this week's kai conversation features sarah kugelman, a serial beauty entrepreneur who has built three brands over three decades, including skyn iceland and her latest venture, all golden, dedicated to changing the conversation around beauty and aging.
sarah first discovered kai while shopping at fred segal in la over twenty years ago, drawn to a fragrance unlike anything else on the market at the time, fresh, modern, and unmistakably artisanal. she fell for kai's use of gardenia, tuberose, and jasmine, notes that felt sexy and fresh all at once, and has kept it in her routine ever since.
with a perspective shaped by decades of building brands and a deep belief in the power of ritual, sarah finds beauty in the small moments that make you feel like yourself. enjoy this glimpse into her world.
xo, kai
how did you first discover kai?
i discovered kai while shopping at fred segal in la about 20-25 years ago. at the time that was an emporium of special discoveries and objects of desire. i was always into fragrance but most in the market were big heritage brands and i didn't love most of those complex, synthetic fragrances. so when i spotted kai fragrance, which seemed like an artisanal brand that had such a new, modern, fresh fragrance, something i had never experienced before, i totally fell in love. i have always been picky when it comes to fragrance but i really gravitated towards kai due to the usage of gardenia, tuberose, and jasmine that give a very fresh and modern vibe to its fragrance. typically i wouldn't consider myself a lover of florals but there's something about the way the singular notes play against each other that makes kai fresh and sexy all at the same time. it just felt very "me."
the products i discovered first were the signature candle and the kai eau de parfum. i've always loved candles and it's a great way to just live within the fragrance. the eau de parfum was beautiful and made me feel special. it was one of the original products in the line so it was natural that i discovered it first.
what are your 2-3 favorite kai products and why? how do you incorporate it into your life and routine?
still the eau de parfum, as it's pure classic kai. its beautiful packaging and beautiful fragrance combine to create a wonderful fragrance experience. the fragrance is fresh and modern and i never tire of it.
the reed diffuser is another favorite. i keep it in my bathroom so it always smells lovely and its gorgeous package adds a subtle touch of style to my environment.
a recent favorite is the perfume oil. easy to roll on and has that amazing fragrance, love the delivery and the fact you can carry it with you everywhere!
what's your favorite quote, or do you have a mantra you live by?
"don't be sorry that it is over. be happy that it happened."
i think it is such an uplifting and positive way to view life. endings are not sad; they are the closing of a chapter, where one door closes and another opens. life is filled with endings, and if we are optimistic about them, it means our focus is on appreciating what we have and looking forward to the future. not about being sad and missing out.
morning person or night owl? describe your ideal morning or night routine.
definitely a night owl, i am not a morning person! my ideal evening is to go out for a healthy, delicious, and relaxing dinner with a glass of red wine. following that, coming home to do my nighttime self-care routine, taking off my makeup, doing my all golden routine (of course): serum, eye cream, night cream (not launched yet but coming soon!). i take a multitude of supplements for health, anti-inflammation, and longevity. then i generally read whatever book i'm into at the moment or binge netflix, and then head to bed relaxed and feeling refreshed.
my night routine of self-care is something so important to me. relaxing and taking care of myself is key to my well-being. one product that helps me feel relaxed and balanced before going to bed is the kai linen spray, which i spray on my pillow. its fragrance is both refreshing and relaxing, a perfect experience to indulge in while drifting off to sleep.
currently craving?
obsessed with shaken vanilla bean iced matchas with oat milk from blank street! they're delicious and so good for you (matcha is high in antioxidants) and they help you focus without the caffeine rush you get from coffee.
what's the most adventurous thing you've done?
hiking in ice caves in iceland with my daughter.
we hiked into various ice caves that were extremely slippery and challenging to get through; it was such a beautiful yet adventurous excursion! i guess you could say starting three beauty companies is pretty adventurous too, lol. it is certainly not for the faint of heart, it takes a lot of courage, rejection, and comfort with risk and instability. it's not for everyone but it is an adventure every day!
