Not too long ago, my bathtime routine was all about cleaning my kids’ little fingers and toes. Now that they’re a bit older, I finally get to enjoy a longer soak in the tub again. This silky milk bath recipe is perfect for relaxing and pampering your skin, and it also makes a wonderful gift.
You might have heard about milk baths or even tried one yourself. As the name implies, it involves adding milk to warm bath water. It’s said that everyone from the Romans to Victorians, even Cleopatra, loved milk baths for skin health. While there isn’t a lot of scientific research on milk baths specifically, we do know that milk brings plenty of skin benefits.
You can just pour a few cups of milk into your bathwater, but many milk bath recipes suggest adding other ingredients that nourish the skin. Common additions include baking soda, honey, herbs, or sea salt.
The kind of milk you use can affect its benefits for your skin. You can choose either powdered milk or fresh milk, although powdered milk is better for storing long term. Options for milk include:
– Cow and goat milk, which have proteins, fats, and lactic acid. This alpha hydroxy acid helps exfoliate dead skin cells. Soured milk, like buttermilk, is even more effective at exfoliating because of its higher lactic acid content.
– Coconut milk is full of healthy fats, like lauric acid, and minerals such as copper, iron, and magnesium.
Milk acts as a moisturizer, making it a great choice for hydrating dry skin. It can also relieve painful sunburns or itchy rashes from things like poison ivy or conditions like psoriasis. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin, too, but opt for non-dairy milk if you’re sensitive to cow milk.
This recipe uses powdered coconut milk to leave the skin silky and hydrated, along with other skin-loving ingredients. Since the ingredients are powdered, they have a longer shelf life. Here’s why I chose each ingredient:
Colloidal oatmeal, which is finely ground oats, has been used in home remedies for years. It’s great for soothing itchy skin, eczema, and sunburns. The FDA even recognizes it as an emollient to protect the skin. Oats contain starches and beta-glucans that help protect the skin, as well as phenols which offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. While colloidal oats are regulated by the FDA, you can grind oats yourself for similar effects by blitzing them into a fine powder with a coffee grinder.
Epsom salts, known scientifically as magnesium sulfate, are another favorite in many of my bath recipes, including detox baths. They’re great for relieving sore muscles and I even used them in my kids’ baths to help them relax and sleep better at night. Epsom salts also provide relief for sunburned skin.
Herbs are optional but make the milk bath look more inviting while offering skin benefits. Lavender or rose petals add a splash of color, soothe the skin, and relax the senses. Calendula or chamomile petals also offer healing benefits. If using herbs, make sure to use a tub strainer before emptying the tub.
I like to add a few drops of essential oils to my milk bath. You can pick your favorite, but go for gentle, bath-safe oils like cedarwood, lavender, vetiver, or frankincense.
Here are some more bath recipes for a bit of self-care, which also make fantastic gifts for birthdays or holidays.
Have you ever tried a milk bath? Let me know!
