I Tested to Find out for Myself: Are Skims or Spanx Better? (2025)

Once a taboo topic, shapewear isn't quite so secretive anymore, but the designs may actually be more discrete than ever. Shapewear can smooth bulges, conceal underwear lines and sculpt your curves. This means what you've got on under your clothes is equally as important as your actual outfit, and iconic shapewear brands Skims and Spanx get it.

Known for their shaping undergarments and slimming fashions, both Skims and Spanx offer a variety of contouring bodysuits, underwear, bras, shorts and more. But which brand does it better? I worked with Good Housekeeping Institute experts and GH editors to put some of the best-selling styles from each brand to the test to help you decide what's worth it.

Keep reading to learn more about each brand, their primary collections and some of the their most popular shaping styles.

Skims is a brand with major celebrity status that was launched in 2019 by Kim Kardashian. It has brought products like slimming underwear and smoothing shorts into the mainstream, making them just as fashionable as they are functional. Something that really sets the brand apart is its inclusive range of sizes and skin-tone shades, with most of its products available in sizes XXS–4X and at least six nude colors. Skims' shapewear is split into three collections based on compression:

• Sheer Sculpt: Lightweight, breathable mesh pieces for everyday use
• Skims Body: Mid- to strong-level compressive, smoothing pieces that are opaque
• Seamless Sculpt: The brand's most popular collection with stronger compression for sculpting and support

Chances are, you've at least heard of Spanx, a staple brand that's been shaping women's wardrobes since the early 2000s — more than 20 years. Founded by Sara Blakely, it has become the benchmark for shapewear brands everywhere. Offering a wide variety of styles including shaping bodysuits, underwear, shorts, hosiery, tops and footless tights in a range of materials, Spanx is also grouped according to compression level:

• Spanxsmooth: The lightest compression available, meant to gently smooth while feeling comfortable enough to wear all day long
• Spanxshape: Medium compression for a more defined shape
• Spanxsculpt: The highest level of compression with firmer control for a sculpted effect

I researched best-selling pieces from both Spanx and Skims and reached out to GH editors to hear more about what they personally love to wear from each brand, along with consulting with my fellow GH Textiles Lab experts to uncover what stood out in our Lab tests for properties like shrinkage, stretch recovery and washability. Three popular categories emerged: thong bodysuits, mid-thigh shorts and open-bust bodysuits. I was also able to try on many of the styles myself (all in a size Small) and have worn some of them to the office, on date nights, to weddings and more... even on an airplane.

Skims

It's almost comical how small this Skims bodysuit looks right off the rack, but it somehow miraculously (well, the 18% elastane composition helps a lot) more than doubles in size to fit over your curves with some pulling and adjusting. Unfortunately, my nail poked a hole right through the side of the bodysuit along the bust on my very first wear, which didn't impact its performance but was disappointing.

The material is stiff but still feels soft while wearing it. The cut of the bodysuit is actually quite flattering. It has a neckline that toes the line between a scoop-neck and a V-neck, and the sides don't extend too high up, so it's easier to conceal under lower-cut tops. I've worn this bodysuit both with and without a bra and have found that even without a bra it doesn't flatten my chest like some other shapewear bodysuits do, thanks to the pique knit details around the bust that provide separation and some support.

The thong aspect of the bodysuit is a true thong at less than an inch wide, so there were no underwear lines under my formfitting jeans and dresses, but it proved to be a little uncomfortable closer to the end of the day. At the bottom, a set of two snaps allow you to easily undo the bodysuit when you need to use the restroom, and in my opinion, it wasn't difficult to snap them back together afterwards.

While the adjustable straps didn't dig into my shoulders, and the fabric didn't cut into my hips, after a few hours in this bodysuit I wanted to take it off. It was just a bit too compressive for me to wear all day long, especially when sitting, and some of my coworkers expressed similar sentiments. That being said, it really did take more than an inch off of my waist — to the point where my kind-of-baggy jeans were falling off of me — making it a great option for someone seeking a more defined shape. I truly had hourglass curves with this on, and some coworkers described my new look as "Jessica Rabbit," which speaks for itself.

