On a humid July evening at the Wyckoff community market, "Summer Skin Care with Herbs" offers a short, sensory workshop that reorients your skin-care routine back to the garden. Located at 700 Lawlins Road in Wyckoff, New Jersey, this 90-minute class is led by herbalist and plant-medicine maker Shannon Mulligan-Mayernik, owner of Mayernik Kitchen. Up to twelve participants gather around a work table to learn to make infused oils, salves, and botanical sprays using summer allies like calendula, lavender, chamomile, rose, and plantain.
The session begins with a guided tasting for the nose and touch: you smell fresh lavender, rub plantain between your fingers, and watch petals steep into warm oil. Shannon explains practical ways herbs can soothe sunburn, calm insect bites, help dry or irritated skin, and support everyday wellness. Then the hands-on portion begins. You’ll craft a take-home herbal salve or spray under instruction, learning safe infusion techniques, simple recipes, and storage tips. A glass of wine is included, adding a relaxed, social element to the learning.
This workshop stands out in the greater Bergen County outdoor scene because it brings plant medicine into the public market setting—where local growers and gardeners already gather—and connects city-adjacent residents to the plants growing at the edge of their neighborhoods. The small group size and tactile approach make it an efficient primer for anyone interested in DIY skin-care without complicated equipment. It’s uniquely suited to summer schedules: the herbs named are at peak potency in midsummer, and the program focuses on addressing seasonal exposures—sun, salt, sweat, and bites.
Practical details arrive compactly: 1 hour 30 minutes of instruction, hands-on mixing, and sampling; maximum 12 people; meeting point 700 Lawlins Road. Expect to walk away with an herbal product you made and straightforward recipes you can repeat at home. Bring curiosity and a willingness to get herbal oils on your hands.
For travelers and locals who seek deeper, low-impact ways to enjoy the outdoors, this workshop translates garden knowledge into immediate, useful skills. Whether you garden, hike local trails, or spend weekends at nearby parks, learning to use calendula for chapped cheeks or plantain for a scraped knee is a small, practical skill that keeps you outside longer and better prepared. In Wyckoff’s market atmosphere, the class feels less like a lecture and more like a neighborhood ritual—an invitation to make summer skin care part of your routine.
Beginners and seasoned plant people benefit: Shannon offers proportions and alternatives for sensitive skin, and the small class allows individualized attention. This is a practical, low-cost way to bring wild and cultivated medicinal plants into your summer first-aid kit, and a memorable stop if your trip to Wyckoff intersects the local farmers’ market schedule.