I Tried Leah Kateb’s Shower Method: See Photos

The sixth season of “Love Island USA” will be iconic in my eyes. From the friendship goals of actors Serena Page, JaNa Craig, and Leah Kateb to the drama-filled Casa Amor and fun (and sometimes shady) challenges, the entertainment was truly unmatched. What started as a way to support Ariana Madix as she entered her hosting era became my new reality TV obsession. I downloaded the app to vote in time, followed most of the cast on social media to keep up with their behind-the-villa shenanigans, and watched almost every interview they did. I even started reading the characters’ language, from Kendall Washington’s “nausty,” Kaylor Martin’s “fawk Aaron,” or Kateb’s “spare me!”

Due to the show’s instant popularity, several Love Islanders have entered their influencer season and shared their favorite products along the way, including Kateb and her now-viral shower routine. Noting that she’s constantly complimented on her soft skin and how good she smells (she’s now the chief creative officer of the clean fragrance brand Skylar), she says her sub-$40 brand will be the best you need.

The trend consists of four products that are described as “the scent of a vanilla girl” or, as Kateb puts it, “girls who like to smell like cake,” containing a number of gourmands and sweet notes. As a fan of both Kateb and fragrances, I had to see if Kateb made a big deal out of this trend and if her product recommendations lived up to the hype. Read on for my full experience below. Note: Depending on the size you get, the price of the whole cycle varies. In Kateb’s way of viral shower TikTok, few products are small or travel sizes.

Kateb starts her shower with antibacterial wash and gets in with Strong Sticky Day Shower Gel ($13). He describes the scent as “everything good you can put together in this world” – and he’s not wrong. With a base of date syrup and notes of vanilla and sandalwood, it has a deep sweet aroma that reminds me of warm brown sugar. I squeezed a dollop of body wash into my shiny gloves and instantly got a whiff, and soon, it filled the entire bathroom. It’s very fragrant and lathers well for a soft, sweet clean.

Next, Kateb comes in with a scented baby soap, L’Occitane Shea Body Shower Oil—currently out of stock—but L’Occitane Cleansing And Softening Refillable Shower Oil ($29) does the job the same way. I found the shower oil to be light and silky, and the scent was powdery, very similar to the Pond’s Talcum Powder my grandmother used. I applied it to my damp skin, giving myself a relaxing body massage as the oil combined into a milky white foam, and then washed it off. Its smooth texture also lends itself as a good shaving agent. Kateb notes that Sticky Dates is a strong scent that lingers on the skin; however, I noticed the opposite. For me, the scent of L’Occitane Shea Body Shower oil lingered on my skin after showering.

Depending on her skin’s needs and mood, Kateb moisturizes her body with Eos 24H Moisture Body Lotion in Vanilla Cashmere ($12) or Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Butter ($49). Kateb notes that the Creme de Corps Body Butter will leave your skin soft and hydrated longer than the 24H Moisture Body Lotion, but the Eos body lotion has a nice scent compared to the body butter. Although I don’t have Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Butter on hand, I do have it Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Body Lotion ($39), which is just a little more consistent, according to the Kiehl’s site. Both lotions are deeply moisturizing and a pleasure to apply. Given Kateb’s review, I decided to use the Creme de Corps Body Lotion first to help hydrate my skin and then layer the Eos 24H Moisture Body Lotion in Vanilla Cashmere on top for a buttery, warm vanilla scent.

After the whole process, my skin was left soft and (in Kateb’s words) “ma ma ma ma moisturized” with a beautiful sun-kissed glow. The vanilla cashmere scent lasted all night, and even when I woke up the next day the scent still lingered on my skin.

Kateb ends her routine with a spritz of her favorite vanilla perfume, which she didn’t reveal until she posted the next TikTok of her perfume collection. “The perfumes I like, I like to smell edible. I like to smell like you can eat me on a plate. I want to smell like you want to come and taste me,” he says in the clip. Kateb is a big fan of the team Kayali Vanilla 28 ($105), which was a popular fragrance among the Villa girls on “Love Island USA,” and thanks to her influence, sold out several times. After reviving its popularity, she teamed up with Kayali founder and Dubai Bling star Mona Kattan and became the brand’s newest ambassador. Kateb likes it Kayali Yum Pistachio Gelato ($150), gourmand with notes of nutty pistachio and hazelnut, cotton candy, and whipped cream, and layered with Kayali Yum Boujee Marshmallow ($138), a sweet, fruity fragrance with pink marshmallow, strawberry, coconut, vanilla, and pink musk.

Another favorite of Kateb’s “edible sniffing” scent recommendations includes Skylar Vanilla Sky Perfume ($96), Kilian’s love Don’t be shy ($295), Philosophy Fresh Cream ($58), and Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille ($640) which is an amber fragrance that she has been using for six years.

Kateb put us through one of the most luxurious baths, and I highly recommend it – a million times over. Here’s hoping she ditches her hair care routine next.

Anvita Reddy (she) is the former assistant editor of PS Shopping. He has a passion for brands and reviews home gadgets, cookware, technology, and more. After dealing with acne in her youth and adulthood, her expertise is at its best. At PS, you’ve tested skin care, makeup, and hair care, as well as countless other beauty products.