[4] The album spawned four singles, including two top 20 hits worldwide, "With You" and "Take My Breath Away," which peaked at number fourteen and twenty on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively.

In an interview with MTV in October 2002, her then-husband, Nick Lachey, revealed that Simpson was in the studio, working on a new record.

[9] I was always shy about expressing my own point of view, but now, I think I have things figured out as a woman, and I want to give fans a piece of my heart and soul.

[10] Simpson said in an interview with Billboard, "I wanted to make a romantic, organic album, there are songs that say something that I hope will move or inspire people."

Billboard's Chuck Taylor compared the record to her first album, saying, "Simpson's soaring vocals give 'In This Skin' a smooth touch, as it sways between spirited midtempo melodies and her signature ballads.

"[10] Originally, the album was planned to be primarily produced by American rapper Missy Elliott, while the sole featured appearance was to be made by Nick Lachey.

About the recording process, Simpson said that A&R executive Teresa LaBarbera Whites "had the incredible idea of creating a songwriting camp.

About the song, Simpson said, "I was 102 pounds and people at the record label were telling me that I needed to lose weight.

The Berlin cover "Take My Breath Away" is Simpson and Lachey's love theme, she said, "because it was playing the first time Nick kissed me.

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave the album 2.5 stars and criticized it as "glossy, ever-so-slightly over-produced ... weighed down by soggy, overwrought pop ballads" and "sickeningly sweet" lyrics.

However, he praised "Forbidden Fruit," comparing it to Madonna's single "Music," and "Loving You," which he described as "a seductively contrived reminder that, with teen pop long dead, Simpson should be aiming to recapture the club audience that helped launch her career with 'I Wanna Love You Forever.

'"[20] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic also gave the album 2.5 stars in a mixed review, writing, "The problem with In This Skin is that its heart is in the mature middle of the road but its sound is still pitched too young, making [it] a record that satisfies neither audience.

"[1] Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone gave the album 2 stars, criticizing Simpson's lack of vocal "subtlety."

However, he added, "Her powerful voice is done a disservice by insipid songwriting and arrangements — as on the loathsome club track 'Forbidden Fruit' and the uncomfortably stately ballad 'You Don't Have to Let Go' — that consistently get in the way of her pipes.

The music video, directed by Dean Paraskavopoulos,[35] starts with black-and-white shots of Simpson dancing and looking at viewers.

The video continues with intercut footage of the previous scenes, until the final seconds of the song, when Simpson is joined by her husband, in which they move on their bed on the beach.

The song received positive reviews from critics, and enjoyed more success, reaching at top ten on Australia and UK and top-twenty on Ireland, Norway and United States.

Simpson received one and only MTV Europe Music Award nomination for Best Female, enjoying her commercial success outside America.

[38] Simpson performed "Sweetest Sin" live at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

While promoting the re-release of her album, Simpson stated in several interviews the possibility of a tour, wanting to break away from filming her TV series and connect with her fans.

Each night, the singer dedicated "I Have Loved You" to the American armed forces and conducted a Q&A session with contest winners.