How to Make Goat's Milk Soap

Goat's milk soap is naturally emollient, producing a creamy, moisturizing bar.

Goat's milk is filled with skin-loving nutrients such as calcium and protein as well as vitamins A, B2, B6, B12 and E. This soap is especially mild, making it suitable for soothing and moisturizing sensitive skin. You can use several methods to make goat's milk soap, including the cold process, which involves mixing oils and lye. Goat's milk powder is easier to obtain if you don't have access to fresh goat's milk.

Things You'll Need

• Scale
• 24 oz. distilled water
• Heat-proof glass container
• 12 oz. lye crystals
• 2 stainless steel thermometers (0-180 degrees F)
• 12-quart stock pot, stainless steel
• 78 oz. olive oil
• 6 oz. coconut oil
• 6 oz. palm oil
• 3 oz. goat's milk powder
• Emulsion blender
• Wooden spoon
• Soap mold with lid
• Bath towel or blanket
• Kitchen knife or soap cutter
• Wire rack

Instructions

1. Add the distilled water to the glass container. Carefully add the lye crystals to the water to make a lye solution. Mix well until dissolved. Insert one thermometer and set aside.

2. Melt the coconut and palm oils over low heat, stirring gently. Stir the olive oil into the melted oils, insert the second thermometer and set aside.

3. Pour the lye solution into the oil mixture when they have both reached 100 degrees F. Mix well using the emulsion blender.

4. Add the goat's milk powder to the soap when the mixture begins to thicken.

5. Pour the soap mixture into the mold, put the lid on and cover with a blanket or towel. Let it sit for 24 hours or until hardened. Cut the soap into bars and allow four weeks to air dry on the wire rack.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use fresh or frozen goat's milk instead of the powdered form in this recipe. Substitute the fresh or frozen goat's milk for the distilled water when preparing the lye solution. Use 8 to 8.5 oz. of milk for every 6 oz. of water.

• Add fragrance oil, essential oil, soap colorants and any other desired ingredients when the soap mixture has thickened in step 4.

• Wear latex gloves, long sleeves and protective eye wear when making cold-process soap. Lye solution is caustic and should never come in contact with your eyes or skin.

• To prevent a dangerous chemical reaction, always add lye to water, not water to lye.

• Never leave lye solution unattended, and keep the soap-making area clear of children and pets for their own safety.

• Always research ingredients to maintain safety and proper use.

• If you come into contact with lye solution or hot soap mixture, wash or flush the affected area with water and seek medical attention as required.

References

• Cranberry Lane: Making Natural Soap from Scratch.
• The North Country Soapmaking Library: Making Cold Process Milk Soaps -- Tips for Adding the Milk

Resources

• TeachSoap.com