Woman’s Heritage Skillshares

Looking for something fun to do with your mother or girlfriends this year? Check out these series of classes put on by a new business in town, Woman’s Heritage Skillshares, which was founded by three friends: Lauren Malloy, the animal expert; Emma Moore, the chef; and Ashley Moore, the herbalist. The idea behind the business is to bring together women who are interested in learning the domestic arts and crafts from decades past and to create a feeling of sisterhood.

The classes, which are held in different locations around the county, range from the art of fermentation to cow milking to how to make your own natural beauty products. The goal in these classes is not for you to suddenly decide to make this long-lost skill your new life’s work — although if it did, more power to you! — but instead to gain a deeper understanding of where and how things are made. It’s also just really fun to enjoy an afternoon with a bunch of women who are eager to learn.

Women’s Heritage also now offers a full BeautyShare skin-care line, which is handmade in small batches and is created with the purest natural materials, without added preservatives and lists of ingredients that only a chemist could understand. They offer a face wash, toner, serum, and face lotion, which includes elements such as calendula, rose, and jasmine. In a time when there is great interest in learning about foods and where they all come from, we should not just think about what we are putting in our bodies but also what we are putting on our bodies. Learn more about their skin-care line and classes at womensheritage.com.

Make your own exfoliating cleanser or mask!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup organic, gluten-free oats

• 1/2 cup bentonite clay

• 1/2 cup dried herbs (try any combination of calendula, chamomile, lavender, and rose)

For Cleanser:

• Grind all ingredients in an herb grinder, a coffee grinder (but not one you use for grinding coffee beans), or a mortar and pestle.

• Mix together and store in a glass jar with a tight lid. This way, your cleansing grains will last for many months.

• To use, put a scoop of cleansing grains in your hand, mix with a little water or toner, massage onto face, and wash off with warm water and/or a warm, wet washcloth.

• For best results, use once a week.

• Follow with toner, serum, and moisturizer.

For Mask:

• Apply as above, and leave on until dry.

• Once completely dry, wash off with warm water and a warm, wet washcloth.

• Follow with toner and moisturizer.