Kim K's New Body Makeup - Smear or Steer Clear?
By Emily Linh
25 June 2019 - 5 minute read
It seems like every celebrity, big or small is bringing out their own line of merchandise or makeup.
Aside from the recent trend in YouTubers attempting to cash in on their personal brand by pushing hoodies down our throats, we’re also seeing more cosmetics companies emerging daily.
And it kinda makes sense. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Rihanna have been in the spotlight since the beginning of time. We would assume they’re qualified to tell you what to put on your face.
We would assume they have your best interests at heart right?
Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. There are always people behind the scenes pulling strings, that make their fortune from leveraging the names and status of these stars.
Either way, all it takes is a couple of Instagram posts for the likes of Kim K to amass a number of loyal patrons to her brand.
So in light of that, let’s talk about KKW's body foundation and whether it’s really worth the hype.
What it's all about
One look at Kim Kardashian’s Instagram and you’d easily believe she was born with the skin of a sun-kissed Goddess. Now we know why.
The star admitted she’s been using body foundation for years to cover up her psoriasis, but since the brand got discontinued she decided to release her own.
“I’ve been working on these formulas for over a year now, and I’m so happy with how creamy and blendable they all are”.
While we doubt Kim herself has ever truly “worked” on anything for this long, it’s promising to hear that she struggles with her own skin condition.
The body foundation was released in 7 shades and is supposedly water resistant and transfer-proof.
But, despite the star’s best intentions, the internet is divided on the matter. It’s left most people with some lingering questions.
Can I still hug my dog while wearing this? But more importantly.
Do we really need makeup for our bodies now too?
Jameela Jamil chimes in
The “Bad Place” actress is well-known for her body positivity and disdain for the Kardashians promotion of snake-oil health products (looking at you detox tea).
The Kardashian family are no strangers to endorsing completely useless health products with literally zero scientific backings.
Jameela Jamil took to Twitter once again, this time to go in on Kim K’s new body makeup line saying this:
"Hard pass. God damn the work to take it all off before bed so it doesn’t destroy your sheets... I’d rather just make peace with my million stretch marks and eczema.”
We can’t disagree. But there’s a more important message on the tail of Jameela’s tweet. One about coming to terms with the way you are and embracing your flaws.
Kim K has openly stated that she’s come to terms with her psoriasis, and only uses the body foundation on occasion.
“I bruise easily and have veins and this has been my secret for over a decade. I’ve learned to live with and not be insecure of my psoriasis, but for days when I want to just cover it up I use this Body Makeup.”
She then went on to say that it’s a great tool for models and creative fields who need it on set.
Despite this, however, it's easy to imagine that the largest consumers of this product are going to be vulnerable teenage girls with low self-esteem.
The internet is divided once again
While there are many in favor of this bold venture, just as many are in complete opposition, claiming it will have a negative impact on expectations and beauty standards.
Others back the celeb's latest business venture.
The verdict
Ultimately, it’s hard to slate something that helps self-conscious people feel better about their bodies, but is this really the right way to do it?
As a personal sufferer of psoriasis, my gut reaction to Kim’s claim that body foundation is her “secret” immediately puts me on edge and seems like a way to cash in on people’s insecurities. It’s generally not as simple as covering it up, especially when you’re dealing with flaking skin.
That being said, however, there is merit in a product like this being used in the professional field.
And, this could certainly be a lifeline for you if you suffer from judgement due to skin conditions. People can be cruel. Glaring eyes can impact your self-esteem massively.
If a little body makeup helps you feel great about yourself, we salute it.
And of course, avoiding common skincare mistakes is half the battle too.
But before you go out and buy this, consider the intent behind it. Do celebrities like these really care about you feeling confident in your skin? Or is this just another easy stream of revenue built upon their position of influence?
Luckily we are all creatures of free will, and you can ultimately decide for yourself if it's worth the $45 price tag or not.
Just don’t forget that your body is grand the way it is. Scars, stretch marks, blemishes and all.
