I began making goat milk soap in November 2020. I made one rectangular bar and knew that this was for me! The danger of the lye, the suiting up with safety goggles, gloves, and apron made me feel like I was living dangerously! I also knew that that would be my last plain bar. I decided to create stories around my soaps. Many stories are historical in fact, centered around activists, significant places around the world, and anything that inspires me at the time.
Why Nigerian Dwarf goat soap? Nigerians have the highest butterfat of any U.S. breed. A healthy Nigerian Dwarf doe can produce a surprising amount of sweet milk for her small size – up to two quarts per day. This bears repeating: The Nigerian Dwarf goat milk benefit is that it is higher in butterfat (6-10%) than most dairy goat breeds. I have one goat that actually gives me 9% butterfat. Goat milk is rich in both saturated and unsaturated fats, making it ideal for soap production. Saturated fats increase a soap’s lather — or production of bubbles — while unsaturated fats provide moisturizing and nourishing properties.
Goat milk soap boasts high amounts of fats, particularly caprylic acid, allowing for gentle removal of dirt and debris without removing the skin’s natural fatty acids. To improve dry skin, the lipid barrier must be restored and rehydrated.
Goat milk soap’s high cholesterol and fatty acid levels may replace missing fats while providing moisture to allow for better water retention.
Lactic acid, a naturally occurring AHA found in goat milk soap, has been shown to gently remove the top layer of dead skin cells, allowing for a more youthful complexion.
Moreover, goat milk soap is gentle and may help maintain the skin’s moisture. This is unlike many face cleansers containing harsh ingredients that can dry out the skin, potentially leading to excess oil production and clogged pores.
Furthermore, milk is a good source of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin shown to have anti-aging properties.
Finally, it’s a good source of selenium, a mineral shown to support a healthy skin membrane. It may even improve psoriasis symptoms like dry skin.
With so many soap options available, it can be difficult to know which one is best for your skin.
What’s more, many commercially made soaps aren’t real soap. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only a few soaps on the market are true soaps, while the majority of cleansers are synthetic detergent products.