KORA GOODMAN: KORE HERBALS
Kore Herbals specializes in handmade green beauty products as well as herbal classes and workshops that strive as a gentle reminder of earth’s powerful goodness and the importance of self-care in today’s fast paced world. Based out of Portland, Oregon, Kore Herbals is owned and operated by the amazing Kora Goodman.
What’s Kore Herbal’s philosophy?
It’s about reconnecting you to nature through plant-based products and self-care rituals. We believe that when you live ceremoniously and take great care in your bathing and beauty routine, an awareness and appreciation for your body and how it communes with nature becomes apparent.
When/why did you make the leap to starting your own company?
We fully launched in the spring of 2017. I was asked to speak at a workshop for small business owners and after telling my perennial story, the brand got a lot of positive attention. After that victorious evening, I decided to go all in. I quit my day job and began the full-time journey of becoming a maker.
What has been the most surprising thing about running your own company?
The purpose and fulfillment gained from developing and sharing new recipes reason after season has been a delightful surprise to me.
When your passion is driving you, you find hidden determination to continue giving you best, even when the circumstances are undesirable.
"We truly believe there is a sacred connection between our bodies and the earth. When using ingredients sourced with intention and sustainability, it evokes a deeper part of ourselves to enliven."
Herbal skincare and beauty are such a booming industry today. How do you differentiate Kore Herbals from other brands?
For us, Kore Herbals is more than just a beauty routine. We truly believe there is a sacred connection between our bodies and the earth. When using ingredients sourced with intention and sustainability, it evokes a deeper part of ourselves to enliven.
We are also an educational platform, teaching classes that intuitively quide you to make your own beauty recipes to better know the topical herbs that support holistic health and beauty.
Compared to mainstream companies, what have been the biggest challenges in creating small batched natural products?
Our products are not only small batch and all natural, but also preservative-free. This means that like all organic food, out skincare products have a shelf life. Other companies that use harsh chemicals, fragrances and preservative don’t consider shelf life, therefore they can sell products that have been made ahead of time, sitting in a warehouse.
Plant-based holistic skincare is meant to be used and enjoyed, not to sit on a shelf for years. This is what makes our blends so special. Your skin absorbs our fresh ingredients, resulting in radiant healthy skin.
Could you tell us a little about the workshops you offer?
Our workshops focus on DIY recipe and ingredient blending. Each student is guided to handcraft a product using organic herbs, botanicals and oils.
We practice folk herbalism which encourages accessing your intuition and using your senses to use the plants that call to you.
What are some tips in practicing self-care during some of these colder months of the year?
Tea is a ceremonious and necessary practice for me year-round, but especially when it is chilly out. Drinking plant essences and smelling the warm oils steaming from my morning cup sets the tone for my day. Tea cannot be rushed. The perfect steep takes time. This is valuable time for me to gather my thoughts and goals for the day, in addition to hydrating and nourishing my body.
What’s your most popular item right now?
Our most popular product right now is the Rune Facial Scrub. This little black jar of magic is truly unique. I work with a tiny farm in Alaska that gathers glacial slit from a riverbed which is only accessible for one season of the year. I take the silt and activated charcoal and glycerin to make a soft pumice face scrub that detoxifies, cleanses and exfoliates the skin. With added notes of juniper and ylang ylang flower, this scrub has been a crowd please for months.
We are entering a brand-new year, do you yourself have a resolution?
My resolution for 2020 is to focus on a new line of flower essence aura mists that I’ve been dreaming up for years. I think it is the year of clear vision and I’d like to launch a product that reflects that in nurturing our best self to awaken.
What advice do you have for other female-identified business owners?
My advice to other female business owners is to learn and follow your rhythms for wellness and align them with your workload. When the moon is at its darkest, we too can feel sluggish and slow. Take note of your emotional cycles and plan your business responsibilities accordingly. Also, there is always time for a quiet tea break!
"This is what makes our blends so special. Your skin absorbs our fresh ingredients, resulting in radiant healthy skin."
Who is inspirational to you at this time in your life?
Louise Har has always been a huge inspiration to me. She was one of the founding mothers of positive thinking through affirmations. Without her guidance and morning meditations, I feel my inner voice would be less kind.