Homemade lotions are simple and fun to make. They are healthy alternatives to skin care products, especially for people with sensitive skin. Goat milk has excellent moisturizing properties and this article describes how to use it to make a cream.
Ingrediants
- 310 ml of distilled water
- 310 ml of pasteurized goat milk
- 35 g of emulsifying wax
- 80ml oil of your choice
- 35 g of shea butter
- 8-11 g of preservative (highly recommended)
- 28 g of stearic acid (optional)
- 6 ml of perfume or essential oil (optional)
Steps
Sterilize the Equipment
Step 1. Be aware of the importance of sanitizing instruments
If you don't keep all the pots, bowls, spoons and containers clean, you could transfer bacteria into the cream, causing rashes and infections. Everything you use must be clean and dry; simply rinsing with tap water is not enough, as it often contains microorganisms that can contaminate equipment and lotion.
Step 2. Sanitize all pots, bowls and mixing tools you are about to use; when everything is perfectly clean and sterilized, remember to dry it with absorbent paper
You can sanitize the equipment in two ways:
- Spray it with denatured alcohol and wipe it with clean absorbent paper.
- Put it in a bleach and water bath. You should use 30ml of bleach for every 4 liters of water.
Step 3. Sterilize the hand or hand blender
Fill a bowl with water, some dish soap, and a small amount of bleach. Work the mixture with the blender for a few minutes and then turn it off, rinse it and dry it with clean absorbent paper; when finished, discard the soapy water and bleach mixture.
Step 4. Make sure all tools are dry
Every trace of water, especially from taps, allows bacteria to develop and proliferate.
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Lotion
Step 1. Pour the distilled water and goat milk into a saucepan to heat to 26-38 ° C
Put the pan on the stove and constantly monitor its contents; stir the mixture from time to time so as not to burn the milk and use the thermometer to check the temperature.
Goat's milk must be pasteurized. If the package contains the words "raw" or "unpasteurized", you must proceed with the pasteurization following the instructions you find in this link
Step 2. Assemble the water bath
Fill the lower pot with 3 to 5 cm of water, place the larger one on top of the first one and transfer it to the stove. If you don't have a specific system for this type of cooking, you can simply fill a large pan with 3 to 5 cm of water and place another pot or glass bowl on top of it. The base of the upper pan should not touch the water.
Step 3. Pour the solid oils and fats into the top pan of the water bath
Those of argan, avocado, coconut, jojoba or sweet almonds are all excellent ingredients; you can use only one type of oil or a combination, as long as you respect a total dosage of 80 ml. For example, you can mix 50ml of sweet almond oil with 30ml of avocado oil.
You can also substitute shea butter with avocado or cocoa butter
Step 4. Heat the oils and fats over medium-low heat until they are melted
This way, you can mix them more easily with the other ingredients. Remember to mix them from time to time so that they blend evenly.
Step 5. Add the stearic acid and emulsifying wax to the oil mixture and mix everything with a spatula or spoon until they are blended
Stearic acid is used by soap manufacturers as a thickener; if you want a thick cream, use this ingredient.
You can buy both ingredients online or at a store that sells soap-making items
Step 6. Transfer the mixture of water and milk into the mixture of wax, oil and butter, working everything with the hand or hand blender
You need to blend the ingredients for 2-5 minutes.
Step 7. Check the temperature of the lotion before adding any preservatives
The various substances need to be processed at different temperatures; therefore make sure that the mixture falls within the recommended parameters for the type of preservative you want to use.
Step 8. Add preservative and perfumes or essential oils
Preservatives are not absolutely necessary, but they allow the lotion to last longer. Thanks to these substances you can also leave the cream at room temperature; if you decide not to use them, you are forced to keep the lotion in the refrigerator and use it within two weeks.
- The most used preservatives in the preparation of soaps and creams are: diazolidinyl urea with iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, phenoxyethanol with caprylyl glycol and finally phenoxyethanol with parabens. You can buy them online or ask for more information at the pharmacy.
- You can find perfumes for the production of soaps and creams in herbalists, pharmacies and ethnic shops.
