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Most soap that you buy at the store isn’t really soap. They’re called “beauty bars,” and the natural glycerin has been stripped out and sold separately for added profit. In its place is a combination of synthetic, chemical detergents. Most detergents are harsh on the skin, which is why there is a prevalence of dry, itchy, sensitive skin among those who use beauty bars.
What makes goat-milk soap so different from other soap? Goat milk soap is different from other soaps because goat milk is different from other milk. Goat milk is the only milk that contains capric-capryllic triglyceride, which helps moisturize the skin and contributes to the softness of the soap itself. Goat milk contains over 50 nutrients, minerals, acids and enzymes that serve to nourish and revitalize dehydrated skin.
People have been using goat milk for centuries to improve skin and enhance beauty. The ancient Egyptians considered a milk bath the ultimate in luxurious living and Cleopatra regularly bathed in pure milk. Modern science has discovered that goat milk soap has a pH level similar to that of human skin.
Regular use of goat-milk soap will maintain a moisture balance that results in smoother, softer skin. Skin will be less prone to liver spots, lines and wrinkles. The alpha-hydroxy acids found naturally in goat milk have rejuvenating effects on the skins’ cells — neutralizing free radicals, reconstructing collagen fibers and enhancing moisture retention. Though goat-milk soap isn’t a cure for skin ailments, many sufferers of skin maladies like psoriasis, acne and eczema have reported relief from their symptoms as a result of regular use. Goat milk is easily absorbed into the skin, bringing with it moisture and restorative proteins, vitamins and minerals.
The quality of your goat milk is important to the overall quality of the soap. Though any goat milk will yield a good soap, the best goat milk to use is filtered, but not pasteurized. The pasteurization process destroys some of the enzymes and amino acids that give the goat milk many of its moisturizing properties. Pasteurization doesn’t strip the goat milk of everything good, so if you don’t milk your own goats, you can still make a nice batch of soap with store-bought, pasteurized milk that will also last a long time.
If you’ve got dairy goats and you’re wondering what to do with the milk, consider making goat-milk soap. It’s wonderfully pure soap for your family or for a home business.
Excerpt from the Popular Farming Series magabook Goats with permission from its publisher, BowTie magazines, a division of BowTie, Inc. Purchase Goats here.
