If you have dry skin like I do, you’re probably well aware that most soaps can make things like eczema, sensitive skin, or just plain ol’ seasonal dryness worse. But goat milk soap actually nourishes the skin and replenishes critical vitamins and nutrients so your skin stays soft and supple. Add in tallow and moisturizing oils, such as olive, coconut and shea, and you’ve got a luxurious bar soap that won’t strip sensitive skin or make irritation worse.
Soapmaking really isn’t as scary as I once thought. While I do prefer using melt-and-pour soap base sometimes (it’s just so easy!), there’s something cathartic about making soap from scratch, too. Especially when it’s as nourishing and delicious as this homemade goat milk soap recipe.
Now, I know that cold process soapmaking can be a bit daunting for some of you, so I’ve included a melt-and-pour goat milk soap recipe at the end as well. Feel free to use whichever recipe you prefer!
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Benefits of Goat Milk Soap
I first tried goat milk soap years ago and immediately fell in love. If you have sensitive skin, you need all the help you can get when it comes to keeping irritation at bay.
- Goat’s milk contains fatty acids [source], proteins, and vitamins such as vitamin A [source], which are critical for maintaining healthy skin.
- It’s loaded with lactic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid [source] that helps slough away dead skin cells, minimizes skin inflammation, evens out skin discoloration, and may even reduce the appearance of mild hyperpigmented acne scars [source].
- And thanks to an abundance of essential fatty acids, goat’s milk creates a moisture barrier that traps moisture in the skin and prevents it from drying out.
- Goat milk does everything from balancing skin pH [source] to improving the signs of premature aging [source].
But even if you don’t suffer from eczema, psoriasis, or other sensitive skin issues, this goat milk soap recipe can still work magic. Seriously, it does it all.
Ingredients
Don’t let this list of ingredients freak you out. Each of the recommended oils plays a role in how well the soap lathers and hydrates, so you don’t want to scrimp on any of them. And if you buy the 8 ounce bottle of each oil, you should have more than enough to make 2-3 batches of soap (which should last you at least a year!)
- 95 grams goat milk (frozen into ice cubes)
- 95 grams water
- 70.31 grams lye (sodium hydroxide)
- 125 grams olive oil
- 125 grams coconut oil
- 150 grams beef tallow
- 75 grams shea butter
- 25 grams castor oil
- 15.50 grams optional essential oils (here are some of our favorite essential oils for eczema)
Equipment
- Digital scale
- Safety goggles and gloves
- Stick blender
- 16-ounce glass jar (for mixing lye water)
- Heat-resistant glass, ceramic or stainless steel bowl
- Soap mold
- Plastic wrap
- Thermometer
- Silicone spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- White vinegar and paper towels for cleaning up any spills
Instructions
Put on your goggles and gloves, and make sure you’re wearing long sleeves and close-toed shoes to prevent any lye burns. Lay out your soap-making equipment to ensure you can work undisturbed.
Step 1: Measure out your ingredients
Start by weighing out each of your ingredients. I give the measurements in grams because I’ve found that most kitchen scales aren’t precise enough when weighing in ounces. And to make sure your soap comes together, you need to be precise!
Step 2: Make the lye water
[Put on your rubber gloves and goggles and set yourself up in an area with good ventilation. I do this step right next to an open window with a ceiling fan running, but you may need to go outside for this part.]
Pour the water into a tall glass jar. Then slowly pour the lye into the water, stirring in between each pour.
Step 3: Continue stirring until the lye dissolves
Continue stirring until the lye has dissolved and the mixture turns clear.
Set the jar aside to cool to 100°F (38°C).
Step 4: Add the goat milk soap cubes
Once the lye water has cooled, add the goat milk soap cubes. Goat milk can scorch easily, so it’s important that you give the lye water enough time to cool.
Stir until the cubes have melted and everything is well-combined.
Let this mixture cool to between 68-72 degrees. If it cools too much (thanks to the frozen goat milk cubes), place the jar in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to help bring it to the right temperature.
Step 5: Melt the solid oils
As soon as you add the goat milk to lye water, combine the solid oils in a small pan and melt over low heat. They’ll melt pretty quickly, so don’t rush this.
Step 6: Add the liquid oils
As soon as the solid oils are melted, remove from heat and add the liquid oils [pour them against the back of a spoon to prevent bubbles].
Cool the oil mixture to 90 degrees.
Step 7: Combine the lye and oils
When the lye water is 68-72 degrees F and the oils are 90 degrees F, pour the lye water into the oils [pour against a spoon to prevent bubbles].
It’s important to get as close to the recommended temperatures as possible to ensure that the ingredients saponify correctly and the goat milk doesn’t overcook.
Step 8: Blend with a stick blender
With the stick blender turned off, gently stir the contents together. Then carefully pulse the blender for a couple of seconds. Continue alternating between stirring and pulsing until the mixture begins to thicken.