- Essential oils are available in all health food stores and health food stores, you can also find them online and in some supermarkets.
- You can use the fragrance of your choice to make the cream. Lavender, rose, rosemary or almond are scents that go well with goat's milk lotion.
Step 9. Blend all the ingredients for another minute
At this point, you should notice that the mixture begins to thicken.
Step 10. Transfer the cream to a pump bottle
You can use a spatula or spoon for this. Choose a glass container and not a plastic one, since the first material is less likely to harbor bacteria; glass also does not release chemicals like plastic does.
Consider adding a cute label. You can make one by hand, using precious paper or print it. Glue the label to the front of the jar or bottle, using a large piece of clear tape; alternatively, you can also fix it with the decoupage technique using the shiny Mod Podge
Part 2 of 3: Storing and Using the Lotion
Step 1. Put the lotion in a pump dispenser rather than a jar
This reduces the likelihood of touching what's left inside the package. If you use a jar, always dip your fingers in the remaining product, increasing the chances of contamination and bacterial proliferation; with a pump dispenser, on the other hand, you cannot touch the lotion that is in the container, reducing the risk of transferring germs to it.
Step 2. Use the cream within six weeks
Preservatives extend the life of goat milk, but only for a while; they are not enough to make it last forever.
Step 3. Return the lotion to the refrigerator and use within two weeks if you have chosen not to add preservatives
Otherwise, the product perishes and becomes dangerous to apply.
Step 4. Use goat's milk cream if you have dry skin, eczema or other skin conditions
Milk contains lactic acid which helps get rid of dead skin cells that cause dryness, flaking or other irritation.
The high fat content of goat milk acts as a "super moisturizer" and is perfect for people with dry skin
Step 5. Use this cream if you want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and manage acne
Goat's milk is rich in vitamin A, an important substance for repairing and keeping damaged skin healthy. Some people find goat's milk to provide some relief from psoriasis.
Part 3 of 3: Pasteurize the Goat's Milk
Step 1. Know the importance of pasteurizing goat milk
It is not always sold pasteurized, which means it contains both "good" and pathogenic bacteria. You have to pasteurize it, otherwise the dangerous germs proliferate and spoil the cream.
If the milk package indicates that it has been pasteurized, you can avoid this step
Step 2. Fill the sink with water and ice
Pour a quantity of cold water so that the pot you use for processing is not completely submerged; the level should not exceed two thirds of the height of the pan. Add a lot of ice to the sink, as the water must be very cold; the ice bath you will need later.
Step 3. Pour the milk into the pot
Keep a thermometer handy and ready to use because the next steps need to be done quickly.
Step 4. Heat the milk to 71.2 ° C for thirty seconds
Stir often to heat it evenly and prevent it from burning.
Step 5. Place the pot in the ice water bath and let the milk temperature drop to 3.9 ° C
Be careful that the water does not enter the pot; the ice water bath is only used to cool the milk.
Step 6. Remove the pan from the water and use the pasteurized milk
When the milk reaches the desired temperature, take the pan out of the cold water, set it aside and open the sink drain; at this point, the milk does not contain any dangerous bacteria and it is possible to prepare the lotion safely.
Advice
- If you want a scented lotion, add your favorite essential oils or perfume.
- If the ingredients tend to separate, stir the mixture one more time until it becomes homogeneous.
- If the cream is too thick, add a little water to dilute it.
- At some point, you may feel that the milk is curdling; in reality it is the various ingredients that are turning into lotion. Keep stirring and wait until you get the desired product.
- Consider storing the cream in a glass bottle with a pump dispenser; glass does not release chemicals into the product, like plastic does.
- Use glass or metal bowls.
- The lotion may be a little runny at first, as it contains waxes and oils; wait for it to cool down a bit, so it can solidify.
Warnings
- If the lotion shows traces of mold, changes color, or releases a sour smell, discard it immediately and do not continue using it.
- If you choose not to add preservatives, you must store the lotion in the refrigerator and use it within two weeks.
- Do not use tap or spring water to prepare the lotion, only distilled water.
- Do not use wooden or plastic bowls, spoons or spatulas as they absorb bacteria and can contaminate the lotion.
