Goat's Milk Cosmetics (Yes, Goat's Milk)

by Valerie Gladstone — November 7, 2007

I wouldn't have guessed either, except I do love goat cheese, and goats are very cute, so why wouldn't their milk be good for you. In fact, more of the world drinks goat milk than cow milk. A few companies have picked up on it as a good ingredient for their cosmetic products.

In a way, it's nothing new. Milk--or more accurately, the proteins, minerals, and lactic acid it's made of--has been used as a gentle exfoliant (and a powerful moisturizer) since Cleopatra's famous baths. And goats' milk does the stuff from cows one better: it contains more nutrients and its smaller proteins absorb more quickly into the skin. Soothing for both psoriasis and eczema, it hydrates and gives a glow to all skin types.

Try some of these:

• Weleda Shaving Cream--Rich and hydrating, this is made with organic pansy and sweet almond extracts ($10 at usa.weleda.com )

• Caswell-Massey Soap in Goat's Milk and Honey--These three soaps come in a vintage box set; the scent is pure honey ($14 for set at caswellmassey.com )

• Ziaja Goat's Milk Eye Cream--Emollient but with a gel-like consistency that is cooling and seriously depuffs ($17 at zaiajaskincare.com )

• Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream--Extremely light, it gently exfoliates and renews skin ($55 at katesomerville.com )

• Crabtree & Evelyn Goatmilk Comforting Body Cream--Velvety and luxurious, it smells like lavender and wildflowers ($28 at crabtree-evelyn.com )

• Canus Goat's Milk Foaming Milk Bath--Deep-cleaning, detoxifying, and skin softening ($10 at canusgoatsmilk.com )

• Druide Honeysuckle and Thyme Foaming Bath with Goat Milk--One capful of this honeysuckle scented gel is enough for the whole tub ($13 at grassrootsstore.com )

• Dionis Hand Cream--Moisturizing and sweet ($7 at dionissoap.com )

The following Web sites offer cosmetics made with goat milk:

• http://cometothefarm.com/link-pages/Goats/Soap-Cosmetics/

• http://goatconnection.com/cgi-bin/G-directory/e-directory.pl?category=soapscosmetics

• http://www.harmondiscount.com/naturals