When people talk about farm-to-formula beauty, they rarely mean it in the literal sense. For Beekman 1802, the story begins exactly that way. On the latest episode of The Beauty Authority, cofounder Dr. Brent Ridge recalled the moment a local farmer left a note asking if his goats could graze on their land. “We say that was the original act of kindness that started our company,” he says.
Before the brand ever landed on shelves, Dr. Brent and his husband and cofounder, Josh Kilmer Purcell, were simply two New Yorkers looking for a countryside escape. When the recession cost them both their jobs, the goats wandering their property became a turning point. “We Googled, what can we make with goat milk. And that is how we started.”
Their first creation was a goat milk cleansing bar wrapped by neighbors. “Our original tagline for the company was Soap for Sensitive People.” Dr. Brent still views cleansing as the foundation of skin health—the wrong formula can shift pH and disrupt the barrier, something the original bar avoided entirely. More than 60 million units later, it remains one of beauty’s most beloved staples.
Why Goat Milk Is Great for Reactive Skin
As word spread, people with acne, psoriasis and eczema began sharing stories of unexpected results. Dr. Brent wanted to understand the science behind it. Goat milk mirrors the pH of human skin, which allows it to cleanse without stripping. The brand then explored how goat milk’s oligosaccharides behave as natural prebiotics. “The skin microbiome is so critical for helping control inflammatory processes on the surface of the skin,” he explains.
What began as a gentle, natural cleanser evolved into a deeper scientific inquiry. Goat milk wasn’t just soothing; it was biologically aligned with the way the skin maintains balance and resilience.
The Scientific Twist: Exosomes Hidden in Plain Sight
The brand’s most significant discovery came from an unexpected place. While reading oncology research, Dr. Brent learned how scientists were exploring exosomes as delivery systems for chemotherapy. When researchers looked for natural sources of exosomes that were abundant and easy to extract, they found them in goat milk. “We found that there were 116 billion exosomes in every milliliter of the goat milk.”
That insight changed the course of the brand. “How can we use those exosomes as a delivery mechanism for the peptides that we are using as the active ingredient in the product?” he wondered. The shift signaled a move away from anti-aging and toward what Dr. Brent calls better aging.
A Modern Approach to Better Aging
The brand’s Milk RX formulas grew out of this research. The cream features a polypeptide derived from the renna seed. “This particular polypeptide is four times as powerful as retinol at collagen stimulation but has none of the skin sensitization,” Dr. Brent explains. Paired with the exosomal delivery system, the formula targets dryness, sensitivity and menopausal changes, without the irritation many retinoids can cause.
Where the Routine Fits Today
His personal routine stays uncomplicated: The Bloom Cream Moisturizer($56) in the morning to support the microbiome. The Milk RX Advanced Better Aging Wrinkle Serum ($72) and the Milk RX Advanced Better Aging Cream ($68) every night from face to neck. Then, the Milk RX Advanced Better Aging Mask ($16) during reactive moments.
The evolution of the brand shows what happens when nature and research move in the same direction. Goat milk may sound nostalgic, but the science inside it is shaping one of the most intriguing conversations in modern skin care. Exosomes sourced from a natural ingredient are now part of the future, and, fittingly, the innovation began on a farm.