It will take a few minutes but the ingredients should eventually reach the consistency of warm, runny custard. If you dribble some of the soap batter from the stick blender, you should see trails forming on the surface. This means it’s ready!
Step 9: Add the essential oils
Add your essential oils and give it one last pulse to mix everything together.
Step 10: Pour into the mold
Slowly pour the soap into the mold. To make sure there are no air bubbles, pick up the mold and gently smack it against the surface of the table several times.
Step 11: Cover with plastic wrap and let soap cure
Cover the top of the soap with plastic wrap (press it down so it touches the exposed portion of soap) and put the mold in the fridge for 24-48 hours.
Then remove it from fridge but leave in mold to cure for 3-4 more days.
Step 12: Cut into bars
Remove from mold and cut into bars. Even after curing for a few days, this soap will be soft and sticky. That’s okay.
Let this goat milk soap recipe cure for at least 4 more weeks before using.
Melt-and-Pour Goat Milk Soap Recipe
After cleaning out my stash the other day, I came across several soap base remnants from past projects. Rather than throw them out, I decided to turn them into this super-hydrating goat milk soap.
Ingredients
For a little extra healing power, I added raw honey and almond oil to this soap. Raw honey is antibacterial and full of antioxidants [source], while almond oil is loaded with vitamin E and essential fatty acids and has been shown to help improve skin tone and scarring [source].
Last but not least, a few drops of carrot seed and myrrh oils help reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Instructions
Step 1: Microwave the soap base
Chop the soap base into small cubes and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals until completely melted.
Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients
Add the powdered goat milk, honey, and oils. Whisk well to get rid of any clumps.
Step 3: Pour into the mold
Pour the soap into your mold and set aside to cool. Once it’s solidified, use a sharp knife to cut the soap into bars.
Once removed from the mold, allow the bars of soap to sit out uncovered so they can harden completely. While it’s not completely necessary to do this, harder soap will last longer because it won’t dissolve quite as fast in the shower.
Substitutions
Feel free to substitute any traditional cow’s milk powder in place of the goat’s milk. Vegans can substitute coconut milk powder.
Using Goat Milk Soap
Because it’s so gentle, this one bar of soap can be used as body wash, face wash, shampoo, bubble bath, and even shaving cream.
I love making a big batch and storing the extra bars in my bathroom, so I always have some handy. I’ve also been known to give it to friends and family during the colder months so they can reap the benefits too.
FAQ
Yes, you can definitely use goat’s milk melt-and-pour soap base. It will save you a step, too, so it’s great if you’re in a hurry.
I don’t recommend it. Food products like fresh goat’s milk will grow mold and cause your melt-and-pour soap to go bad quickly.
Yes, not only is maple syrup a humectant that draws moisture and locks it in, but it makes an awesome vegan alternative to honey.
How To Make Goat Milk Soap
With a hydrating combination of ingredients to heal dry, irritated, and sensitive skin, this DIY goat milk soap is just what you need this winter.
Yield: 8 bars of soap
Cost: $25
Equipment
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Digital Scale
-
Safety goggles and gloves
-
Stick blender
-
Heat-resistant glass or stainless steel bowl
-
Soap mold
-
Plastic wrap
-
Thermometer
-
Silicone spatula
-
Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions
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Pour lye into water, slowly, stirring in between each pour.
-
Stir until the lye is completely dissolved, and then set the jug aside to cool to 100°F.
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When the lye has cooled, add the goat milk cubes. Cool to 68-72 degrees.
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As soon as you add the goat milk to lye water, melt the solid oils over low heat, stirring constantly.
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As soon as they’re melted, remove from heat and add the liquid oils [by pouring them against the back of a spoon to prevent bubbles]. Cool the oil mixture to 90 degrees.
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Slowly add the lye water to the oils [pour against a spoon to prevent bubbles].
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Place an immersion blender into the oil mixture and use it (turned off) to stir the contents together. Then hold the stick blender still, and pulse for a couple of seconds. Repeat the stirring and pulsing process until the mixture begins to thicken. You’ll know it’s ready when the consistency reaches that of warm custard and you see trails forming on the surface of the oil mixture.
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Add your essential oils and pulse a few more times to incorporate.
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Pour the soap into the mold.
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Cover with plastic wrap and put in fridge for 24-48 hours. Then remove from fridge but leave in mold to cure for 3-4 more days.
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Remove from mold and cut into bars. Even after curing for a few days, this soap will be soft! Let it cure for at least 4 more weeks before using.
Notes
This recipe includes a 5% superfat, meaning there’s more oil than lye and 5% of the oils are left unsaponified, providing extra moisturizing properties.
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Rina Mary Allawh, M.D., a dermatologist who practices adult and pediatric medical dermatology, skin cancer treatment, and cosmetic dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
