A Brief History of Milk Bathing
Why we’re so passionate about this ancient beauty ritual.
Milk baths are having a moment in the clean beauty world right now (something we’re very happy about), but did you know this beauty routine has been practised for thousands of years? Let us take you through a brief history of milk bathing, so we can properly explain the many skincare benefits this ancient practice holds.
A favourite of queens and princesses
Most people’s first memory of milk bathing is linked to the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. At school you were probably told about her bathing daily in donkey’s milk as part of her elaborate beauty routines, but while we were taught that this was just an example of her excessive and ostentatious character, she was in actual fact a beauty pioneer. Bathing in milk in order to soften the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles was an ancient ritual adopted by many powerful women throughout history, including Roman Empress Poppea, as well as English Queens Catherine Parr and Elizabeth I.
For healing, rejuvenation and ‘disenchantment’
Folklore suggested a milk bath was a cure for many ails, including being a perfect way of ‘preserving vitality’, but noble women in particular loved this practice for its ability to soften their skin and leave it feeling plump. They believed it helped them to appear younger, with smoother complexions. One of the first forms of true luxury, a milk bath was the ultimate sign of self-care. Natural ingredients including water, honey, seaweed and sea salt were often added to milk baths to improve their beautifying results, and every woman had their preferred concoction of fragrances and herbs.
A powerful beauty elixir
While they did not understand the science at the time, these women were right to assume milk could change the appearance of their skin. Milk is rich in lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid that dissolves the proteins which hold together dead skin cells, making it incredibly exfoliating but gentle. Bathing in milk stimulates dead cell renewal to reveal silky soft and exfoliated skin with zero effort. Milk is also suitable for use on sensitive skin as it is completely natural and free from toxic chemicals, so it is the perfect bathing product for those who want fresh, glowing skin.
What are the real benefits of a milk bath?
Today milk baths have become more advanced and often additional ingredients are added to maximize the potential of the milk. We hand blend our full-fat Swiss milk powder with mineral-rich salt for extra exfoliation and detoxification benefits. We also include a potent blend of essential oils to transport you to a world of fragrance every time you take a bath. These bespoke combinations can unlock inner peace, self love and a true sense of calm, taking the power of milk bathing to a new level.
Le MILK BAR products are the premier choice if you want silky soft skin that looks like it’s lit from within.
Shop the first drop of our bath soak collection here and discover your new luxury bathing routine.
