SKIMS has found itself dealing with an unexpected problem after its Accessories Advent Calendar left many customers unhappy. The holiday product cost $148 in the US, but when buyers started opening the twelve gifts inside, the reaction was far from what the brand probably expected. Instead of excitement, social media was filled with people questioning why a calendar containing mostly small hair accessories and keychains was selling for so much money.
To be fair, SKIMS did show customers what was inside before they bought it. This wasn’t a case of advertising expensive clothing and sending something completely different. However, seeing a few accessories listed on a product page is one thing. Spending nearly $150 and then opening a box containing scrunchies, hair clips and keychains is another. The complaints became difficult to ignore as unboxing videos attracted millions of views, and SKIMS eventually decided to offer unhappy customers a choice between a full refund and $150 in store credit.
Table of Contents
- What Did SKIMS Put Inside the $148 Advent Calendar?
- The Unboxing Videos That Started the Backlash
- SKIMS Is Offering a Full Refund or $150 in Store Credit
- Did SKIMS Mislead Customers About the Calendar?
- Should You Buy the SKIMS Accessories Advent Calendar?
- Conclusion
What Did SKIMS Put Inside the $148 Advent Calendar?
The SKIMS Accessories Advent Calendar was released on October 29, 2026, as part of the brand’s Holiday Shop. It was priced at $148 in the United States and £158 in the UK. The calendar has since sold out, although shoppers can join a waitlist in case more become available.
There were twelve gifts in total, and the collection focused entirely on accessories rather than the underwear and clothing SKIMS is best known for. Buyers received a teddy bear keychain, hair elastics, satin scrunchies, bobby pins, a SKIMS squishy, hair clips, two bra elastic headbands, a comb keychain, a logo keychain and a fuzzy compact mirror keychain.
Looking at the list, there’s nothing particularly unusual about the items. They’re small accessories that people can use in their everyday routines, and some SKIMS fans might genuinely like having them. The problem is how much the company charged for the collection. At $148, each gift works out to about $12.33, which is a lot to pay for items such as hair ties and keychains. Even people who enjoy the brand might struggle to see the value.
The Unboxing Videos That Started the Backlash
The complaints became much louder once customers began posting videos of themselves opening the calendar. Instead of keeping the disappointment among the people who had bought it, social media turned the product into a much bigger conversation. Some unboxing videos reportedly attracted more than 30 million views, while another reached 18.9 million.
A lot of the criticism came down to how ordinary the accessories looked compared with the price. A scrunchie or hair clip isn’t necessarily a bad gift, but most people wouldn’t expect to spend $148 on twelve small items like these. Once everything was laid out together, it became easier to understand why buyers were questioning the price.
I think the SKIMS name also played a part in the reaction. The company has a strong following, and its products are often sold at premium prices. People may have expected the advent calendar to offer something that felt more special than a collection of everyday accessories. Instead, the unboxing videos gave viewers a chance to judge the contents for themselves, and many weren’t impressed.
There is also a difference between a product being worth something to a loyal customer and being worth its asking price to the average shopper. Someone who loves collecting SKIMS accessories might be perfectly happy with the calendar. But that doesn’t mean everyone else should consider it a good deal.
SKIMS Is Offering a Full Refund or $150 in Store Credit
On November 9, 2026, SKIMS contacted customers with a way to resolve their complaints. Buyers were given two choices: return the calendar for a full refund with return shipping waived, or keep the accessories and receive $150 in store credit. The offer is interesting because the store credit is actually $2 more than the calendar’s original US price. Customers who choose that option can keep everything they received and still have credit to spend on other SKIMS products. However, store credit isn’t the same as getting your money back. If you don’t regularly shop at SKIMS or have no plans to buy anything else from the company, the extra $2 probably won’t make much difference. You would still have to spend the money at the same store.
For customers who are genuinely unhappy with the calendar, I’d choose the full refund. There’s no reason to accept store credit just because the amount looks attractive when you might end up spending even more money on something you don’t really need. The credit makes more sense for existing SKIMS customers who already have other purchases in mind.
I also think it’s worth giving the company some credit for offering both options. Customers who regret buying the calendar aren’t being forced to keep it, and those who would rather hold on to the accessories have another way to recover the value of their purchase.
Did SKIMS Mislead Customers About the Calendar?
Not exactly. One detail that’s important to understand is that SKIMS had already listed the calendar’s contents on its product page. Customers weren’t promised twelve pieces of clothing or a mixture of expensive products and then surprised with hair accessories when their orders arrived.
The product was advertised as an accessories calendar, and the gifts buyers received matched that description. So calling it a case of customers receiving something completely different from what was promised wouldn’t be accurate.
That doesn’t mean the complaints are unreasonable, though. Customers can know exactly what a product contains and still feel that the price is too high. A company listing its products beforehand doesn’t automatically make the asking price fair or guarantee that buyers will be satisfied.
In this case, the argument isn’t really about whether SKIMS sent the wrong items. It’s about whether twelve small accessories justify a $148 price tag. Judging by the reaction online, quite a few customers don’t think they do.
Should You Buy the SKIMS Accessories Advent Calendar?
If you’re considering joining the waitlist, I’d look carefully at the contents before making a decision. The calendar has already sold out, but another release wouldn’t necessarily make it a better purchase. You now have a good idea of what is inside, so there’s no reason to buy it expecting something different.
If you genuinely like the accessories and don’t mind paying the price, you might enjoy having them. But if you’re expecting underwear, shapewear, clothing or expensive beauty products, this isn’t the calendar for you. The twelve gifts are accessories, and that’s what you’re paying for.
I would also avoid assuming that the refund and store credit offer will apply to future purchases. SKIMS made that offer to existing buyers after the complaints, but it hasn’t automatically become a permanent deal for anyone who joins the waitlist.
Personally, I wouldn’t rush to buy it if it comes back. There are plenty of ways to spend $148, and I would want a little more from a holiday calendar at that price.
Conclusion
The SKIMS Advent Calendar isn’t necessarily a terrible product, but I can see why so many buyers were disappointed. The accessories are usable, and the brand did show what customers would receive before they ordered. Still, twelve small gifts for $148 is a difficult price to justify, especially when the collection doesn’t contain anything particularly special.
SKIMS has at least given unhappy customers a reasonable way to deal with the situation by offering full refunds or $150 in store credit. That’s better than ignoring the complaints, but it doesn’t change how people feel about the original product.
If you already bought the calendar and aren’t happy with it, I’d take the refund unless you have other SKIMS purchases planned. And if you’re waiting for another release, make sure you actually like the accessories before spending your money. A popular brand and attractive holiday packaging don’t automatically make something worth buying.
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