A renowned beauty icon, Cleopatra regularly indulged in milk treatments for her skin; the royal bather filling her tub with camel’s milk. Today, milk turns up in a variety of skincare products, including masks, creams and cleansers.
Skin benefits. An excellent exfoliant, milk contains natural alpha hydroxy acids, which help to gently slough off dead skin cells. “It’s a natural way to eliminate old skin,” Ann Robinson — CEO of Caswell-Massey, the nation’s oldest apothecary — tells iVillage.
In addition, milk helps to reduce redness and soothe irritated skin. In fact, dermatologist Amy Wechsler tells Yahoo, milk “contains proteins (whey and casein), fat, amino acids, lactic acid and vitamins A and D, all of which calm dry, upset skin.” Adds Robinson, “Milk conditions skin so it is soft and glowing, not flaky.”
When choosing milk-based products, look for one of these ingredients to appear on the label, suggests Natural Health: “whey,” “milk proteins,” “lactic acid.”
Part of the routine. To gently deep clean your face, try Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk, which contains antioxidants and exfoliating enzymes. L'Occitane Lavender Harvest Body Milk, enriched with shea butter and grape seed oil, gives the entire body a soft, supple feel.
Care for your hair. As Robinson explains, “Hair has scales on the cuticle that make it look dull. Milk proteins close the cuticle to give it shine.” Try H20 Plus Milk Shampoo for vitamin-rich cleansing.
Baby your skin. Because of milk’s soothing properties, many companies have created baby-friendly milk bath items, which are especially gentle for adults with sensitive skin. Mustela Relaxing Bath with Cleansing Milk is a soap-free, hypoallergenic bath soak perfect for bedtime (for you or your little one).
Do it yourself. While many fantastic products are available, creating your own at-home remedy is another powerful way to soothe and soften the skin. In the mood for a creamy bath? iVillage recommends adding two to three cups of warm milk to your bath water for a skin-softening soak. In a pinch, use powdered milk. Because milk is also a great exfoliator, take out your loofah or washcloth and scrub that old skin away.
Suffering from a sunburn? Dr. Wechsler recommends creating a cool compress with whole milk, which is also effective for eczema.
See also:
Olive Oil
Lactic Acid
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