Why Goat Milk?

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We asked ourselves the same question, and then began our quest to learn about the multitude of benefits goat milk can provide.  Equipped with this knowledge, we dedicated ourselves to producing products that capture those benefits - and the results (and our customers!)  can attest to that.

The truth is that everything you put on your skin can be absorbed into your bloodstream and isn't necessarily filtered out by your body.  That means while synthetics and artificial additives can do things like upset your skin's pH balance and cause constant irritation, natural products do the exact opposite. So what makes goat milk the ultimate natural skincare ingredient?

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It's Nutrient Rich

Goat milk is PACKED with probiotics, vitamins, and minerals that nourish and replenish the skin. As goat milk moisturizes the skin, these nutrients are delivered to the deeper, living tissue layer of our epidermis, where our skin needs it most. While it contains vitamins A, B, C, D, and more, it is especially high in Vitamin A, which can help repair damaged skin, ease signs of aging, help reduce acne, and more. Vitamins A and E are also antioxidants, which are known to neutralize free radicals in the body.

Additionally, goat milk contains essential minerals like iron, selenium, magnesium, zinc, and more.

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It's A Natural Exfoliant

Goat milk is naturally rich in alpha-hydroxy acids (or AHAs), specifically, lactic acid. This is one of the really special properties of goat milk! Lactic acid is one of the gentlest AHAs and a natural exfoliator. It helps remove dead skin by breaking down the bonds between dead cells and revealing a new, healthy layer beneath. It provides this “deep clean” without irritating or damaging healthy cells, and as a natural humectant, lactic acid also attracts water molecules like a magnet and carries them to the skin. This helps the skin appear smoother, brighter, and more hydrated. Who doesn’t want that?

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It's A Great Moisturizer

We already discussed a few points above that make goat milk a great moisturizer – the lactic acid content and nutrient content – but the benefits don’t stop there. Goat milk is a rich milk that is packed full of saturated and unsaturated fats (you sometimes hear these called “healthy fats”). While lactic acid and other nutrients hydrate the skin, these fat molecules complement the nourishing components of goat milk by sealing in moisture and filling all the microscopic gaps between cells. This creates something of a moisture barrier across your skin, keeping the good stuff in, and the bad stuff out. Plus, your skin will feel soft and smooth!

At Madd House Hill, we specifically raise Nigerian Dwarf goats, whose milk has a higher butterfat content than any other dairy breed - meaning even more of those moisturizing fat molecules!

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It's Anti-Inflammatory

Goat milk has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and could reduce skin irritation. Goat milk is rich in probiotics, including a notable probiotic known as Lactobacillus, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin and in the body. Additionally, goat milk’s rich and moisturizing properties may reduce skin irritation and inflammation caused by dryness or other skin conditions by restoring and rehydrating the skin’s lipid barrier.

Harsh soaps or other skincare products can strip the skin of natural moisture, worsening irritation, inflammation, and dry skin – so switching to goat milk products may reduce inflammation from this cause alone.

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It's Microbiome Friendly

One of the most fascinating elements of goat milk soap as a skincare ingredient is its effect on the microbiome. The body – and skin’s – first reaction to a foreign substance is an inflammatory response, which can make it hard for active ingredients to reach the deeper layers of the epidermis and nourish the skin. With goat milk, that isn’t the case. Goat milk has a nearly identical pH to that of human skin, so when you use goat milk products, the microbiome “recognizes” it. This means you’re able to deeply cleanse and nourish your skin without disrupting its natural state. If you deal with sensitive skin or skin conditions, this could be life-changing!