The benefits of goat's milk soap are numerous which makes it one of the most popular kinds of natural soap. Keep reading to find out all that natural goat milk soap has to offer for your skin - and the one thing it most definitely doesn't!
If you've followed this blog for a while you know that we've made goat milk soap from scratch together. And, not too long ago I also shared an easy goat milk soap recipe without lye which turned out beautiful. But today I want to take a deep dive into the many wonderful skin benefits of goat milk soap.
What is Goat Milk Soap
Goat milk soap is a kind of natural bar soap that has goat milk added to it during the process of soap making. Most goat milk soaps are made with olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, raw goat milk, and sometimes additional ingredients like colloidal oatmeal and essential oils. These natural ingredients are mixed with lye (sodium hydroxide) and water to start the soap-making process. After the oils and goat milk have turned to soap, there's no more lye present in the finished bar soap. The soap is then set out to cure over the curse of a month to ensure hardness and the right ph level. Goat milk is famous for its' gentle cleansing ability and abundant, creamy lather. A wonderful addition to your natural skincare routine.
Skin Benefits of Goat Milk Soap
1. gentle cleanser and exfoliator
Goat milk soap naturally contains lactic acid (one of the alpha-hydroxy acids) that can gently slough off dead skin cells, dirt, and sweat. Alpha hydroxy acids work by loosening the top layer of old skin cells revealing soft and healthy skin without disturbing the acid barrier mantle of the skin. This makes it a great way to gently cleanse dry or sensitive skin since it works on the skin's surface without irritating deeper layers of the skin.
2. natural moisturizer
Goat milk soap contains natural fats and fatty acids (such as caprylic acid) that help strengthen the natural skin barrier. This prevents the loss of moisture from the skin which makes it a great cleanser for dry skin types.
3. made with natural ingredients
Unlike commercial soaps, goat milk soap is made using natural ingredients that don't contain harsh chemicals. Liquid soaps or water-based soaps can sometimes contain harsh detergents that can strip the skin of its moisture barrier leading to dry skin and skin irritation.
4. nourishing and replenishing
Goat milk soap contains many important minerals, vitamins, and fat molecules that give important nourishment to the skin by replenishing essential nutrients in the skin tissue.
5. anti-aging
Goat milk soap has many antioxidant properties, like A, C, D, E, and B vitamins that protect skin cells from free radicals which would otherwise speed up the aging process. Vitamin A in particular is known for its ability to combat fine lines and wrinkles.
The wonderful ability of lactic acid to encourage cell turnover and rejuvenation is a great anti-aging asset as well that can reduce wrinkles, age spots, and hyperpigmentation all of which can be signs of aging.
As our skin ages our pores produce less and less oils/sebum leading to dry skin, that's why goat milk soap is great at keeping mature skin moisturized and glowing.
6. acne fighting
Goat milk soap can be beneficial in treating acne breakouts and blemishes on multiple levels:
- lactic acid can help unclog pores and prevent the growth of bacteria
- some experts believe that milk proteins have anti-microbial properties that can destroy acne-causing bacteria
- natural and fragrance-free soap is a great way to cleanse acne-prone skin without causing more irritation and keeping the natural acid barrier mantle of the skin intact which is critical to ward off microbial growth
- look for added acne-fighting ingredients in a bar of soap, like activated charcoal and tea tree oil
7. keeps skin inflammation at bay
Although there's no scientific evidence that goat milk is beneficial for dry skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, there's plenty of empirical evidence. Many folks with eczema and psoriasis swear by using goat milk soap to soothe their itchy skin.
8. keeps skin ph balanced
The ph of goat milk soap is around 7 which is very close to that of your skin. Goat milk soap helps cleanse your skin without disturbing the ph of the surface of your skin. Which can be very beneficial for skin health since it puts little stress on the skin during cleansing.
What Goat Milk Soap Can't Do
Look around the web and you'll find the claim that goat milk soap can prevent skin cancer. This assumption is made because Selenium is present in the bar of soap. In the past, it was believed that Selenium can protect against the effects of UV radiation from the sun when taken as a supplement. But a 2014 study suggests that quite the opposite might be true.
Please do not skip using sunscreen just because you wash with goat milk soap! Goat milk soap only contains small amounts of selenium. Since soap is a wash-off product that will not stay on the skin, there's no way handmade soap will protect you from getting skin cancer. Don't believe it!
Leave a comment below and let me know how goat milk soap has benefitted your skin.
Until next time. Happy Tinkering!
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