Turn your leftover breastmilk into a soothing lotion using only a few natural ingredients! In this post, you will find a basic recipe and one without beeswax.
"Put some breastmilk on it" is probably the number one piece of advice I hear from breastfeeding moms to help with any skin rash. And for good reason: Breast milk has many amazing benefits when applied to the skin. Aside from lotion, I like to use it in soap and baby baths as well.
My breastmilk lotion has a light and airy consistency and is much easier to apply to your baby's skin than fresh milk, which tends to run off. Plus, it contains skin-loving oil and beeswax, which help nourish and protect the skin. We use it all the time on my littles. Their skin has never been softer!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Breastmilk lotion is made of all-natural ingredients that have been carefully chosen to soften and soothe the skin.
Carrier Oil
Coconut Oil or Beef Tallow are hands down my top choices for this lotion. Why? Because they're both semi-solid oils at room temperature and will blend in with the breastmilk beautifully, reducing the chance of separation.
They're both deeply moisturizing and emollient. Tallow is less greasy though since it's similar to sebum and won't clog pores.
Substitutions: grapeseed, jojoba, olive, sweet almond oil, but keep in mind that liquid oils might separate from the lotion over time.
Wax
Beeswax is used in this formulation to thicken and stabilize the lotion. It is also a humectant, meaning it can draw moisture to the skin and form a protective barrier to lock it in.
Substitution: for a vegan alternative, try carnauba wax (derived from palm tree leaves). Please see the recipe card for adjusted amounts since beeswax can't be replaced 1:1.
Breastmilk
It truly is "liquid gold" when it comes to feeding your baby, but it is wonderful on the skin as well. Filled with beneficial fatty acids, lactic acid, enzymes, and antibodies, it can help with minor skin irritations (like cradle cap and diaper rash) and dry skin conditions.
Instructions
- Create a water bath or double boiler by filling a large saucepan with 1 inch of water and setting it on medium heat
- Melt: Add beeswax and tallow/ coconut oil to a medium glass measuring cup and place it in the saucepan.
- Stir frequently until the beeswax is fully melted
- Cool Down: Remove the glass container from the heat and let it cool to slightly below 100℉ (body temperature). If you don't have a thermometer, the outside of the cup should be warm - not hot!- to the touch. It takes about 5 minutes. This will ensure that the beneficial properties of the breastmilk stay intact.
- Add heat-sensitive ingredients: vitamin E oil and essential oil if using
- Whisk it up! Slowly pour breastmilk into oils while continuously whisking with your handheld mixer. I like to make a whipped lotion to get a light, airy texture that's spreadable even when refrigerated. I've never had separation issues that way. You can choose to use a regular whisk.
- Packaging and Storing: When everything is thoroughly mixed, scoop the lotion into a container with a lid and place it in the fridge.
Shelflife
Keep your lotion in the fridge and use it up within 5 days. Breastmilk is a raw ingredient and contains water, which is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. I like to make small batches of this lotion, so that I can use it up before it goes bad. Discard the lotion if you find that it smells "off" or has a different color.
Can my baby be allergic to breast milk lotion?
There's a chance your baby might be allergic to beeswax, coconut oil, another type of liquid oil, and/or essential oil. It's a good idea to test the lotion on a small area of your baby's skin first to make sure there's no adverse reaction.
Help, my lotion has separated!
Yes, this will happen to a certain extent since we're using only natural ingredients that won't fully emulsify. To reduce the amount of separation, make sure that your breastmilk is at room temperature or even slightly warm. Use tallow or coconut oil instead of a liquid oil, and lastly, if you notice separation, stir it up before using.
Easy Breastmilk Lotion Recipe
Homemade breastmilk lotion is a great way to use up extra milk. It will leave baby's skin soft and noruished.
