as we kick off the new year, we are delighted to bring you this week's kai conversation with the exceptionally talented celebrity makeup artist, maria vargas, who we are so fortunate to call a dear friend & kai devotee. maria's celebrity clientele includes catt sadler, lauren london, rocsi diaz, kelly wearstler, erin lim rhodes - among so many other fabulous women. she also works with fashion models across the globe. maria is not only a remarkable artist, but she is one of the nicest humans and truly embodies the kai "breath*life*flow" way of life. we hope you enjoy reading her wonderful interview below, and we highly encourage you to check out her beautiful instagram feed, which captures some of her incredible makeup work. 

xo,
gaye.

how are you taking care of yourself and your loved ones during this time?  are there certain things that are proving to be sources of motivation/inspiration?  if so, please feel free to share.

checking in. one thing i learned at the beginning of the pandemic was how important it is to make time for friends and family when we can’t be together in person. like sending a simple text anytime i think of someone instead of just letting time go by without any contact. we are on our phones all day so it’s not hard to check in on our loved ones.

how do you embody kai’s “breath*life*flow” lifestyle?

taking it one day at a time. i try to be present and not worry or stress about things i can’t control.

what’s your beauty secret? or must have beauty product?

hand cream! i wash my hands constantly and apply hand sanitizer in between. my hands get super dry if don’t constantly apply moisturizer. kai hand cream rescued my hands. the *rose scent is my favorite! i carry one in my car and one in my bag. it’s part of my morning and night time beauty routine. i also apply sun screen on my hands when i’m driving.

what color nail polish are you wearing right now?

it’s by Orly and the color is Namaste Healthy. it’s a beautiful rich dark red.

how would you describe your personal style?

casual but elevated. i try to look somewhat put together because you never know where the day might take you. if i look good i feel good and it sets the tone for my day.

go-to lipstick color?

a bold red. my current favorite is Fenty’s lip paint in “Uncensored”, Stila Stay All Day liquid lipstick in “Beso”, and Ilia Beauty Lipstick in “Flame.” 

what do you love most about where you live?

the weather, the culture, the food, the museums! i’m born and raised in LA and i wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

any secret spots you love to go to?

Echo Park lake is one of my favorite LA spots. it’s a place i’ve been visiting since i was a kid. you can rent a pedal boat or just walk around the lake and enjoy the DTLA skyline.

describe your perfect day.

snuggling on the couch with my husband, 2 dogs and binging a show on netflix. 

favorite date spot?

a cocktail at Death & Co. in the arts district followed by dinner at Dama DTLA.

ultimate getaway?

anywhere sunny with a beach.

favorite food?

pizza! Brooklyn Pizza Co. in Boyle Heights and Triple Beam Pizza in Echo Park are my favorite pizza spots. 

guilty pleasure?

Real Housewives of BH.

kai obsession?

*rose body wash! i love how clean it feels and the soft scent of rose lingers all day. it’s truly exhilarating.

morning person or night owl?

morning person.

ideal way to relax/unwind?

a massage and facial.

what book are you reading currently?

Anatomy of the spirit by Caroline Mys. 

thank you, maria!