kai conversations with celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert, sarit klein

we are delighted to bring you this week's kai conversation with celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert, sarit klein. with more than 20 years’ experience in film, television, print and red carpet makeup, sarit has worked with some of hollywood’s most recognizable faces including rose byrne, john stamos, a$ap rocky, lucy hale, katie holmes, sigourney weaver and sofia vergara – to name a few – transforming them into characters we know and love. 
 
sarit knew from a young age that she wanted to become a makeup artist, but her path didn’t immediately lead her there. she served in the military and went onto get her bachelor’s degree in business before transitioning into the makeup industry. she excelled thanks to her talent, expertise and warm personality, quickly becoming an industry expert. in-demand artist, sarit lives bi-costal between new york and los angeles. 
 
sarit has used the kai signature perfume oil daily since 2004 and incorporates other kai products into her celebrity makeup sessions. she embodies our “breath*life*flow” philosophy daily through her commitment to self-care goal to create balance; body, mind and soul. i hope you enjoy getting a glimpse into sarit’s world. 

xo,

gaye 

can you tell us about your background and experience as a makeup artist, how you began your career, and how you started working with celebrity clients?
i was born and raised in israel (with short stints of living in ny). my mom is american, i spoke english from birth and grew up watching tv shows and movies from the united states. i was fascinated with hollywood and behind the scenes footage. every year on oscar nights, my mom and i woke up at 3 am (due to the time difference) to watch the show live!  i loved to paint and play with makeup, which was a big part of my childhood as well. 

after serving in the military, i worked as a flight attendant while studying for my bachelor’s degree in business. for fun, i also took a comprehensive makeup course and got my makeup certificate, never thinking i would be turning it into a career.  a few years later in 2002, with my mom’s encouragement,  i moved to new york to pursue makeup. i didn’t know anyone in the entertainment industry but knew this was the right place for me to jumpstart my new career.  i worked in retail for 5 days and quit at the end of that week! my passion was telling stories and creating characters so i thought film and tv would be the right avenue. 

i cold-called photographers to “test” for pictures and at first i found most of my jobs on mandy.com or craigslist.  i knew that each little project, even if i worked for free or got a small stipend, is a stepping stone to the next one. eventually i worked on bigger jobs and was accepted into the east coast makeup and hair union, local 798, and the west coast union, local 706, and my bi-coastal adventures began. 

makeup by sarit klein on rose byrne for "physical"

“i love the kai rose collection - the mix of gardenias and roses creates a fresh smell that’s delicate and subtle.” - rose byrne

 
how did you first discover kai?
i discovered kai circa 2004.  i was strolling along the streets of the lower east side in manhattan and found a cute boutique selling various products, including kai perfume oil. the instant i smelled it, it was love at first smell! i knew i had found my scent. the kai gardenia scent is so unique and fresh and always brings me to my happy place. i have never smelled anything like it and i’ve been wearing it daily for 20 years. 
 
how do you use kai in your own personal self-care routine?
i have so many favorites so narrowing it down to 4! i love leaving the house wearing head to toe kai. 
 
after my daily shower, i use the kai body butter- such a luxurious texture that melts into your skin. i love using it before bed, my skin feels so soft when i wake up.
 
kai deodorant- i love that it’s aluminum free and has a subtle scent that isn’t overpowering. it’s one of those clean deodorants that actually works. 
 
kai travel set- i travel a lot for work and this set has everything i need, including shampoo and conditioner. i refill the bottles when it gets low.   
 
kai perfume oil - i’m still obsessed with the og scent since i discovered it.  when i apply it, i feel calm and happy. it’s always in my bag for quick touch ups on the go and it lasts for hours! 
 
what inspired you to start incorporating kai into your makeup services when working behind the scenes on productions?  
non-toxic, cleaner products became front and center in my kit, as well as in my education as a makeup artist, when actors on every project continuously asked for “natural” products. i was already using kai on myself for years so incorporating some of the products into my kit was a no brainer. 

what are your top 3 go-to products from kai to use on your clients in the makeup trailer?
i love using the kai body lotion on clients. after i finish doing their makeup, i apply it on their neck, arms and legs. that way there is enough time for it to sink in before they head over to change into their costumes prior to filming. the kai body glow is perfect for when you need to create a beautiful sheen on skin. i usually use it on set before a take. and of course the kai hand cream – there are so many items in a makeup artist’s set bag or in the actor’s bag, and it becomes heavy so this the perfect size to have on set for touch ups.
  
every time i use kai, even if it’s just on myself, clients always comment how light and refreshing the scent is. on a recent project, i used the rose body lotion and hand cream on a client, they loved the scent so much that they asked to take it home!

makeup by sarit klein for justin theroux for "white house plumbers"

how do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and innovations in the beauty and makeup industry, especially when working with celebrity clientele? any trends you’re loving now?
there are many ways to i stay up-to-date.  i follow a lot of skincare/makeup brands and makeup artists on instagram, i read various blogs & magazines and i always learn from other makeup artists i work with. i’m also very fortunate to have relationships with pr companies that send me new products to try and share with clients and other makeup artists. dewy, healthy, glowing skin from within has always been my go-to. i love seeing that trend in ads and on runways.

makeup by sarit klein for viggo mortensen and mahershala ali for "green book"

what’s the best advice you’ve ever received? 
my mom always says: you can achieve anything you put your mind to. that advice helped me change careers, move to another country and start fresh in new york.
 
do you have a mantra you live by? 
i say many daily affirmations and this is one of my favorites: everything is working out for my highest good.  
 
what’s your beauty secret? 
navigating through my hectic bi-coastal lifestyle and working long hours on projects, self-care is of utmost priority and some daily rituals are my “non negotiables.” even when working full time on a show, my day begins with transcendental meditation, 5-7 minutes of yoga, a cup of hot water with apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, facial gua sha and gratitude affirmations. i believe starting with these practices when you wake up is a big contributor to looking and feeling young, beautiful and healthy.
 
what color nail polish are you wearing right now? 
dazzle dry “siena.” it’s a great fall color and i love that the brand is non-toxic.
 
what’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done? 
backpacking in australia and new zealand for a total of 5 months.  i went with a friend when i was 24 years old.  we had a “loose” plan and kept on pushing our return flight back because we had an amazing time!