Kim Kardashian is no stranger to multitasking. As one of the world’s most recognizable faces, the star currently has her hands full with all kinds of projects: She stars on Hulu’s The Kardashians, is studying to become a lawyer, runs her shapewear line Skims, and parents four children. Today, however, Kardashian adds yet another job to her list as she launches Skkn by Kim, a skincare line in partnership with the beauty conglomerate Coty. In honor of the debut, Kardashian stopped by the Condé Nast offices—the publishing company that owns Vogue and other titles—in New York City, where the star not only discussed her new venture, but also her parenting tactics, how she deals with controversy, and the key to her current “Future Alien Barbie” style.
The 30-minute conversation began with Kardashian speaking on the inspiration behind Skkn by Kim. Having launched her former beauty brand Kkw Beauty five years ago, she saw SKKN as an opportunity to reimagine what a beauty line could look like. Its initial drop includes products like an exfoliator, cleanser, and eye cream, with formulations that the star considered carefully. “The factories that I worked with said that products usually go through maybe five iterations of that product—and I went through between 20 and 25 on each product,” she says. “I really took my time on the formulas, to make sure that when people get it, they separate that from [it being] a ‘celebrity brand.’”
Of course, it being a Kardashian project, the look was important, too: Kardashian infused her now-signature minimal aesthetic into her products’s sleek packaging. “When I was working on the packaging, I was looking at concrete sculptures—all different shades of stones and interiors,” she says. “I always thought the packaging should look really good in my house; I’ve always loved really minimal tones.” She also wanted the packaging to be refillable, “to show brands that you can find cool packaging that is recyclable and sustainable.” She says she has plans to expand the label into makeup and fragrance down the line. “The Skkn brand is about making your skin look its best,” she teases. “I wanted color cosmetics that I love and wear—lipliners, lipsticks, foundations—that give you a neutral palette. Before, with Kkw Beauty, I was a little more fun…but they weren’t my core basics.”
During her candid conversation with Allure’s editor in chief Jessica Cruel, Kardashian, who wore a white Re/Done top and printed Balenciaga pantaboots, also discussed her current fashion era, which she describes as “Future Alien Barbie.” She addressed the current style dilemma she faces—“I do struggle with casual. I’m trying to get better at that,” she says—and spoke about being blonde again and, indeed, “having more fun.” Fans will remember that she recently went platinum for this year’s Met Gala, where she famously wore Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress; Kardashian touched on dealing with the constant controversies and scrutiny surrounding her many high-profile red carpet looks. “There was a lot of outrage that I had lost weight for that [dress],” Kardashian says. “I still support my decision, because I just started eating way healthier. I consulted with a nutritionist and my trainer.”