Spanx

This Spanx bodysuit is initially twice the size of the Skims bodysuit, making it much more comfortable and manageable to wriggle on — a breeze in comparison — but it seems to be a little harder to conceal. The neckline has a more defined V-neck shape that extends a little too far up my chest to wear under lower tops with wider openings. And my chest looked a bit flatter in this style without a bra because of the lack of definition between my breasts, but I didn't have the same issue when wearing it with a bra.

At 2 inches across, the thong piece is much wider and has a thicker seam, so it felt more noticeable under my clothes but it was more comfortable to me overall because it wasn't digging in quite as much. This bodysuit also has three snaps at the crotch, so I felt safer in knowing it wasn't going to come undone. The adjustable straps on this bodysuit are a little thinner yet still didn't dig in to my shoulders, and they feel more securely attached.

The winner: Spanx

Ultimately, the Spanx bodysuit was easier to move in. I even wore it on a flight to really put it through the wringer, and I wasn't uncomfortable; although, I didn't have to use the restroom while on the plane, which would have been the true test. It has a tight fit throughout my torso that provided a nice shaping effect and honestly felt more like a hug than a restrictive squeeze. Plus, the compression felt more targeted at the waist, so the chest wasn't as snug, and I didn't feel the urge to tear it off at the end of the day.

Skims

With nine different styles available, Skims has a more limited range of shorts than Spanx and most of them are in Skims' Seamless Sculpt collection, which means they are highly compressive. This pair, however, is in the Sheer Sculpt collection, and it truly is sheer. When trying the shorts on, I noticed that even a nude thong showed through the material (both the outline of my underwear and the color), so I decided it was best to wear these shorts without underwear. The shorts looked and felt comparable to layering a couple of pairs of panty hose, which is exactly what I wanted under a flowy skirt. I wasn't looking for something too slimming and more just wanted some extra protection in case of a sudden breeze.

Designed to be worn under low-back dresses and tops, these shorts actually scoop down in the back, creating a V-like shape. Along the side seams of the shorts are small pieces of flexible boning that are meant to keep the shorts from rolling down at the top. When I wore these shorts, the boning didn't dig into my waist or hips at all, and even with the low-cut back, the shorts stayed securely in place as I moved.

I also tried out the Skims Mid Thigh Shorts, which are more compressive and a bit higher waisted. They weren't uncomfortable but not as comfy as the sheer shorts and they really sucked me in at the waist. With a built-in silicone band at the waistline, the shorts stayed securely in place for the most part — the band rolled down just a bit in the back, no matter how much I tried tugging it into place. I personally liked the Low Back Shorts more.

Spanx

Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab's best overall shapewear winner, these shorts from Spanx are a favorite of testers and staffers alike. Spanx has a whopping 16 different styles of shorts to choose from in a variety of materials and compression levels, and these shorts offer lighter compression but are ideal for wearing under skirts and dresses because they help to conceal dreaded panty lines, act as an extra layer of security and provide just enough shaping.

Another GH editor shared that the shorts "give a slightly slimming, smoothing look beneath clothing that isn't skin-tight." I've worn this particular style to many formal events and weddings over the years because they're breathable, easy to move in (perfect for the dance floor) and feel invisible — hence the name — under my clothes.

The shorts have a cotton gusset, so I'm able to comfortably wear them without underwear. One GH editor says the "satiny finish" of her Spanx shorts "is undetectable beneath even silky or filmy/clingy dresses," and the leg openings on the shorts are cut without any stitching for a truly seamless look. However, this does cause them to roll up a bit around my thighs, but it's not uncomfortable and is easy to readjust during trips to the bathroom. The waistband is a bit thicker than the rest of the shorts but stayed securely in place at my natural waistline without digging in and wasn't noticeable under satin, which in my opinion is the most unforgiving material.

The winner: Spanx

These shorts earned the top spot in our best shapewear roundup for a reason. Spanx has perfected the barely-there, lightly compressive short. They're practical and comfortable. Plus, when I wore them with underwear underneath, they completely concealed the outline, and when I wore them sans underwear, I didn't feel exposed.

Skims

An open-bust bodysuit is a style of shapewear I had never tried prior to writing this article. To be frank, it looked more like a torture device than anything I'd ever want to put on my body and seemed flat-out intimidating to me. Like the thong bodysuit, this one from Skims was comically teeny tiny before I wriggled myself into it, which was the most difficult try-on process out of any of the shapewear I tested.

