This article is part of our series Brand battlein which we compare the best products in the category with their peers to determine which ones are truly worth your money.
You can’t buy the best shapewear without bumping into Skims. The Kim Kardashian-founded brand is known for its high quality products, including lingerie, bras, cozy loungewear and innovative swimwear. Skims Swim.
While the hype drops and builds with each new Skims collection, this brand isn’t the only bodysuit in town. REORIA Racerback Sleeveless Bodysuit by Amazonwhich is incredibly similar to Skims Essential Crew Sleeveless Bodysuitgarnered a quieter cult following.
Since it’s less than half the price of Skims, I had to test REORIA racer back sleeveless bodysuit to make sure it’s really a suitable alternative.
Bodysuit Skims and Amazon at a glance
This stretchy and buttery soft bodysuit is true to size and ultra-thin. We found it worth the money if you have sensitive skin (untagged) or plan to wear this basic bodysuit often and make it a staple in your wardrobe.
The fit might not look like it fits in the photos, but it’s worth a try in person as it does a great job as a comfortable base layer that you can wear up or down and also comes in a wide range of 24 color options, adding some versatility over to the three Skims color options.
 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Material |
95% nylon, 5% spandex |
75% nylon, 25% spandex |
| Size options |
XXS/XS, S/M, L/XL, 2X/3X, 4X/5X |
XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL |
| Color Options |
3 (one of them is a limited edition) |
24 |
| Care |
Hand wash cold, air dry only |
Handwash only |
| Correspond |
True size |
Long |
| Functions |
Crew neckline with raw cut, smoothing and moisture wicking material, thong bodysuit, zip closure with gusset. |
Racer back, button closure, high neckline, double-lined thong bodysuit |
| Price |
$68 |
$27 |
It’s one thing for these bodysuits to look the same as they do in jeans, but don’t underestimate the power of a well-fitting bodysuit that can’t be photographed.
The Amazon lookalike has a much longer crotch slit compared to the Skims bodysuit and I personally don’t have any extra height in my southern region. However, with this significant amount of extra material, it is theoretically possible to make a more comfortable (but potentially less seamless) thong suitable for some. For the record, I’m 5’3″ and for me, let’s just say this bodysuit wasn’t too tight around the lower torso, but that’s down to personal preference.
For Skims, the size was more in line with traditional seamless panties. It also has a bit of stretch in the material, which I’ll talk more about later, but that adds to the appeal – while it’s not a shapewear, it fits with just the slightest hint of smoothing compression. But the Skims Essential Crew Sleeveless Bodysuit has a small neck, so be careful – and strategic – if you’re putting on makeup first or risk putting it on the front.
The Amazon Racer Back Bodysuit is 75% Nylon and 25% Spandex making it super soft and perfect. It’s just not as oily, soft, and stretchy as Skims’ 95% nylon, 5% spandex fabric. That extra 20% nylon definitely makes a difference that you can feel and melt into.
To try and make up for this, Amazon’s dual version has a dual line. It also comes in a wide range of 24 options from neutrals to vibrant hues. The second layer also helps make sure the bust area doesn’t show through, as neither Skims nor this model has a built-in bra, and this thoughtful detail will be more important when testing a lighter color.
The Skims material not only felt great on my skin but also looked great. One layer of fabric is very thin and smoothes, stretches and shrinks without the added volume of a second layer. In addition, it was also somewhat more resistant to sweat and wrinkles. However, the Skims bodysuit only comes in three muted colors (and one of them is a limited edition).
But remember that potential makeup hazard I mentioned above? Thanks to the Skims material, if there are any makeup or deodorant mishaps, they are easy to wipe off with a quick touch of cold water. Crashes like this are a bit harder to remove with Spot Cleaning in Amazon’s version.
Details and quality
Skims don’t have a tag on the back so it avoids any potential itching for those with sensitive skin and also allows you to see the seams at the back. Although the Amazon bodysuit has a tag (although this did not bother me), visible seams were bypassed thanks to the second double layer.
But there is one feature of this “double lining” – only the front is fully double lined, and not the back. There is a second layer on the back, but it only goes down halfway and stays open, so your hand could be caught when you’re about to put it on if you’re not on your guard.
But overall, they were very comfortable to wear as sleek, form-fitting base layers.
Anything related to Skims usually causes some excitement. And given how buttery soft and super thin this bodysuit is, I can see why people are obsessed with it (aside from the Kardashian factor). But it’s just as easy to see how Bodysuit with halter neckline gaining momentum on Amazon.
Ultimately, it all comes down to how often you plan to wear it and what color palette you buy. If you’re looking for a neutral piece that you plan to wear often as a base layer for cardigans and blazers, I’d go for the Skims bodysuit as your next wardrobe essential that you can wear up or down.
But if you don’t plan on wearing it often, or prefer to spend the money you could get from one Skims and get two colorful ones from Amazon, I wouldn’t hesitate to give this viral double version a try.