What Makes Goat Milk Soap Different?
Here at Goat Milk Stuff, we believe that goat milk soap is a wonderful and toxin-free alternative to traditional soap. Our favorite ingredient in our soaps is, unsurprisingly, raw goat milk. Not water like traditional soap, nor a long list of harsh chemicals like many modern soaps; but straight-up unprocessed goat milk, fresh from the farm and our herd of beloved dairy goats.
Our chemical-free natural recipe is one of the reasons that our goat milk soap is different from other soaps on the market, and the goat milk brings many nourishing benefits that other soaps lack.
 "Best goat milk soap ever (Calendula). So creamy, makes my skin feel sooo good. Love the benefits of this soap." - Susan B. |
High quality, raw goat milk is one of the skincare industry’s best unkept secrets, increasingly touted as a superfood for the skin because of its incredible rejuvenating qualities. This is because it contains beneficial micro-nutrients. The raw goat milk inside our goat milk soap is packed full of alpha hydroxy acids, fats, vitamins and minerals; all of which can help to condition and moisturize all skin types, even the most sensitive.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids and Goat Milk Soap
Let’s take a closer look at alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). These are commonly added to over-the-counter skincare products. They include glycolic acid from sugar cane, citric and malic acids from fruits, and lactic acids from lactose – the main ingredient in raw goat milk! Lactic acid is especially valuable as its action is gentle, so it won’t dry or irritate sensitive and aging skin, unlike some of the other AHAs added to skincare products.
 "The Lemongrass bar soap is quite lovely to use on a hot summer day. The smell is perfect; not overpowering but present. My sensitive skin loves it. Thanks so much for offering a well made bar soap that smells yummy and refreshes my skin without irritation." - Sue P. |
Alpha hydroxy acids are highly effective exfoliants. This means they can help clear away the dead skin cells that build up on the skin’s surface, dulling the complexion and causing flakiness and irritation--especially in mature skin. These clever little cleaners provide very gentle exfoliation by breaking down the bonds that hold the dead skin cells together.
Shedding dead skin cells encourages cell regeneration and reveals a fresh, new layer of skin beneath. The skin is healthier and looks younger and brighter as a result. The anti-inflammatory properties of lactic acid can also help boost blood flow to the skin, improving oxygen and nutrient levels and adding to the skin’s radiance.
Making soap traditionally involves fats and oils. But where many commercially produced soaps contain chemical ingredients that actually dry out the skin, the natural fats and cream retained in goat milk soap can gently hydrate it on multiple levels. Fatty acids can help to seal in moisture, leaving the skin smoother and softer. This can be particularly useful for people who suffer from dry skin or skin problems like eczema.
 "I actually ordered the Black Raspberry soap and lotion and love them both! The soaps have made such a great difference for me and so many in my family. It is healing my granddaughter’s eczema - so thankful for finding you." - Teresa N. |
Vitamins and Minerals in Goat Milk
Vitamin A is one of the most supportive vitamins for skin health and vitality as it can help to reverse sun damage and speed up healing and cell regeneration, which also naturally reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Fortunately, raw goat milk is one of the best sources of vitamin A available!
Goat milk soap also contains many other important minerals. From potassium, which can help prevent and ease dry skin by helping to create the skin barrier which locks in moisture, to magnesium, which is ideal for people with sensitive skin as it can calm irritation, the minerals found in goat milk are great for your skin. Magnesium can also reduce acne through its hormone-stabilizing qualities. And here at Goat Milk Stuff, we make sure our dairy goats get a selenium booster, an essential mineral for their health.
 "Moisturizing, soothing, wonderful luxurious lather, easy on my eyes when washing my face, non-stinging (Purity). Feels awesome on sunburned skin and relieved itching. Happy Skin." - Michele L. |
Vitamins and minerals are rarely added to basic water-based soap recipes, and they tend not to be absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin even when they are, because these soaps rarely contain the valuable alpha hydroxy acids that goat milk soap does.
You are perhaps starting to appreciate some of the brilliant benefits of using raw goat milk for soap-making, and goat milk soap as an alternative to traditional soap. Goat milk soap is simple, natural and made with many mutually-reinforcing skin boosting qualities that water-based soaps rarely possess.
Goat Milk Soap Is Good for All Skin Types
Goat milk soap can benefit and be safely enjoyed by people with a broad range of skin types: from the driest to the most oily skin and everything in-between. It also works for those with sensitive skin.
Raw goat milk contains cream; which is full of healthy natural oils that are wildly nourishing and moisturizing for dry skin. We’ve already discussed how these natural fats and the potassium in goat milk soap can help to seal moisture in so as to support and re-balance dry skin. We’ve also mentioned how the exfoliating properties of lactic acid and vitamin A are gentle enough not to strip dry skin of any more of its precious moisture content. But how does goat milk soap work for oilier skin?
