If you’re glued to your TV during Love Island’s marathon season every summer like I am, you’ll understand my need to write this story. Each episode feels like a daily dopamine hit, and they come on so often you start to feel like you know every cast member personally. After they leave the villa, I live for their expert beauty recommendations. One cast member known for her impeccable taste in beauty is Love Island USA season six participant Leah Kateb.
I follow Kateb’s TikTok religiously because I know she always has solid recommendations in the skincare, haircare, makeup, and fragrance departments. What I also discovered is that we happen to have the same beauty MO. Kateb and I have had an eerily similar skin journey and share so many of the same favorites.
I also recently got the chance to chat with her in person about some of the items she’s currently obsessed with. If you love Kateb and her recommendations like I do, keep scrolling. I’m sharing all the beauty items we both buy on repeat ahead.
Lately, people are obsessed with Kateb’s shower routine. It was here that I discovered that we both share a love for this gourmand-flavored bodywash from Lush. It contains date syrup and sandalwood oil, and it’s deliciously sweet and such a treat to use in the shower. I love pairing it with the brand’s Sticky Dates Body Lotion.
L’Occitane
Almond Shower Oil
After using the Lush Sticky Dates Body Wash, Kateb told me she loves going in with L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil to hydrate the skin. We also talked about our mutual love of a good bath, and she gave me the best pro tip: You can use this shower oil can as a bath oil, too. You’ll have the softest skin when you get out.
Kiehl’s Since 1851
Creme De Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter
Kateb told me she loves this super-hydrating body butter from Kiehl’s as a finisher. It’s decadent and hydrates for hours on end with squalane, jojoba oil, soy milk, honey, and shea butter.
Eos
Shea Better 24HR Moisture Body Lotion Vanilla Cashmere
Of course, because Kateb loves sweeter scents, she’s also into EOS’s Vanilla Cashmere body lotion like I am. “I love anything vanilla,” she told me. This is one of the most lightweight yet hydrating lotions I’ve used that has some heavy hydration hitters, but never feels sticky and absorbs so well.
eos
Eos Shea Better Body Lotion Strawberry Dream
While she loves EOS’s viral hit Cashmere Vanilla, she told me Strawberry Dream is actually the best (and most slept-on) scent of the lotion.
SKYLAR
Nude Skin Eau De Parfum
Kateb has joined clean fragrance brand Skylar as the chief creative officer, and during an event to celebrate her involvement, she told me this is one of her favorite scents. Additionally, Boardwalk Delight is also in her top favorites. “I love, love, love our scent club scents [too],” she says. “Banana Candy is *chef’s kiss.* I’m a major gourmand girlie.”
Avène
Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
In one of Kateb’s earlier TikToks after she left the villa, she talked about her journey being on Accutane and how this cream saved her skin during that time. Like Kateb, I was also on Accutane for a while and wish I had had this rich moisturizer at the time. It heals the skin barrier and locks in hydration with postbiotics, copper, and Avène’s soothing thermal spring water.
Kateb calls this her “fancy hypochlorous acid spray.” It’s a luxe version of an aesthetician favorite that balances the skin’s pH and provides potent anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory support. It helps calm the skin, promote healing, and treat any active blemishes.
hydrinity
Restorative HA Serum
This hyaluronic acid serum from the same brand is another product Kateb is loving at the moment. It contains peptides, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid to stimulate the skin’s natural recovery process and dramatically improve hydration levels in the skin.
ALASTIN Skincare
Gentle Cleanser
In another TikTok where Kateb talked about her acne journey, she said she loved using this gentle cleanser from Alastin, and it happens to be one of my favorites, too. It’s really hydrating and doesn’t strip the skin, but still gets the job done and makes your skin feel squeaky clean.
Revision Skincare
Intellishade Truphysical
Kateb loves a good mineral sunscreen, and this Revision formula is her favorite. It contains vitamin C to give you sun protection and a daily glow.
