The $148 SKIMS advent calendar is getting dragged across TikTok after shoppers opened its 12 holiday surprises and found hair ties, bobby pins, and keychains instead of the gifts they expected. Some viewers compared the accessories to cheap Temu finds, and Kim Kardashian’s company is now offering buyers refunds or store credit following the backlash.
Released as part of SKIMS’ holiday collection on October 29, the Accessories Advent Calendar was advertised as a dozen days of small presents. The $148 price works out to about $12.33 for each compartment. But as unboxing videos circulated, shoppers began questioning how a collection of everyday accessories could carry that price tag.
The first four compartments held a bear keychain, three hair elastics, three satin scrunchies, and three SKIMS-branded bobby pins. Day five delivered a squishy stress toy, followed by two hair clips and a pair of bra-elastic headbands. Another set of bobby pins appeared on day eight.
The remaining surprises were a comb keychain, a logo keychain, another three-pack of satin scrunchies and a faux-fur compact mirror keychain. No underwear, shapewear, pajamas, or other clothing came inside. Those details are especially significant for a label best known for selling those categories, although the calendar was specifically marketed as an accessories product.
TikTok creator Kayla Ryan was among the shoppers documenting the reveals. As she opened the boxes, the small gifts failed to win her over. “I’m hoping this is a prank and the last one is a $150 gift card for all my money back,” she said, expressing the frustration that fueled similar videos.
Another unboxing creator, known as @wetsloppyswollen, grew increasingly unimpressed while revealing the items.
“This is way too expensive,” she said. Holding up one accessory, she asked, “What is this? A bra strap made into a hair tie?” Her reaction helped turn the SKIMS advent calendar into a running conversation about celebrity-brand pricing.
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Viewers were just as ruthless in the comments. One described the gifts as “Temu junk,” while another wrote, “$150 is WILD for maaaaybe $20 worth of stuff.”
Part of the frustration came from what buyers expected from Kardashian’s clothing company. SKIMS has built its name around underwear, shapewear and loungewear, yet the calendar contained no apparel. At nearly $150, critics said they expected more than small hair accessories and branded novelty items, particularly from a company that regularly promotes premium products.
The 2026 version also differed from SKIMS’ earlier Panty Advent Calendar, which offered 25 days of underwear at a $450 price. This year’s less expensive calendar focused entirely on accessories, a difference that became central to the complaints.
There is another side to the argument. The brand did call the product an Accessories Advent Calendar, and its online listing identified hair accessories and keychains before purchase. A more detailed breakdown of the contents was also available on the product page. Some commenters argued that customers could have checked those details before spending their money.
SKIMS has responded by contacting purchasers directly. In a statement to TODAY, a company representative said the brand was “aware of the feedback” and acknowledged that “for some, the calendar didn’t meet expectations.” The representative said buyers were being offered a full refund or SKIMS credit and that customer responses “will directly shape how we approach future releases.”
An email shared by customers laid out the choices more specifically. Buyers can return the calendar for a full refund, with the return shipping fee waived, or keep it and receive store credit equal to the purchase amount. The email also included an apology for disappointing buyers. That means the offer is not simply an automatic cash refund while keeping the gifts.
