Milk

Milk has been used for beauty treatments for quite some time, and there is evidence that Cleopatra soaked in baths of donkey or goat milk for hours at a time to beautify her skin. Asian cultures have relied on the benefits of rice milk for centuries to nourish and soothe skin, while cultures in tropical climates have found that coconut milk has numerous skin soothing properties.

Milk comes from the mammary glands of female mammals, so it makes perfect sense that it would be loaded with nutrients. In addition, milk is abundant in many plant species and is commonly derived from nuts, seeds and fruits. Today, milk of both plant and animal origin can be found in our body care products.

For some, milk brings to mind thoughts of wholesomeness, simplicity, or purity, and this easily draws people to try body treatments and products that contain any form of it. Who wouldn’t want to soak in a creamy, milky-white bath of cinnamon scented oat milk or have their body covered in a warm elixir made with milk, honey and orange zest? The possibilities are endless: peaches and cream, almond milk and roses, chocolate-mint cream, or coconut milk and lime. Many spas around the world offer some type of treatment that utilizes milk, while body care product lines have introduced it into shampoos, soaps, lotions and nail care.

Milk contains lactic acid, which actually dissolves the glue that binds dead skin cells to our skin’s surface. Consequently, the milk is sloughing off dead skin cells and acting as an exfoliant. When we exfoliate our skin, it automatically feels softer, but when exfoliation is combined with the skin smoothing and hydrating effects of milk, it may no longer feel like your own. Milk contains proteins, enzymes, amino acids, and antioxidants, all incredibly valuable for our skin. The milk proteins are skin-enhancing since they promote smoothness and help to strengthen skin structure. The milk enzymes and amino acids are responsible for stimulating the skin’s natural moisture barrier, which makes way for intense hydration and skin cell regeneration. Finally, milk’s antioxidants are great for combating environmental damage and provide future protection from further damage.

Now, you have a better understanding of milk’s sudden popularity in the body care industry. Not only do the combinations of milk and other elements sound delicious, but they also provide nutrition for the skin, often times are all-natural, and can be just plain fun!