Cleopatra’s Magical Milk Bath

Donkey milk? Goat’s milk? We’ll never know for sure. But either way, there are lots of legends about Cleopatra’s Magical Milk Bath. It’s said that she bathed daily in milk and this is what historians attributed to her soft, beautiful skin.

However, other historians maintain it was actually Nero’s wife, Poppaea, who started the milk bath fashion – 80 years or so after Cleopatra’s death and that Hollywood movies have continued the Cleopatra myth.

Benefits of a milk bath

Many believe that Cleopatra indulged in a milk bath to improve the appearance of her skin by reducing wrinkles.

So does this really work?

When milk sours, the milk sugar lactose is converted by bacteria into lactic acid. When alpha hydroxy acids, such as lactic acid, are applied to the skin they cause the surface layer to peel off, leaving new smoother blemish-free skin underneath.

AHAs have been used in the skincare industry for years as they penetrate the top layers of the skin to remove dead skin cells. This exfoliation stimulates the skin and helps to regenerate healthy cells.

They are either sourced from natural ingredients (like milk) or synthesised in laboratories. Obviously I prefer those that are naturally sourced, hence I use milk.

There is some debate about whether sour milk has enough lactic acid to rejuvenate the skin. But researchers have shown that modern cosmetics which contain at least 8% alpha hydroxyl acids do reduce minor wrinkles (2).

Either way, I find the whole experience rather relaxing and my skin feels amazing afterwards.

What is a milk bath?

Maybe Cleopatra and Poppaea could afford to fill their entire bath tub with fresh milk, but these days I prefer to make mine by using the milk bath powder recipe which you can find below. I’m not a fan of bathing in sour milk either. But, hey, each to their own!

What to put in your Magical Milk Bath Recipe

Powdered Milk

Milk contains biotin and other moisturising elements that help in nourishing dry, cracked, withered, and flaky skin.

When my girls were younger and one of them had eczema I used to swap out the powdered cow’s milk for powdered goat’s milk in the recipe. I would also use Roman Chamomile and Lavender essential oils which are both super nourishing for dry skin.

Cornflour

Corn flour is a cost-effective remedy for skin irritation and many people use it to soothe sunburn and reduce skin itchiness.

Bicarb Soda

Many people may be familiar with bicarb soda in cooking it is also great to add to your bath water. Adding a quarter cup of bicarb soda to a lukewarm bath and soaking for up to 30 minutes may relieve itching, irritation, or infections or just provide a detox (3).

Orange – Wellness Essential Oil

Traditionally used in Aromatherapy:

To induce sleep;
To promote refreshing sleep and healthy sleep patterns;
To reduce the time to fall asleep;
To reduce the symptoms and occurrence of mild anxiety;
To aid in mind relaxation;
To increase body relaxation; and
As a nervous system relaxant.

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. REFER TO THE HEALTH WARNINGS BELOW. THE CLAIMS LISTED ABOVE ARE ONLY APPLICABLE FOR AUSTRALIA.

Lavender – Wellness Essential Oil

Traditionally used in Aromatherapy:

To decrease mild rheumatic aches and pains;
To help reduce mild muscle spasms;
To help relieve symptoms of muscle strain;
To reduce the symptoms of stress;
To reduce the symptoms and occurrence of mild anxiety;
As a nervous system relaxant;To calm nerves; and
As an antiseptic for minor cuts and abrasions.

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. REFER TO THE HEALTH WARNINGS BELOW. THE CLAIMS LISTED ABOVE ARE ONLY APPLICABLE FOR AUSTRALIA.

Vanilla Essential Oil

With its warm, rich, slightly sweet aroma, vanilla is one of the most popular and recognisable fragrances throughout the world for a reason. Young Living’s exclusive Vanilla oleoresin has a gentle, welcoming personality with a balancing aroma that evokes pleasant memories when diffused. Extracted from beans grown in the northwestern region of Madagascar, our ethically sourced, pure Vanilla oleoresin is made with a unique extraction method developed for Young Living. This unique process helps our Vanilla retain its rich, classic aroma and blends especially well with Young Living essential oils.

Obtaining just the right Vanilla oleoresin involves the removal of naturally sourced ethyl alcohol from French sugar beets, at which point the product is processed with fractionated coconut oil. While many vanilla products on the market are synthetic, Young Living Vanilla is pure and quality tested to meet our rigorous Seed to Seal quality commitment. Vanilla has a pure, rich aroma that may change slightly as you use it in different ways.