Ingredients
Basic Breastmilk Lotion
- 1 Tbsp beeswax yellow or white
- 3 tablespoon beef tallow or coconut oil substitute with grape seed oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil
- 6 drops Vitamin E oil
- 10 drops essential oil optional (see notes)
- 3 oz breastmilk room temperature, fresh or thawed
Breastmilk Lotion without Beeswax
- 1 tablespoon carnauba wax
- 4 tablespoon liquid oil e.g. olive oil, jojoba oil
- 2 teaspoon coconut oil
- 10 drops essential oils optional (see notes)
- 3 oz breastmilk room temperature, fresh or thawed
Instructions
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Fill a large saucepan with 1 inch of water and set it on medium heat
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Add wax and oil to a glass measuring cup and place it in the saucepan
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Stir frequently until the wax is fully melted
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Remove the saucepan from the heat, and let cool to body temperature (outside of cup should feel warm, not hot!)
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add vitamin E oil and essential oil (if using)
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Slowly pour milk into oils while continuously whisking
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When everything is thoroughly mixed, scoop the lotion into a container with a lid and place it in the fridge
Recipe Notes
- Essential oils are recommended only for babies older than 3 months; lavender, chamomile, or sweet orange are good choices.
- Use within 5 days, store in the fridge. Lotion bars can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Discard if an unusual smell or color is detected.
- If you choose to use a liquid oil the chance of separation will be higher; simply stir or shake the lotion if you find this being an issue.
Blanca M. says
I made the lotion bars and I followed the instructions as listed. Once I had my beeswax and shea butter melted, I added the oils and breast milk. The moment the breast milk hit the mixture, it started to solidify. When I whipped it, it’s seemed to whip well, but as I was putting it in my mold, it was evident that there was some separation. I was left with some liquid in my bowl and liquid oozing out of my molds. Is this normal?
Celine says
Hi Blanca,
yes this is common since these lotion bars are made with simple ingredients that don't emulsify as well as if you added an emulsifier. I keep the lotion bars in the freezer and when I'm ready to use them I warm them in my hands before applying.
Kathryn says
Hi, I followed this and got a great lotion. I am wondering about why you mention to keep it in the fridge? Will it keep its smooth / lotion consistency, or wouldn’t the cold make it a hard consistency? Thank you!
Celine says
It will keep it from spoiling. There's no preservative in this lotion recipe which means it will have to get used up quickly and stored as cool as possible.
Becki says
I seemed to have the same problem as the commenter above. I was trying to make the easy lotion (followed it exactly) and as soon as I added the breastmilk it only partially absorbed and there is quite a bit of separation with a lot of the breastmilk not absorbing. Does it eventually absorb? otherwise it seems like 3 oz is not the right ratio or is a waste of breastmilk.
Celine says
It sometimes happen when you make lotion bars. When making actual lotion I never had an issue. Try mixing it again, maybe the breastmilk was to cold?
Bridgette says
Hello,
I whisked my ingredients together as followed by your instructions and it never got "fluffy" like your picture you have posted. I whisked for about 15-20 minutes and it still poured right into the container. What am I doing wrong?
Celine says
I'm not sure. Was the milk you used room temperature or straight from the fridge?
LT says
Was so excited to try the breastmilk lotion w/o beeswax, but don't have a hand or electric mixer. The first time, I let the wax cool too much before adding the milk, but the second try turned out the same consistency (milk was room temp, and I added in small increments, incorporating before I added more) no matter how long I whisk. Does it typically take several minutes for it to get smooth even with a hand mixer, or am I missing something?
Celine says
yes, it can take a while before it reaches a creamy consistency
Victoria says
Hi! If you make the breast milk lotion but not the bars, can you store half in the freezer and pull it out when needed?
Celine says
Hi Victoria, Yes, you can. You will have to stir or shake before use, because it might separate a little bit.
Amanda Theurich says
When it says to store in fridge for 5 days, does that mean it expires after or that it can be left out of fridge after?
Celine Logan says
Hi Amanda, no unfortunately not. I guess it should say for up to 5 days. This lotion is quite perishable.
Macie Walker says
I made the regular lotion and loved it, i put it in the fridge that night, went to use it the next morning and it solid! Is this normal? and do i just need to leave it out for a while? or did i use too much of something.
Celine says
Hi Macie, if you leave it at room temperature for a while or warm it in between the palms of your hands it should turn back to regualr. let me know how it goes.