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How Dr Kate Finally Transformed Her Combination Oily Skin—And Why Most Skincare Gets This Skin Type Wrong
Long‑term skin problems can take a toll, emotionally and financially. Customer experiences such as Dr Kate Zachau’s give hope. After decades of sensitive, combination skin, seasonal breakouts, forehead bumps and vascular rosacea, she finally found lasting change with Simplicité.
Her skin is now calm, resilient, hydrated and—her words—“people say I look younger than pictures of me from years ago”.
Today’s article is about Kate’s choice of Simplicité products, why combination oily skin is so misunderstood, and how Simplicité’s fresh, high‑activity whole‑herb extracts, hand‑crafted by our formulating herbalist David Lyons, create the balanced, firm‑skin feel so many people search for.
A Decades‑Long Skin Struggle
Ten years ago, Kate was 30 and deeply unhappy with her skin. She had “tried everything”.
- Sensitive, combination skin
- Oily T‑zone with dry cheeks and jawline
- Persistent breakouts with seasonal change (USA northeast coast)
- Tiny bumps across her forehead (closed comedones)
- Redness and enlarged, visible blood vessels
- A diagnosis of vascular rosacea
“I started using Simplicité products in 2016 and have never looked back!”
Dr Kate’s skin in late 2015, around the time she began her Simplicité routine. Visible redness and congestion show the sensitivity she was working to improve.
The Transformation
After just a few months into her Simplicité routine Kate’s skin looked calmer and more balanced. This was the first major improvement and the beginning of her transformation.
Early 2016: Kate's skin is clearer and more calm.
Long‑Term Results
With a personalised routine and guidance from Simplicité, Kate’s skin continued to improve year after year.
“Now I receive more compliments on my skin than I ever could have dreamed. I'm often told I look younger than pictures of me from years ago!”
- Calm
- Resilient
- Deeply hydrated
- Comfortable even in Connecticut’s cold, dry winters
- Clear enough that she feels confident without makeup
And importantly:
“Sage Face Oil deserves an extra mention as I never thought I'd be able to say I don't have oily skin. This product especially helped my oily skin feel more balanced.”
Indeed the Simplicité combination/oily formulations worked so well to balance Kate's skin that for years now she has mixed her products between the combination and normal‑dry ranges.
Today, Dr Kate’s skin is calm, balanced and comfortable — even through seasonal changes.
“People say I look younger than pictures of me from years ago!”
How the herbs in your routine work together to balance oily T‑zone + dry cheeks
These whole-herb extracts reinforce each other across your routine to support balanced, comfortable combination skin.
1. Herbs that help balance surface oil
Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, Petitgrain and Jojoba appear throughout the Basic Six. Used from cleansing through moisturising, they help keep the T‑zone feeling fresh and balanced without drying cheeks.
2. Herbs that support hydration and comfort
Sage, Rosemary, Vetiver and Cornsilk reinforce hydration at every step. This helps prevent the tight, flaky feeling that often sits on top of oily skin.
3. Herbs that help calm visible redness
Hypericum, Chamomile, Violet Leaf, Rose Geranium and Witch Hazel appear in multiple products. Together they support a calmer, more even‑looking complexion — especially helpful for skin that flushes easily.
4. Herbs that help keep pores clear
Thyme, Cypress, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Hyssop and Parsley help maintain clarity. These whole-herb extracts appear in both cleansing and moisturising steps, supporting clearer‑looking skin throughout the day and overnight.
5. Herbs that support a refined, revitalised appearance
Carrot, Equisetum, Cinnamon, Nettle, Yarrow and Peppermint improve the look of skin texture. Their presence across the routine helps skin look more smooth and refreshed.
Whole‑herb extraction: why Simplicité’s plant extracts work synergistically
Simplicité’s results come from using fresh, high‑activity whole‑herb extracts, hand‑crafted by our formulating herbalist. Unlike pre‑made commercial extracts, these are made from certified organic or wild‑grown herbs and decocted at low temperatures to preserve their full activity and vitality. Each product contains generous quantities of these extracts, with 12–18 used per formulation.
Because the same high‑activity extracts appear across multiple products, they synergistically reinforce each other from cleanse to exfoliate, tone, treat and moisturise. This whole‑herb approach is the foundation of Simplicité’s nutritive difference.
Why combination oily skin can be challenging to treat
Combination skin pairs an oily T‑zone with normal‑to‑dry cheeks — sometimes even flaky. It’s the most common skin type, yet it often feels challenging to look after.
- “Everything makes my skin greasy.”
- “Or it dries my cheeks completely.”
- “My T‑zone is shiny, but the rest of my face feels tight.”
- “Nothing works evenly across my whole face.”
This is because combination skin has two needs at once:
- Comfort and hydration for the dry areas
- Balance for the oilier areas
Seasonal changes, cold weather and indoor heating can also create surface dehydration — dryness sitting on top of oily skin. When this happens, skin may feel both shiny and tight, which can be confusing and difficult to manage.
A closer look: Plant Gel Cleanser (Combination/Oily)
Kate’s routine includes Plant Gel Cleanser — one of the most effective products for combination oily skin.
It’s formulated specifically for this skin type, and it works because it contains ten freshly extracted herbs, including:
- Carrot – supports a revitalised appearance
- Cypress – helps reduce the look of congestion
- Equisetum – supports refined‑looking pores
Plant Gel Cleanser (combinaition/dry, skin) contains ten freshly extracted herbs that support clarity, balance and hydration.
The bottom line
Combination oily skin isn’t “difficult” — it’s simply misunderstood.
When skincare is formulated with fresh, high‑activity whole‑herb extracts, hand‑crafted by an experienced herbalist, and deep knowledge of skin physiology, the results can be life‑changing.
“I’m confident without makeup and love that my skin feels so resilient and nourished.”