 "Best soap I ever tried (Lavender Peppermint). For anyone with oily skin, this cleanser will have your body smelling fresh without clogging pores." - Christopher H. |
Oily skin is often caused by over-active sebaceous glands producing too much of the body’s natural oil, which can result in clogged pores, greasy skin and breakouts. Whereas it may seem counter-intuitive, the complex combination of natural fats, fat-soluble vitamin A, lactic acid and minerals in goat milk soap can actually re-balance the skin and reduce excess oil. There are a number of mechanisms for this: magnesium can regulate cellular regeneration, reduce cortisol levels and stabilize hormonal imbalances in the body. Vitamin A can normalize and regulate skin cell function and oil production, and help the skin shed dead cells which may be blocking pores.
Many commercially-produced soaps contain toxic preservatives such as formaldehyde and synthetic anti-oxidants to extend their shelf life. They may contain parabens, phthalates and synthetic surfactants. Synthetic fragrances are often cocktails of undisclosed chemicals. All of these can be highly irritating for sensitive and eczema-prone skin and may even cause allergic reactions. What’s even more worrying is that several of these substances have been proven to be hormone-disrupting and carcinogenic.
Goat milk soap is also a disruptor of sorts: offering a natural, non-toxic and non-irritating alternative to soaps churned out by a poorly-regulated industry. We don't add any chemical preservatives to our goat milk soap. Goat milk soap is ideal for sensitive skin and healthy skin that wants to stay healthy. It effectively cleans, softens and moisturizes without the irritations caused by harsh chemicals.
 "My massage therapist noticed a difference in my skin and I feel better without all the yuck big corporations put into skin products. Since these things can be absorbed through your skin, it needs to be healthy (Honeysuckle Goat Milk Soap)." - Denise I. |
Goat Milk Soap Can Help Different Skin Types
So what about people with skin conditions such as eczema, acne and sun damage? Is Goat Milk Soap a safe option for them? How can it help people deal with these often painful conditions?
We’ve already mentioned how synthetic chemicals in commercially-produced soaps can irritate sensitive and dry skin. Unable to retain much moisture in their skin, people with eczema are often acutely sensitive to such triggers. Not only can goat milk soap avoid triggering a bout of eczema, it can also help provide rapid relief through the deeply moisturizing and softening action of its creams and rich fatty acids on itchy, peeling and cracking skin.
 "Only soap that doesn't break my daughter out (Purity). She's had severe eczema since she was born and your soap has made a huge difference!" - Danielle W. |
The gentle exfoliating action of lactic acid also makes goat milk soap an excellent choice for people dealing with acne. The lactic acid may soothe inflammation and reduce the size of the enlarged pores common to acne-prone skin. The regenerative properties of vitamin A and lactic acid can help generate healthier skin cells, and even potentially reduce acne scars, reducing the impact of this condition long after it has eased.
 "Ladies/Gentlemen, this is like a spa day on your face (Tea Tree)! We love it, my son loves it. This soap also has tremendously helped both my son and my acne. I threw away all my other cleansers. They never made my skin feel like this. You will experience an amazing clean face like no other cleansers can provide." - Abby J. |
Naturally occurring selenium and Vitamin A in raw goat milk may also play an important role in the repair of sun-damage, and even the prevention of skin cancer. Alpha-hydroxy acids are known for their ability to help repair damaged skin by removing dead skin cells and old collagen fibers so new ones can form, supported by vitamin A. These protein-rich fibers improve the skin’s texture: plumping, brightening and reducing surface lines. The antioxidants in vitamin A can also reduce oxidative stress in the skin cells, which in turn can prevent premature aging.
Some of the most sensitive skin belongs to babies; especially newborns, and it’s essential to avoid harsh chemicals that can trigger eczema and dry itchy skin at this vulnerable age. The pure and unscented goat milk soaps are kindest to young skin as the fatty acids and minerals available in the raw goat milk can gently help the skin to retain moisture. Using olive oil as the base oil in Castile Goat Milk Soap has made it one of the softest and most gentle soaps for delicate skins, leading to soft skin and happier babies (and parents!)
 "I’m a mom of three, (13, 7, 19 months) it’s all I use. My children and myself have contact dermatitis, eczema, and sensitive skin. This (Castile) soap is so gentle and makes our skin so soft." - Kalyn B. |
Another group of people with fragile skin are those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment, which can cause sores, burns and increased sensitivity. Vitamin A and selenium in raw goat milk can help with cellular regeneration and healing, making Castile or our Purity Goat Milk Soap a soothing option for the gentle care of this skin.