If you are tired of your soap drying out your skin or worried about what chemicals are being absorbed into your pores, it is time to consider using goat milk soap! Cold pressed goat milk soap is created from scratch. Ideally, soap makers have their own goats to milk daily. It does not get any fresher than that! On average, you will get about half a gallon of milk per goat per day. No goats? No worries. Many farmers sell goat milk.
Here are just a few things you should know about Goat Milk Soap:
The Benefits of Goat Milk Soap
Goat milk soap can literally be made in your kitchen at home! If a maker has goats on their property, they will be able to control every single step of the process. Goats will be properly loved and cared for. Milk will be gathered daily and taken right to the refrigerator / freezer. Goat milk soap contains a built-in dead skin cell removal agent- Lactic Acid. Vitamins A, B, and C are all found within goat milk. Goat milk soap provides the body with rich nutrients and minerals such as amino acids, fatty acids, Zinc, and Selenium. Added high-quality oils enhance the overall lather and benefits your skin receives. Goat milk soap leaves skin feeling smooth and silky without the added greasiness that comes along with many fragrant soaps.
Read More: 4 Reasons You Should Have Your Milk Delivered
Goat milk soap can be unscented, scented with essential oils, or scented with fragrance oils.
Hemp oil can be added to goat milk soap. A major benefit of hemp oil is the anti-inflammatory properties that assist in pain relief.
Read More: All About Hemp Benefits
The process…
The optimum way to make goat milk soap is the process of cold processed soap. Keeping the milk and mixture cool (not exceeding a certain temperature) while preparing your mixture will preserve all the nutrients and prevent losing beneficial properties. Ingredients that go into making the soap include: olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, castor oil, shea butter, rice brand oil, hard butters, soft butters, Lye, and the obvious- goat milk.
Step #1: You need to gather goat milk. Whether you milk your own goats or purchase the milk from a farmer, you want to strain the milk and then put it in freezer bags. Twenty ounces of milk per bag will allow you to make a five pound loaf of goat milk soap from each bag.
TIP: Be sure to research local farms so you know exactly what you are getting when purchasing goat milk!
Step #2: Freeze the milk. Since the best process is cold processed soap, freezing the milk preserves the nutrients from the very beginning.
Step #3: Thaw the goat milk.
TIP: Ice the milk during the process. If the milk becomes too hot it will lose nutrients and benefits.
Step #4: Measure the fragrant oils you plan to use (2-4 oz. of each depending on the potency of the oil) together with the olive (20 oz.), coconut (20 oz.), palm (14 oz.), castor (4 oz.), and rice bran (5 oz.) oils. It will take about ten minutes to measure all of the oils. You then want to heat the oils in a pot on the stove to about 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step #5: Slowly mix the goat milk with Lye (9 oz.), adding a little at a time. If Lye is added too quickly to the mixture, it will burn the milk. If the milk burns, the nutrients within will be destroyed.
Step #6: Strain the milk to be certain there is no Lye or frozen milk that should not be present.
Step #7: Prepare your colorants. Mix 1 tsp. of colorant with 1 tbsp. of a lightweight oil, such as avocado. For Birchwood soap, use Nettle Leaf which produces a green color, Activated Charcoal (a natural detoxifier and popular color), and sandalwood powder which produces a reddish purple color. All of these colorants are natural.
Step #8: Mix the oils you will be using (this depends on the type of soap you are making.) Bring the milk and oils to a trace. Trace is when the mixture starts to thicken.
Step #9: Add the fragrance you will be using to the goat milk.
TIP: Dump the fragrance over the stick blender to prevent air bubbles.
Step #10: Pour the goat milk mixture into a mold. Add the fragrance and colorants on top of the milk mixture. Add 1 tsp. of colorants at a time until you reach your desired color. You will need about 5 tsp. of colorants per five pound loaf. Pour more of the goat milk mixture on top to allow the nutrients to be spread throughout the entire loaf.
Step #11: Swirl the mixture for aesthetic pleasure and to ensure each piece receives the added benefits.
Step #12: Put the loaf in the refrigerator for twelve to twenty-four hours to further preserve the nutrients within the goat milk soap. Refrigeration prevents the soap from heating up which would result in losing the beneficial properties.
Step #13: Take the loaf out of the mold.
Step #14: Cut the loaf into bars. Let the soap sit for four to six weeks to harden. The longer it sits, the longer it lasts. You can use the soap initially but it will deteriorate. Homemade soap needs to dry. Otherwise, it will crumble upon using and will not last.
Step #15: Indulge!
TIP: Store your goat milk soap on a soap tray to allow it to dry between each use. This will ultimately prevent crumbling and extend the life of each bar. You can purchase handcrafted soap trays here.
Aroma
Upon walking into the home where goat milk soap is being made, you will immediately notice the amazing smells if a loaf is set out drying! Upon bringing goat milk soap home after purchasing, your house will immediately soak in the amazing scents. Scented goat milk soap is aesthetically pleasing! Placing the bar of soap in the shower will leave your bathroom smelling fresh and fragrant without the harmful chemicals found in air fresheners.
TIP: Use a bar in your kitchen, as well, to enjoy a pleasant scent throughout your home as everyone practices good hand washing behaviors.
If you choose an unscented soap, your body will still indulge in the benefits. Smooth skin without a greasy after effect is one of the best features of goat milk soap!
Get the entire family involved
Tending to the goats is a lot of fun for littles. They can enjoy being up close and personal to the animals and even learn how to properly milk them. Responsibility is taught through caring for the goats and a sense of pride is established when it comes time to use the goat milk soap!
Giving back to the community via goat milk soap
Scraps from each loaf can be molded and donated. A great beneficiary would be your local 4-H group. Children can be taught the process and learn how to make goat milk soap that they can sell. A local inner city community center is another group that would greatly benefit from making then selling goat milk soap. Profits could be used for whatever the state does not cover, such as Halloween costumes or trips to local water parks.
Goat milk soap equates endless gift ideas
Are you stumped in regards to your child’s teacher gifts for this year? Goat milk soap is the perfect solution! Various molds can be used to create soap for every occasion. Owl molds are the obvious teacher gift but why not get creative? Find out what your child’s teacher likes and you can cater your gift giving to them personally. Also, different molds can be used for each holiday. Baby showers and bridal showers are great events to gift goat milk soap! The possibilities are endless with a little creative thinking (and the right mold).
Overall, goat milk soap will provide your family with a safe alternative to harsh soaps loaded with chemicals. Beneficial properties such as antioxidants and nutrients keep your skin smooth while locking in moisture, naturally. You should know that goat milk soap makes a fantastic shaving cream alternative! Remember, cold pressed goat milk soap is made from scratch, therefore the maker is in control of exactly what goes into the product. Did we mention the amazing aroma and adorable goats?!
WANT TO READ MORE?
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