Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Zills.
Hi Kate, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a professional engineer turned beauty business owner and lifestyle photographer. In 2019, I took a leap of faith, left my environmental engineering career, and started Made Simple Living (Made) and my photography business.
Made is an online clean beauty shop made up of the best-selling products in clean skincare and makeup. In 2019, we brought the best of clean beauty to Alabama, and in 2021, we launched our handmade skincare line under the Made label. Think of us as your BFF in beauty and made is a collection of our tried-and-true recommendations in the clean, green, and natural beauty world.
In 2019, I also started my photography company, Kate Zills Photography. I specialize in maternity, newborn, and family photography. My photos are full of life and contrast mixed with a little bit of mood. I love making art out of the every day, and I like sessions that are a little less posed and a lot more genuine.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been anything but a smooth road, but I feel like I’ve experienced the same struggles and growing pains that most entrepreneurs experience. The most notable struggles include navigating new businesses during a pandemic, starting a skincare line, and experiencing manufacturing issues.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Made Simple Living (Made) is an online clean beauty shop made up of the best-selling products in clean skincare and makeup. In 2019, we brought the best of clean beauty to Alabama, and in 2021, we launched our handmade skincare line under the Made label. Think of us as your BFF in beauty and made is a collection of our tried-and-true recommendations in the clean, green, and natural beauty world.
Made’s skincare line consists of two nourishing products that allow you to escape from the mundane skincare experience and to slip into a sensuous world that blends the best of nature and science. The products are named after towns that are near and dear to me: Florence (named after Florence, AL) and Magic City (named after Birmingham, AL). We believe nature has gifted us with many barrier-protecting and skin-healing ingredients. We always start with natural, nourishing ingredients and enhance the formula with man-made ingredients when necessary to address common skincare concerns.
I am known for serving my customers. I want them to succeed in life, and in particular, I want them to find a skincare routine that they love, that they will use, and one that works for them. The same goes for makeup – I love helping others find makeup products that are simple, beautiful, and effective.
I am super proud of the aesthetic of my brand. I worked with an amazing designer to create a refined yet welcoming and free-spirited brand. I love that I am able to use my photography skills for my brand to create a brand that I love, and I am super proud of the fact that I can create skincare products that others love through my own two hands.
I would love the readers to know that I truly want to help you in your skincare and makeup journey, so please reach out with any questions.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
One of the biggest shifts in the beauty industry is that the standard for beauty is shifting towards clean products (which is amazing that we’ve been able to change an entire industry for the better). I don’t think a clean product line will stand out in the near future, so clean brands must dive deeper into their values to make it in the next 5-10 years.
Pricing:
- Magic City Brightening Glow Elixir $72
- Florence Blue Tansy Ceramide Balm $64
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.madesimpleliving.com/
- Instagram: instagram.com/madesimpleliving
- Facebook: facebook.com/madesimpleliving
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/katezills
- Other: https://katezillsphotography.com/
Image Credits
Kate Zills Photography
Lindsey McAlister