The material is even more compressive than the thong bodysuit but has an open bust, which means you're able to choose how much lift and support you want in the chest. Because this bodysuit is highly compressive, I decided to lean into the resulting hourglass effect by wearing my favorite Skims push-up bra with it and was very pleased with the results. The bodysuit definitely smoothed my waist, and the higher compression material around the thighs felt nice and shaping, but it didn't squish my tush, thanks to the built-in support around the butt. I truly felt "snatched" with this on.

Like with the brand's bodysuit, I poked my finger right through the material during my first wear, but this time I ripped a hole in the butt. And while there may be an open gusset to make trips to the restroom easier, I wouldn't suggest trying it because it's pretty small. Instead, when I needed to use the restroom, I had to remove my dress, peel the bodysuit off of my body and manage to pull it back up and into place while trying not to hold up the line. A whole workout but honestly worth it because I looked and felt great with this on.

Spanx

Out of everything I tested, this open-bust bodysuit from Spanx looked the most intense, but it surprisingly wasn't the most intense to wear. It's coated in a Lycra (stretch fiber) variant that feels somewhat rubber-like and stiff, and there's built-in boning comparable to a corset top. I have a longer torso, so I wasn't worried about the boning, but a coworker with a shorter torso was shocked by how high the boning extended up the sides and down towards the hips, declaring this style was good for "standing, not sitting" because it could dig in to her sides.

The bodysuit was actually easy to pull on, and it wasn't uncomfortable once I adjusted it properly into place — just noticeable. Peeling it off was a challenge in and of itself because of its structured design, but it wasn't impossible. Another GH staffer who wears the brief version of this bodysuit described it as "life-changing." She shared, "Right from the start, I found the bodysuit comfortable and wore it all day. It offers good tummy control and cinches my waist without being overly tight," adding, "I don't feel the urge to take it off at the end of the day."

Like the Skims style, this one has lighter shaping around the butt, so it didn't flatten me out. And the adjustable straps felt secure and stayed in place without sliding down or digging into my shoulders. Despite having boning and the printed Lycra design, its outline wasn't visible through my dress — the shorts or the chest. It was also more comfortable than the Skims open-bust bodysuit, just a little stiffer and didn't suck me in at the waist quite as much. This isn't something I'd reach for for everyday, but I'd consider pulling it out for a special event like a long wedding day.

The winner: Skims

Despite my issue with the quality, the simple Skims bodysuit was so compressive. As they say, sometimes beauty is pain — well, not necessarily pain but maybe just a little bit of discomfort. The bodysuit truly cinched my waist, smoothed my stomach and defined my thighs in a way I never knew possible. If I'm going to opt to wear an entire bodysuit with built-in shorts, I want the style that will create the maximum impact, and that's exactly what Skims offers.

You may hate this answer, but it really depends! I'm planning to keep pieces from both Spanx and Skims in my dresser and have loved trying shapewear from both brands. Ultimately, it comes down to what styles and what experience you're looking for. When I want to feel sucked in but not uncomfortable, I reach for Spanx, especially the brand's shorts. But when I want a true hourglass shape in my tightest dress, I reach for Skims.

Spanx final thoughts

When it comes to traditional shapewear, Spanx knows what it's doing — having been around for more than 20 years, the brand has perfected high-quality, highly compressive styles. To me, they look and feel a bit more technical than Skims. While the garments may seem a bit intimidating at first, shapewear from Spanx is actually pretty comfortable and doesn't feel overly restrictive. I've had Spanx shapewear for years that looks and feels just as great as it did when I first bought it, which is a testament to the craftsmanship.

Skims final thoughts

Skims' shapewear branding almost feels more lifestyle-oriented and a bit more approachable for shapewear beginners, but I found it to be more compressive than Spanx. Because it's so popular on social media, the brand has really garnered a large millennial and Gen-Z following who are just dipping their toe in the world of shapewear. Without a lot of boning or highly technical designs, the styles are easier to incorporate into your wardrobe, and they offer incredible results. I had some issues with the quality of two of the pieces I tested, but this could very well just be a me putting it on problem — my coworkers, friends and family have all tested or worn shapewear from Skims that's still in tip-top shape.