Using Milk in Beauty: A World Milk Day Special

Milk is an ingredient we love and also love to hate. Chai, coffee, milkshakes, and paneer get us through our days while we understand the predicaments of our Vegan and Lactose Intolerant friends. 

A lot has been said in favour and against the consumption of milk. However, this post is not about that! This post is about the ways that milk can help our skin and body without direct consumption. On this global day of appreciation for the wonderful natural emulsion called ‘Milk’, here are a few homemade DIY skincare remedies that use milk.

But, first, let me take a second to talk about the topical benefits of Milk.

Benefits Of Milk As A Beauty Product Ingredient

Milk is rich in Vitamin D: It not only helps in strengthening bones but also increases the production of collagen, slows down ageing, fights wrinkles, and provides radiance to the skin

Milk is rich in B6 & protein: Therefore, it helps to strengthen hair, improve scalp health, reduce breakage, and provide nourishment and conditioning to hair strands.

Milk has lactic acid: The lactic acid in milk cleanses the pores on your skin and reduces their size as well. 

Why I prefer DIY homemade products over store-bought ones

Safe and natural: As long as you are using harmless and natural products in the appropriate quantities, you know that they are not going to harm your skin. On the contrary, the impact they have is gradual, long-lasting, and definitely noticeable.

Avoid long-term damage: Using chemical-based commercial products may give temporarily satisfactory results but in the long run, they harm your skin and hair. These products and treatments are known to result in dry and patchy skin, hairfall, pigmentation, thinning of hair, etc.

Save Money: You can get great results for yourself without spending a fortune with most ingredients easily available at home.

Milk-based homemade DIY beauty products

DIY Face Pack for Oily Skin with Milk

Benefits: 

• cleanses pores of dirt and bacteria, 
• brings brightness, 
• Tightens skin & makes it supple, 
• reduces the size of the pores, exfoliates, 
• removes sebum 
• slows down sebum productions.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp Rolled Oats
• 1 tbsp besan
• ½ tbsp raw & ground turmeric powder (avoid using the store bought spice)
• 1 & ½ tbsp of multani mitti powder or Fuller’s Earth
• 1 tbsp Orange peel powder (Dry orange peel in the sun for 3-4 days, grind into a fine powder)
• 30 ml Rose Water
• 60 ml raw milk

Steps to Apply

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and turn it into a smooth paste. Reduce or add the wet parts as per the consistency you want. 
• If the mixture is too viscous, add some more milk. If it’s getting too pasty, reduce the amount of rose water or milk you’re adding.
• Apply it all over your face, neck, and upper back, avoiding the eyes and the eyelids.
• You can even apply the mixture on your arms, hands and feet.
• Let the pack sit for 25-30 mins till it’s completely dry.
• Wash it off with water, and gently pat dry your skin.
• You may use this pack once in a week and eventually bring the frequency down to twice a month.

DIY Brightening Moisturizer for Dry Skin with Milk

Benefits: 

• Brightens the skin, 
• Softens skin & makes it supple, 
• Deeply moisturizes the skin

Ingredients

• 60 ml raw milk
• 2 tbsp of honey
• ¼ teaspoon of raw and freshly ground turmeric powder
• 8-10 strands of saffron (Kesar)
• 2 tbsp of fresh malai (cream) removed from the top of boiled milk 

Steps to Use

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and turn it into a smooth paste.
• Refrigerate the moisturizing mix for 4-5 hours.
• Apply on your face, lips, hands, arms, feet, etc.
• For best results, use it as a ‘Sleeping Mask’. Apply on your skin or face & lips overnight for deep moisturizing and nourishment.

DIY Hair Mask with Milk

Benefits: 

• Nourishes the hair strands
• Hydrates the scalp
• Reduces thinning, breakage, and hairfall.
• Makes hair smooth, heavy, soft.
• Reduces frizz

Ingredients

• 100 ml raw milk
• 100 g dahi/curd
• 60 ml virgin coconut hair oil
• 2 tbsp honey
• ½ tbsp baking soda

Steps to Use

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and turn it into a smooth paste.
• Apply even on your scalp and on the length of your hair
• Leave the mask on for 30-60 mins.
• Rinse it off with water and a sulfate-free shampoo
• Avoid using a conditioner after the wash to avoid excess grease in your hair.

If you’re in one of the cities where there are online grocery delivery apps, you can easily order them and have them delivered to your doorstep. Personally, my favourite online grocery delivery app is Milkbasket. 

I use Milkbasket for Online Milk delivery and have subscribed to milk delivery on alternate days. I not only get a 10% discount on my daily milk purchase but also the best milk delivery service as they deliver silently to my doorstep at 7 AM sharp – every alternate day. I don’t even need to order every day after having subscribed to their online milk delivery. However, when I am travelling, I can pause the milk delivery and resume when I am back!

How else do you use milk in your beauty and wellness routines? Share with us in the comments below! 

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