'Love Island' Star Shakira Khan Is a Part-Time Princess and a Full-Time Beauty Girl
“I’ve always been quite a creative gal and makeup has been an outlet for me to display that.”
For Shakira Khan, appearing on Love Island was a no-brainer. Not only did the superfan watch every single season of the reality show, she’s seen firsthand how it’s opened doors for islanders — both in terms of romantic connections and their careers. As a marketing engineer during the week and a children’s princess performer on the weekends, Khan saw the opportunity as a win-win situation: even if nothing came from it, she’d still be in sunny Majorca. Now, almost four months after the show’s conclusion, the runner-up realizes she’s walked away with far more than just a free vacation.
“I ended up coming out of it with Harry [Cooksley], lifelong friendships with Yasmin [Pettet] and Toni [Laites] and a newfound community of people from all over the globe. It’s opened my world to so many new and incredible things that I wouldn’t have dreamed of before,” she tells Hypebae. Beyond that, the reality star’s newfound fame has allowed her to redefine her own personal boundaries — whether that means proudly sporting a bare face in public or learning to tune out the background noise.
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Like all of the Love Island contestants that have come before her, Khan has learned that ignorance is bliss when it comes to the internet’s opinions of her. “For me, it’s really important to remember that you can’t be liked by everyone. I’ve found that if I go looking for hate online, I’ll find it, and it’s only going to make me feel rubbish,” she says. Instead, the islander says she solely seeks opinions from the people in her life that she loves and trusts.
Similarly, Khan’s passion for beauty remains unaffected by what people online have to say. Although the star says she’s always seen makeup as an outlet for creative expression, she’s never felt pressured to hide behind it in order to appease others. “I don’t like wearing makeup every day and no one I meet in the street bats an eyelid. If it’s not your normal routine — don’t change it because you suddenly have more eyes on you,” she says. For Khan, withholding her own standards is far more important than worrying about other people’s projections.
At the same time, the part-time princess says hair and makeup has allowed her to tap into different parts of herself — whether she’s walking the red carpet in a full face of glam or just experimenting with new looks at home. Having dabbled in everything from rainbow sunset eyeshadow to glitter cut creases, Khan says she’s already cycled through a few different beauty eras, and she has no intention of slowing down.
“I love to pamper myself and go all out for special occasions, events, or just when I feel like it. [Hair and makeup] is such a fun way to change your whole look up with a few simple changes,” she adds. Although life post-villa can be difficult to navigate, Khan has a crystal clear understanding of what is and isn’t worth her energy — and an even clearer understanding of who she is at her core.
From Urban Decay’s All Nigher Setting Spray to Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask — ahead, Shakira Khan spills all of her beauty essentials.
Nivea Crème Moisturiser
“My mom has used Nivea Crème all her life — meaning, I’ve been using it all mine, too. She used to smother my sibling and I’s faces in it when we were kids. It’s a staple that’s never left my life since, a true comfort product. The best hack for this one is to put it on your skin and then apply perfume directly afterwards. This will help the scent stay on so much longer. If anyone out there is looking for a tried-and-true moisturizer, this is the one.”
Garnier Micellar Water
“I was recommended Garnier Micellar Water by a friend when I was a teenager and it’s been a staple of my routine ever since. A little hack for this one is to also use it when you’re getting ready to spot-treat any little mistakes. For example, when I do my eyeliner I’ll have some ready to go on a q-tip so I can touch up any blurs or smudges. My favorite memory with this one was in the villa, we had a micellar water shortage because we found out the boys had been using it in their skincare routines. The gals were left to take our makeup off with shower gel. Those rascals — it really was like gold dust.”
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
“I can’t even remember who recommended this one to me, but it’s one of those products that every beauty lover in my life has been hooked on, so I definitely picked it up somewhere along the way. This one brings back memories of being with my girlfriends and passing the Laneige around so everyone can get their fix. It’s one of those products that are too good to keep all to yourself. The best hack for this one is to use it as a topper over gloss or lipstick for that extra boost of hydration. It also creates this really dewy look that I love. This is such a staple that I’ve been loving for years. Plus, it can be used in so many different ways — Hypebae readers must get on it!”
Wonderskin All-Day Lip Stain
“I first came across this one on TikTok about a year ago. I saw so many videos of people with those bright purple lips and it drew me in. Once I tried it out for myself, I was hooked. This one really brings me back to my days in the villa. The hours of shooting (and smooching) were long and Wonderskin really stepped up to the challenge, keeping my lips the perfect shade. It even survived the kissing challenge! My go-to shades are “Whimsical” and “Charming.” Hypebae readers must try this product out if they haven’t already. It’s a complete game changer. You can literally gloss and go, simple as that — and it really does last all day long.”
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
“I got into this one a couple of years ago when I worked as a princess. One of the other performers recommended it to me to use on the job. It became a staple when I was performing because it really holds your glam in place — no one wants a sweaty princess! I’d go all day and perform several songs without my makeup budging an inch. I really put it to the test during that time, but it’s also such a great product to use on the day to day as well. [You] can use it for anything, from a long day in the office to a night out! This is also a great one to use during the rainy season, because it keeps your face intact through the elements.”
While you’re here, read about Luar’s Ana Bag Claw Clip.
