Make this easy breastmilk soap in 5 minutes! It is a great way to use up any extra milk you might have, and most importantly, it's gentle on baby's skin.
No matter whether you're an over-supplier or an under-supplier, every breastfeeding momma has the same fear: What if I run out of milk?
So we pump and freeze and pump and freeze every drop until our babies wean, and we realize we have a freezer full of milk. Now what?
Over the years, I've come up with a few uses for surplus breast milk, such as giving a breast milk bath or making breast milk lotion, but today, I will show you how to use it in soap. It's a great way to use your milk as a fresh ingredient. You can even tweak it to your heart's desire by adding essential oils, honey, and oatmeal.
If you're an experienced soap maker used to working with lye, you might want to give my cold process breastmilk soap recipe a try.
Benefits
Human milk is the perfect first food for your baby, but it's also beneficial for baby's sensitive skin and many skin conditions. It is nourishing and gentle since it contains many skin-loving components, like fatty acids, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals.
With its powerful immunological properties, breastmilk really is "liquid gold." It can help with infant eczema (Source), dry skin, and minor skin irritations.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, you can see my disclosure here.
What You'll Need
- glass measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl
- knife
- whisk / spatula
- microwave, double boiler or water bath
- cutting board
- silicone soap mold
Ingredients
- 8 oz melt and pour soap base - I prefer using goat milk for its skin benefits, but you can use clear or shea
- 5 oz breast milk (room temperature) - you can use up to 8 oz here, but the more milk you use, the softer your soap will be
- ½ teaspoon honey (optional)
- 1 tablespoon ground oatmeal (optional) - to make your own add ¼ cup of old-fashioned oatmeal to a coffee grinder and blend until you have a fine powder, you can also buy colloidal oatmeal
- 15 drops essential oil (optional) - chamomile, lavender and sweet orange are great choices
Instructions
- Gather all your supplies and make sure breastmilk is at room temperature
- Cut the soap base into small chunks - most soap bases come in 2 lbs packs, so use ¼ of the pack; eyeballing is ok
- Melt the soap base - use a microwave on 20-second intervals and stir in between each burst or melt on medium heat in a double boiler or over a water bath
- Let the soap cool slightly - the soap base needs to be warm enough to be workable but not screaming hot, or it will scorch the milk
- Add breastmilk at room temperature, stir
- Add oatmeal, honey, and essential oil (if using), and stir until smooth
- Place mold on the cutting board - that way, you can easily move it to the fridge
- Pour soap into the mold
- Let soap fully cool down - to speed it up, place your soap in the fridge
- Take out of the mold - push from the bottom
- Store in an airtight bag or container in the fridge until ready to use
Storage
I recommend storing your soap bars in a small zip-lock bag in the fridge. If you know you won't be using your soap any time soon, I suggest storing it in the freezer. Once a soap bar is in use, make sure it dries completely between uses in a well-draining soap dish. I like to use smaller silicone molds so that the soap bars can be used up faster.
If you notice the soap turning a darker color or smelling off, discard it and make a new batch.
More things to make with breast milk:
Breastmilk Soap Recipe (printable)
This breast milk soap recipe is an easy and quick to make and great for baby's delicate skin!
Materials
- 8 oz goat's milk or clear melt & pour soap base
- 5 - 8 oz breast milk (room temperature) - see notes
- ½ teaspoon honey (optional)
- 15 drops lavender or chamomile essential oil (optional)
- 1 tablespoon ground oatmeal (optional)
- rubbing alcohol in spray bottle (optional)
Tools
- microwave safe bowl or measuring cup
- knife
- whisk / spatula
- microwave or double boiler/ water bath
- silicone soap mold
Instructions
- Cut the soap base into small chunks (use ¼ of a 2 lbs pack)
- Melt the soap base in the microwave on 20 second burst stirring in between each burst or melt on medium heat in a double boiler or water bath
- Let the soap base cool down a bit in order not to scorch the milk
- Add breastmilk and stir
- Add honey, oatmeal and essential oil (if using) and whisk
- Pour the soap into the mold
- Optional: Spritz the top with rubbing alcohol to minimize air bubbles
- Let the soap cool down and harden
- Store in a Ziplock bag in the fridge until ready to use
Notes
1. the more milk you use the softer your soap will be
Rebecca Dillon says
What a unique and fun idea for new moms. Thanks for the recipe.
