I kept seeing these beautiful milk bath photos on Instagram, so I thought I’d give it a try. But first, a little history lesson.

Turns out that milk baths have been around for centuries. In fact, Cleopatra was famous for bathing in milk to improve the texture of her skin. So basically, milk is really good for your skin.

Here are some benefits:

• Milk is nourishing, since it contains proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals
• Milk baths are even good for minor skin irritations such as poison ivy and sunburns
• The lactic acid in milk helps to exfoliate your skin and can smooth out dry, rough patches

What kind of milk should you bathe in?

After noodling around online, it seems the best choice is goat milk since it’s high in fat and offers up strong soothing properties. But honestly you can use ANY kind of milk. Cow’s milk is the most commonly used, and whole milk is going to be the most beneficial. Coconut milk, buttermilk, or soy or rice milk will also do the trick. You can also used powdered milk.

I used organic whole milk from Trader Joe’s because it was just easy to grab when I was there last weekend, during my weekly food shopping extravaganza.

The Cleopatra Milk Bath Recipe

What You’ll Need:

2 cups of milk (powdered or regular)
1/2 ounce lavender essential oil or any other fragrance you prefer
1 cup Epsom salts
1 cup sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda

Flowers are optional but I would totally add them! Just grab a bouquet or two of your favorite type, and cut them leaving about 1″ of stem so they float. So much fun and they look sooo pretty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also added some Eco Bee Farms raw Manuka honey to my bath which made it super luxurious.

How to Make It:
– Measure out the milk into a large, wide bowl
– Add the Epsom and sea salts along with the baking soda and mix everything together well, making sure to break up any clumps
– Add the fragrance or essential oil. Lavender is a favorite in bath blends, but honey, almond, vanilla, mint, rose and other flowery and fruity fragrances also are delish
– Mix everything together well
– Scoop the milk mixture into jars or other air-tight containers
– For your bath, add a half cup or so to briskly running bath water and enjoy a soothing soak
– Feel free to play around with the type of salts and fragrances to make it your own

I totally had a “fancy moment” with the bowls by the way. Love this amazing, gorgeous vintage yellow Tiffany bowl by Elsa Peretti which was given to me as a gift

I also added something a little extra to my special bath….just a few drops of Ami’s “Pure” herbal oil with 500mg of activated hemp extract for an extra relaxing effect

The fruits of my labor! I’ve gotta tell you….it’s WORTH IT! Allow 30-40 minutes to just slip into this amazing bath. The results? Smooth skin and pure relaxation.  See how happy I look?! This can be you! Especially since we’re stuck at home, why not create your own little slice of heaven……just like Cleopatra did.