration from a wider trend in beauty culture—particularly the rise of "natural facelifts," face taping, and the so-called "morning shed" phenomenon on TikTok. But experts are clear: the product's appeal as a surgical-grade beauty tool may be more fiction than fact.
"This face wrap seems to be essentially a compression garment that mimics a post-surgical facial wrap often used after procedures like a facelift, neck lift, or neck liposuction," Ari Hoschander, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon based in New York, told Newsweek. "These types of compression garments are used all the time in a medical context to help reduce swelling and provide support during healing."
Hoschander was blunt about the product's practical implications for consumers that have not been through a surgery.
Kim Kardashian attends SKIMS flagship store opening in Midtown on December 12, 2024 in New York City (L) and a model wearing the new SKIMS face wrap on the brand's website (R).
Kim Kardashian attends SKIMS flagship store opening in Midtown on December 12, 2024 in New York City (L) and a model wearing the new SKIMS face wrap on the brand's website (R).
"For the average person, the most this product might do is provide a temporary feeling of lift or contour while it's being worn," the plastic surgeon said. "That effect will undoubtedly go away once you take the wrap off, like taking off tight shapewear at the end of a night out."
And it is not just about effectiveness—there are safety concerns too.
"There's no evidence that this type of garment will sculpt the jawline or deliver any lasting cosmetic benefit," Hoschander said, adding, "I would really not recommend this for anyone looking to get any sort of aesthetic outcome from it."
Instead, Hoschander advised those seeking facial firming to opt for tried-and-true topical treatments.
"If you're looking for firming, you're better off investing in a retinol than wrapping your face in compression lycra," he said.
On TikTok, the pushback was equally direct. One plastic surgeon, using the handle @drspiegel, posted a video warning: "I'm afraid [Kim Kardashian] you're going to lose a lot of credibility with this one, this is not going to do anything. If you have collagen yarns, what does that mean? It's not going through the skin, it's in the fabric."
A New York City dermatologist, @toralvaidyamd, echoed the sentiment in another TikTok post. Her caption read: "I'm afraid it's a no from me Kim." She added that the "collagen yarn" feature was just marketing jargon and would not deliver tangible benefits to the skin.
The skepticism is not just about efficacy—it also touches on the wider implications of promoting surgical aesthetics in a consumer-friendly package.
"In this instance, a face wrap is essentially a compression garment for the face," Nikita Desai, an aesthetic doctor at the Harley Street Skin Clinic, told Newsweek. "It's marketed as a beauty tool that's designed to lift and sculpt your face by applying pressure similar to that of a compression garment you'd wear on your body."
Desai sees a clear link between the face wrap's design and 2024's viral "morning shed" trend on TikTok, which embraced the concept that "the uglier you sleep, the prettier you wake up."
She noted that the product's muted surgical tones appear to deliberately reference medical-grade gear.
"The color choice itself is strikingly similar to surgical compressions, which feels like a purposeful choice seeing as the Kardashians have frequently discussed cosmetic surgery," she said.
Desai said the wrap may offer short-term de-puffing—akin to a surgical garment reducing swelling—but warned against expecting more.
"Wraps of this kind can't offer any permanent changes such as facial contouring, remodel fat or even boost collagen production," she said. "Any changes you see will reverse in a matter of hours as the compression loses its effect."
She was also quick to warn about possible risks from extended use.
"It can restrict circulation, which in this case could cause facial swelling—the opposite of providing a 'snatched jawline,'" she said. "It could also irritate the skin and cause discomfort around your ears and jaw.
"If you're someone who suffers from TMJ or sensitive skin issues, I would avoid this product."
Comparisons to professional treatments reveal further shortcomings.
"To be frank, they don't compare," Desai said. "Products of this kind offer short-term benefits at best. If you're looking for more permanent results, I would advise seeking professional treatments."
Though SKIMS has made a name for itself in large parts due to Kardashian's personal popularity and other celebrity endorsements, experts urge consumers to be wary of any overblown claims tied to beauty tools without peer-reviewed evidence.
The brand was reported to be worth $4 billion in 2023.
"Please approach the use of a face wrap with realistic results in mind," Desai said. "At best, this is a beauty product to be used to de-puff your face before an event, but not something you should adopt long term or wear for long periods of time."
Newsweek reached out to @toralvaidyamd and @drspiegel for more information via TikTok and email. Newsweek also reached out to Kim Kardashian for comment via email.
