Why are my columns' contents starting at different heights?

I read that one should not use tables as means of layout, but do all the styling with CSS, so I tried the most basic thing I can think of to mimic tables, by using CSS multi-column layout.

I have created a CodePen to illustrate the problem. As you can see, the content of the two columns starts at different heights, and I do not understand why.

.skill-explanation {
  -webkit-column-count: 2;
  -moz-column-count: 2;
  -ms-column-count: 2;
  column-count: 2;
}

.align-left {
  text-align: left;
}

.align-right {
  text-align: right;
}

<div class="skill-explanation">
  <div class="align-right">
    <p>&#9733;&#9734;&#9734;&#9734; &#8210; <br>
    &#9733;&#9733;&#9734;&#9734; &#8210; <br> 
    &#9733;&#9733;&#9733;&#9734; &#8210; <br> 
    &#9733;&#9733;&#9733;&#9733; &#8210;
   </p>
  </div>
  <div class="align-left">
    <p>I can put it into context and am able to use it's basics <br>
    intermediate knowledge, used several times <br>
    good undestanding, used frequently <br>
    deep understanding, used on a daily basis
    </p>
  </div>
</div>

I wanted to give an update on this post in case someone stumbles upon it. 1) The marked answer is an improvment over mine, but I still find it unintuitive, since it uses the default flex flow which puts the main axis on the horizontal.
The way this should be from a logical standpoint would be columns tho.

Therefore here is an updated solution, which is the most simple and intuitive (at least in my opinion):

.center-wrapper {
  margin: 0 auto;
  display:table;
}

.skill-explanation {
  list-style: none;
}

.rating {
}

.skill {
}

.skill-item {
  list-style: none;
}

<div class="center-wrapper" <ul class="skill-explanation">
  <li class="skill-item">
    <span class="rating">&#9733;&#9734;&#9734;&#9734; &#8210;</span>
    <span class="skill">I can put it into context and am able to use it's basics</span>
  </li>
  <li class="skill-item">
    <span class="rating">&#9733;&#9733;&#9734;&#9734; &#8210;</span>
    <span class="skill"></span>
    intermediate knowledge, used several times
  </li>
  <li class="skill-item">
    <span class="rating"> &#9733;&#9733;&#9733;&#9734; &#8210;</span>
    <span class="skill"></span>
    good undestanding, used frequently
  </li>

  <li class="skill-item">
    <span class="rating">&#9733;&#9733;&#9733;&#9733; &#8210;</span>
    <span class="skill"></span>
    deep understanding, used on a daily basis
  </li>
  </ul>
</div>

Solution

Your problem is that the margins are collapsing on the p elements, as they would if the divs were stacked vertically. See Johannes answer.

Howevwer, your concept is flawed. You probably want to actually associate the rating with the skill

ul.skill-explanation {
  list-style: none;
  padding-left: 0;
}

.skill-item {
  display: flex;
}

.skill-item > div {
  width:50%;
}

.rating {padding-right: 0.5em; 
text-align:right;
}

<ul class="skill-explanation">
  <li class="skill-item">
    <div class="rating">&#9733;&#9734;&#9734;&#9734; &#8210;</div>
    <div class="skill">I can put it into context and am able to use it's basics</div>
  </li>
  <li class="skill-item">
    <div class="rating">&#9733;&#9733;&#9734;&#9734; &#8210;</div>
    <div class="skill">intermediate knowledge, used several times</div>
  </li>
  <li class="skill-item">
    <div class="rating">&#9733;&#9733;&#9733;&#9734; &#8210;</div>
    <div class="skill">good undestanding, used frequently</div>
  </li>

  <li class="skill-item">
    <div class="rating"> &#9733;&#9733;&#9733;&#9733; &#8210;</div>
    <div class="skill">deep understanding, used on a daily basis</div>
  </li>
</ul>