Why Is the Skims Advent Calendar Getting Backlash? Refunds Explained – Hollywood Life

Skims fans opened 12 tiny doors this holiday season, and plenty of them did not like what they found. Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand is now offering refunds on its $148 advent calendar after unboxing videos turned the festive countdown into a punchline online.

So why are shoppers so upset, and how do the refunds work? Here’s everything to know.

Why Is the Skims Advent Calendar Getting Backlash?

The short answer is the price. Skims lists the product as an “accessories advent calendar” with 12 days of small surprises, and many shoppers said the hair accessories and keychains inside didn’t come close to justifying the $148 price tag, according to TODAY.

As creators unboxed the calendar on TikTok, the excitement quickly turned to frustration, CBS News reported. One creator didn’t hold back while opening it.

“I can get these at Dollar Tree.”

Others called it a waste of money and one of the worst advent calendars ever made, per TMZ, while one social media user posted a joke that TODAY highlighted.

“That Skims advent calendar looks like what I’d find on the floor if I pulled my headboard away from the wall.”

What’s Inside the Skims Advent Calendar?

Behind the doors, buyers found four keychains, hair bands, bobby pins and a Skims squishy, CBS News reported. Fans were quick to point out that a brand built on shapewear and loungewear didn’t include a single piece of clothing.

That was a big change from the brand’s Panty Advent Calendar, which came with 25 limited-edition pairs of underwear.

The accessories calendar is currently sold out, and the Skims website invites shoppers to join a waitlist, CBS News noted.

Is Skims Offering Refunds for the Advent Calendar?

Skims is offering refunds, and the brand addressed the uproar in a statement shared with several outlets, including TODAY on November 8.

“We’re aware of the feedback some customers have shared about the SKIMS Advent Calendar, and we’ve listened carefully.”

The brand went on to explain how it is making things right, according to E! News.

“We have personally contacted every customer who purchased the calendar and offered them a choice of a full refund or a SKIMS credit to put towards other products. We want every customer to be truly happy with what they receive from SKIMS.”

The spokesperson added that the feedback will shape how the brand approaches future releases.

Has Skims Faced Backlash Before?

It has. In October 2025, Skims had the internet talking when it dropped the Faux Hair Micro String Thong, a $32 thong with built-in faux pubic hair. Despite the jokes, it sold out almost immediately, and Kim admitted to Variety at the time that the response caught her off guard.

“I had no idea that it would have quite the reaction and that it would sell out in a few minutes.”

Skims isn’t the only brand to take heat over a holiday countdown, either. Two years ago, Sephora faced criticism for its own trinket-filled advent calendar, which some customers called disappointing, CBS News pointed out.