Bliss for your Skin: Take a Warm Milk Bath

Take a Warm Milk Bath by Joanna Vargas

Yesterday, under the weight of stress, I remembered an old friend’s advice for a warm milk bath.  She recommended 8 ounces of organic evaporated milk and 1 oz. of anise essential oil—I never forgot how good that bath felt.  I threw in some Epsom salt to work on some aches and I was transported into ancient bath heaven.  Cleopatra, that ancient beauty icon, took some of the first known baths in milk. Her beauty was historically attributed to her ritual soaks in donkey’s milk. Now we won’t take it that far, but there are proven benefits of milk baths.

Choose your milk preference be it powdered milk that has a long shelf life or fresh organic goat’s milk, which has pH levels most similar to humans. The naturally thick creaminess of goat’s milk is the uncontested ultimate skin moisturizer.

There are many benefits to choosing goat’s milk for your bath.  It is easily absorbed in the skin along with its many vitamins and minerals.  The probiotics of goat’s milk will help protect your skin from ultraviolet rays. Additionally, goat’s milk is fortified with vitamins A, B1, B6, B12, C, and E, the latter being a powerful antioxidant.

This heavenly milk also has zinc, citric and amino acids that help regenerate your skin and boost elasticity inhibiting aging in the process. Whichever milk you choose, the fats and vitamins are undeniably beneficial for your skin. Your skin will be more resilient and will feel softer because, like the alpha-hydroxy acids in high end skincare products, the lactic acid naturally found in milk breaks down the proteins that bond dead skin cells, leaving fresh new skin behind.

Organic milk baths are highly recommended for people who suffer from skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema because it quickly relieves itchiness and helps chafe off the dead skin cells. Throw in your bath some oatmeal to exfoliate, next add bergamot essential oil to energize or sandalwood oil to relax. Top it all of with goat’s milk lotion and your skin will be in a heavenly bliss.

Note: to avoid additives like antibiotics, chemical pesticides and synthetic hormones that all pose potential detriment to healthy skin, always choose organic milk for your bath.

For those with an aversion to the animal varieties there is even a vegan milk bath option. Organic coconut milk is touted as the choice substitute to animal milk.  While it doesn’t boast the same benefits, it is known to be helpful in soothing dry and sensitive skin.  Blend it with honey and jojoba oil then add the mix to your warm bath for a tropical soak that will send you to a peaceful inner sanctum.

Joanna Vargas is a graduate from the University of Chicago and is a celebrity facialist well known for her unique facials and skincare treatments. Her signature microcurrent facial, LED light therapy skincare treatment and oxygen facial have been the source of rave reviews from magazines such as Vogue, Allure and many others. Her organic skincare products will be available soon.