Celine says
Thank you 😊
Lisa Garland says
How long does the soap last (does it go bad?)
Celine says
Hi Lisa, At least 6 months when stored in a cool dry place
Ashley says
Hi, can this recipe be used as hair shampoo as well?
Celine says
Yes it can.
Celine says
Hi Lisa, for at least one year. If you notice orange spots and a bad smell it's time to throw it out.
Frances Mercado says
Can I add oatmeal? If so how much and how? Also My melt and pour is honey base, do I need the honey still?
Celine says
Hi Frances, I would add 1 Tbsp of colloidal oatmeal to one pound of soap. I find the raw honey added to soap has antibacterial properties, but you can leave it out.
Frances Mercado says
Also, why is the breastmilk qty so small, pther recipes call for 1 cup of bm.
Celine says
That’s a very good question. I have tried to increase the amount of milk and the soap wouldn’t set up. Some people don’t recommend adding any liquid to a melt and pour soap base.
Rosemary Monday says
I always find your recipes interesting. Thanks
Celine says
Thank you 🙂
Olivia says
If I use the pour and melt with breast milk option, what is the best way to store the soap? Should I leave it in the fridge, freezer or can I leave it out. I noticed you said , 6 months until it goes bad.
Celine says
Hi Olivia, I would leave it in the fridge. Hope that helps.
Eva says
Would this be harsh on the eyes for babies, since it’s not tear free? Unless it is?!
Celine says
It's not specifically tear free. I recommend keeping it out of baby's eyes as much as possible.
Arh says
When you say to mix the lye with the frozen breastmilk for cold process, do you mean a lye solution?
Thank you!
Celine says
You add the lye beads/flakes to the frozen milk little by little. The heat created by the chemical reaction will slowly melt the breastmilk and create the lye solution that you then add to the oils. Hope that helps!
Arhianna A Brown says
Thank you! I'm going to try today. If I'm going to make a loaf, do you know if I should double or triple the recipe? Thank you!
Celine says
It depends on the size of your loaf. Here's how you can calculate how much soap you're going to make https://www.modernsoapmaking.com/blog/how-to-resize-a-soap-recipe-for-your-soap-mold-imperial-and-metric
Nalda Keesee says
I made breastmilk soap and I storage in containers in the freezer but it's getting little ice crystal on it is that ok or should I put it in the fridge
Celine says
I'm guessing it's ok. If you want to avoid it next time wrap each bar in plastic wrap as airtight as possible.
Amy says
Hey! Does the soap made with the pour and melt method lather? Thank you for this recipe hoping to try it with my left over freezer supple!
Celine says
It does lather, but not a whole lot. Let me know how it turns out.
Aria bassett says
How to make this if your milk is already frozen in 6oz bags
Celine says
You will have to defrost the milk, you can add 6 oz of milk to 250g or 1/2 pound of soap.
Ing says
Hello! I tried your recipe. Is it normal for the cold process method, the outcome of the soap is a bit oily on the surface?
Celine says
That can sometimes happen. If you let the soap rest for an extra couple of days the oil might get reabsorbed into the soap.
Rachel says
I have a few questions.
-can I use milk that was previously frozen then thawed and had left over? if so could i freeze the soap or no?
-when it's in use you said it needs to completely dry, do you then put it back in the fridge inbetween uses?
Celine Logan says
Hi Rachel, yes you can use the frozen milk. I put my soap back in the fridge (the drying prevents mold) unless I know it will get completely used up in 3 days, then I leave it out. I hope that helps!