I have found many opportunities as a homesteading woman to utilize the different skills I have developed through the years.
One of these accomplishments I have acquired is in making our own much sought after and popular natural handcrafted Goat Milk Soap!
Goat milk soap is literally loaded with high amounts of fatty acids, minerals and vitamins that nourish your skin making it softer and healthier.
The largest organ of our body is the skin that covers it!
Using a natural handcrafted goat milk soap is most valuable to your skin for many reasons of which we will cover.
What are the benefits of using goat milk soap?
Natural handcrafted goat milk soap is loaded with fat molecules and many other benefits that moisturize the skin.
There’s good reason that goat milk soap is so popular and widely used!
Goat milk soap is literally teeming with high amounts of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids which allows the skin to remain smooth soft and moisturized.
Goat milk contains several skin-nourishing minerals and vitamins such as selenium, zinc, copper, iron and vitamins A, B, B6, B12, C, D and E.
As well as proteins and fatty acids which are absorbed into the skin.
Goat milk soap also includes amino acids, citric acid, enzymes and antioxidants that are important for healthy skin.
Regular use of goat milk soap will feed the skin and nourish it, hydrating the skin on multiple levels therefore leaving it softer and smoother longer.
What is goat milk soap?
Traditional soap making is a process known as saponification.
This involves combining an acid – fats and oils – with a base that is called lye.
When making most soaps lye is made by combining sodium hydroxide and water.
When making goat milk soap goat’s milk is used instead of water.
By using the goat’s milk instead of water you will get a creamier consistency because of the naturally occurring fats that are contained in the goat milk.
Rich in both saturated and unsaturated fats, goat milk works great for soap making.
The soaps lather – or bubbles – are increased by the saturated fats while the unsaturated fats are what provides nourishing and moisturizing properties.
You will find that goat milk soap, when made properly, will actually lather more than a bar of soap that has not been made with milk.
I have definitely found this to be true! I love how goat milk soap lathers so easily.
On our homestead, we like to make our own handmade soaps for a couple of reasons.
One of the reasons is simply that we enjoy making soap.
It truly is a lot of fun to make!
Another important reason is because we are also aware of the fact that a lot of the commercially made soaps on the market are not real soap.
These soaps are full of ingredients that most of us can’t even pronounce!
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website you will find this quote:
…many “soaps” on the market today are, in fact, not just soap.
They are cleansers, detergents, or other types of products regulated as a cosmetic or a drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
https://www.cpsc.gov/Business–Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-Guidance/Soap-Business-Guidance
Is goat milk soap good for your skin?
Soap made with goat milk can be very beneficial and rejuvenating for your skin.
A lack of fatty acids and cholesterol in the skin membrane is what can lead to irritation and dryness.
Goat milk is rich in these components which makes it a powerful choice to use in soap.
Commercial soaps hardly have much original oils left in them because of their excessive processing.
A lot of the commercially made soaps contain harsh surfactants that are known to strip your skin of its natural oils and moisture.
Ever wonder why your skin feels tight and dry after using commercial made soaps?
Well, now you know.
These types of soaps are actually stripping the natural oils and moisture from your skin!
Soaps those are commercially available are highly loaded with synthetic chemicals that can cause cancers and other fatal disease.
https://jbas.juw.edu.pk/index.php/JBAS/article/view/77
Because of the high amounts of fats found in goat milk soap it allows for the removal of dirt and debris.
This is done in a delicate and soothing way that does not remove the skins natural fatty barrier.
Goat milk soap is naturally gentle and doesn’t irritate the skin like the carcinogenic causing chemicals and other harsh additives found in commercial soaps can cause.
This makes goat milk soap an ideal choice for anyone who needs a gentler and milder soap for skin conditions like psoriasis or acne.
Does goat milk soap smell ‘goaty’?
I have yet to smell a bar of soap made from goat’s milk that smelled like ‘an old billy goat’.
Seriously!
Goat milk that is used to make soap usually comes from fresh raw goat’s milk.
Goat milk that has either just been milked from the goat or was frozen right after milking.
Using fresh raw goat milk or frozen goat milk keeps it from having an ‘old billy goat’ smell.
Old goat’s milk can have a ‘goaty’ smell and taste.
This is the reason to either use the goat milk right away to make your soap or use if from the freezer.
Personally, I love the smell of goat’ milk soap. To me it has a wonderful fresh clean smell to it.
Does goat milk soap clog pores?
No, goat milk soap is not known to clog the pores of your skin.
In fact, it actually helps to keep the pores of your skin from clogging up.
This is due to the fact that goat milk contains alpha-hydroxy acids (lactic acids) which help in breaking down dead skin cells.
It’s believed by experts that the lactic acid that is naturally found in goat milk gives perfect exfoliating properties, allowing an increase of blood flow to skin, rejuvenating the skin.
