Is Goat Milk Lotion Safe? | Eden Body Care

Goat milk lotion is not as perfect as it may seem. Yes, it is nourishing, but did you ever think about the preservatives needed to keep the product fresh? And, with the preservatives added is goat milk lotion skin safe anymore?

"But there are so many companies who make and sell goat milk lotions!" you might say. Ah, yes. But as soon as we researched what went into making a batch of goat milk lotion, it became obvious that this wonderful milk was no longer wonderful outside of soap due to the nature of the product. Let's take a deeper dive.

First, you need to know why the goat milk in a bar of soap is safe for you. When goat milk is used in a bar of soap, it goes through a natural chemical process called saponification which is when fats are mixed with alkali = salt (soap). This process creates extreme heat that ultimately sterilizes everything, making it safe for use on your skin.

When we took a good look at the ingredients and the process of how goat milk lotion is made, we realized it's not as safe as many companies say. Let's go through the process of making a bottle of goat milk lotion.

First there's the goat milk:

Goat Milk: This wholesome ingredient is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients necessary for maintaining healthy skin. We can't speak for other companies so we won't know where the milk comes from that's used in their products. But speaking for ourselves, the goat milk we use for all our products, as you may know, comes straight from our homestead, gets filtered, and straight into the milk fridge it goes.

Great start, then there's nourishing oils and butters that get added to a lotion. These can range from cocoa butter, shea butter, argan oil, and many more. Also, an emulsifying wax is added to bind everything together for the "lotion texture".

Sounds great! But what else goes into goat milk lotion? Here's where things take a turn. Preservatives.

Preservatives: As a general rule, a lotion should have a preservative because of the water content in it, the preservatives help keep the lotion fresh, it keeps yeast and bacteria from building up inside the product, and maintains the original fragrance and the same "feel" every time. Now, this is one ingredient we didn't feel comfortable about using on our own skin, so we don't feel comfortable about giving it to you for your skin. Keep reading to find out why.

Many companies opt to use preservatives because they have to, to keep their products fresh and shelf-stable. Have you ever wondered what that lotion smell was is in every single bottle of lotion you've used? I'm not talking about the fragrance, there is this undertone note you can smell. That's the preservative you're smelling.

Preservatives can affect your skin, most of the time making it dry and flaky. They are also known to cause irritation and rashes. So why would we ever use that in goat milk lotion if it counteracts with the benefits of the goat milk? You're using something to combat these ailments, but the preservative counters that beneficial effect, therefore putting you back at square A.

Some companies make goat milk lotions without preservatives. That's right! How do they keep it safe for you and your skin? Well, the answer is simple: They don't. And here's why...

1. To keep the lotion fresh, it needs to be refrigerated. If you're making thousands of bottles, it can become difficult and costly. Most companies opt for additives that are not preservatives such as rosemary extracts or grapefruit seed oil, etc because they don't have to be refrigerated, but this doesn't make the product shelf-stable. It's just adding anti-oxidants to the product to prolong the inevitable, that the milk will spoil in the product.
2. Goat's milk is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to form if not processed properly, which is either done by heat or by being kept at extreme cold temperatures. Even with that done, this "fresh" lotion can only last up to 2 weeks to 1 month before it goes bad in the refrigerator, and 1 month is being generous according to chemists.

Through our research, we've discovered that companies who produce goat milk lotions with preservatives are able to pass lab tests because there was just enough preservatives to stabilize the product at the time of manufacturing. But that doesn't mean there isn't still contaminates in the product itself, which will eventually bloom into a larger mass of bacteria and yeast the longer you store it outside of optimal conditions. Additionally, most people will store their lotions at room temperature, or even in the warmth of their bathrooms which further leads to microbial growth.

So, there you have it. We know this is something you've been wondering about, we hope you understand why we decided not to go with making goat milk lotions, as popular as they are. We couldn't ignore all this information just to make a product because of its popularity amongst the goat milk product community.

As a clean skincare company, it is our responsibility to do the research behind ingredients that are used so we can make safe products for you and your family, as well as ours. We want you to be able to trust us 100%, the handcrafters of your skincare. Instead of goat milk lotions, we've created our signature body butters that are fantastic in keeping you moisturized. It's light and non-greasy, we even use it on our faces for the most gorgeous glow.

About our whipped body butters: 100% preservative free because it doesn't contain any water or goat milk that can lead to microbial growth. It's made using effective, non pore clogging oils and butters and skin-safe fragrance or therapeutic essential oils that leaves your skin feeling hydrated, smooth and soft, with a beautiful glow.

Here's the body butter roster:

The star of the show is Kokum butter: a traditional Indian vegetable fat that's just starting to catch the attention of Western cosmetic chemists.

Kokum butter is a bit of a rarity—it comes from a tropical plant, but it hails from India, where it has been used for centuries as a moisturizer and anti-inflammatory agent. It's known to plump the skin up while protecting its barrier function.

The side kicks:

Murumuru butter: Another traditional South American plant product (this time, from Brazilian palms) that's valued for its ability to penetrate the skin quickly while offering antioxidant protection. It also has fatty acids that are similar in structure to our own lipids—so it can work as a humectant moisturizer at the same time that it locks in moisture.

Meadowfoam Seed oil: This one's a new star in the moisturizer world. It has an unusual composition that includes fatty acids and phospholipids—a type of lipid that your skin needs for healthy barrier function and water retention.

Kukui Nut oil: If you're looking for a moisturizer that penetrates deep into the skin to promote collagen production, look no further than kukui nut oil. It's high in antioxidants and fatty acids, and it absorbs quickly without leaving behind an oily sheen.

Argan oil: You know this wonder-ingredient for its hair-softening abilities, but did you know it's also fantastic for soothing irritated skin? Argan oil is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, which are both known to help smooth the flaky, red patches that can become a problem when your skin gets too dry.

Jojoba oil: This is another wonder-ingredient for soothing dehydrated skin on your face or body. It can actually help to increase the moisture content of the skin by trapping water in the skin's outer layer.

Avocado oil: This oil is rich in skin-softening oleic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties—so it's great for soothing dry or irritated skin.

With this all-star composition, your skin will thank you, you will not be disappointed, and your skin will beg you for more.

Check out our whipped body butter selection here:
Scents available:
Unscented Whipped Body Butter
Lavender Whipped Body Butter
Vanilla Crème Whipped Body Butter
FIORA Whipped Body Butter
Chardonnay Rosé Whipped Body Butter