If dead cells are left on the skin, in time they build up on the skins surface which causes the skin to age.
Using goat milk soap can make the skin feel smoother with each use.
Does goat milk soap exfoliate your skin?
Alpha-hydroxy acids (lactic acids) are known for their exfoliating properties.
Since goat milk soap contains high amounts of lactic acid, it works wonders for exfoliating the skin.
By removing the dead skin cells from the skin it helps to make your skin look and feel more youthful by encouraging new skin growth.
Can goat milk soap help with wrinkles?
Goat milk is rich in Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that has been shown to slow down the aging process of our skin.
It’s a well known fact that studies have shown the wonderful effects that Vitamin A has to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles of skin.
Since goat milk soap has high amounts of Vitamin A and E it’s only natural that it may definitely help to rejuvenate skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
Both Vitamin A and E have been shown to help repair damaged skin by promoting skin renewal.
Selenium that is also found in goat milk soap is known for the ability to help in repairing damaged skin tissue.
Is goat milk soap good for oily skin?
Both oily and blemished skin will respond more favorably to natural goat milk soap than they will to the commercially made soaps that are supposed to be made for these conditions.
One of the reasons it’s good for oily skin is that goat milk soap can help to bring your skin into balance.
Goat milk’s has a pH level that is well-balanced, almost the same pH level of human skin.
Consequently this well-balanced pH level makes goat milk soap a superb choice to use if you are experiencing oily skin.
Because of the high acid base of commercially made soaps, the glands of the skin will work overtime to produce oils, trying to regulate the skins pH.
This overworking of the glands producing more oil is what causes oily skin.
And what does oily skin mean … clogged pores, blackheads and pimples.
So, because goat milk soap maintains a normal well-balanced pH level it helps to avoid these oily skin problems.
Adding lemongrass essential oil to your goat milk soap will also help since lemongrass is a natural astringent.
Another beneficial addition to goat milk soap would be tea tree oil also called melaleuca oil.
Tea tree essential oil is commonly accepted for its antimicrobial properties which makes it a natural choice to use in soap to fight against oily skin.
Is goat milk soap anti-bacterial?
Soap made with goat milk has natural anti-bacterial properties.
Goat milk soap has great antimicrobial activity against … pathogenic organisms and Fungus.
https://jbas.juw.edu.pk/index.php/JBAS/article/view/77
These anti-bacterial properties can help to eliminate or reduce acne that is caused by bacteria on the skin.
Also the extra proteins found in goat milk can neutralize the bacteria that causes acne.
Naturally occurring anti-inflammatory properties are provided due to the fat molecules found in goat milk.
Regular use of goat milk soap can also help to reduce the swelling and itching that acne can cause.
Goat milk soap is naturally gentle and more kind to skin.
This makes it a splendid choice for anyone that likes or needs a more gentler and delicate soap for skin conditions such as acne or psoriasis.
Does goat milk soap kill germs?
No, goat milk soap doesn’t actually kill germs when you use it.
But since goat milk soap has a healthy pH level it can help to prevent the growth and attack of bacteria and germs.
Soap and water don’t kill germs; they work by mechanically removing them from your hands.
Running water by itself does a pretty good job of germ removal, but soap increases the overall effectiveness by pulling unwanted material off the skin and into the water.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/The_handiwork_of_good_health
Interestingly, wet hands are more likely to be the cause of spreading germs than dry hands are.
Many people make the mistake of not drying their hands thoroughly even though they are conscientious about washing them.
How long does a bar of goat milk soap last?
How long a bar of goat milk soap lasts depends on the quality of the soap you are using and how it is being used.
Allowing a bar of goat milk soap to dry out completely between uses will ensure it lasting longer.
Generally speaking a bar of goat milk soap will last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks or so.
Some companies that make goat milk soap suggest that their soaps can even last upwards of 6 months or more.
Properly made goat milk soap won’t spoil or even go bad if stored in a dry and cool place in your home.
Can you wash your hair with goat milk soap?
Since goat milk soap is so luxurious for your skin, can you also wash your hair with goat milk soap?
The answer is a resounding yes!
Goat milk soap with its wonderful lathering abilities will effectively clean your hair leaving it soft and manageable.
Enriched with cream, goat milk soap is an excellent choice to use for dry hair.
If you have damaged hair, the protein contained in the goat milk soap will help to strengthen the damaged hair.
Soap made from goat milk is especially great for dry scalps. After all, your scalp is made up of skin.
So since goat milk soap is so moisturizing and luxurious for your skin it only makes sense that it is also great for dry scalps! Why not give it a try.
Rubbing a bar of goat milk soap between your hands will result in a rich and velvety lather that you can clean your hair with.
If you prefer you can also rub a bar of goat milk soap on your scalp and hair, it’s simply a matter of choice as to how you use it for your hair.
You can either handcraft your own natural goat milk soap or purchase a few bars from the many available sources online or in shops.