Since ancient times, people have been known to use milk in their beauty routines. Cleopatra, who was said to be one of the most beautiful women in her time, was known to have used milk to keep her skin soft, smooth and supple. In modern times, even ex-supermodel Cindy Crawford and Korean celebrity Song Hye Kyo acknowledge the use of milk in their health and beauty regimens!

From left: Cleopatra, Cindy Crawford & Song Hye Kyo

Milk is laden with antioxidants to protect our skin from damage, and its lactic acid component gets rid of bacteria and dead skin cells. Milk is also a natural skin cleanser and effective moisturiser, and it can shrink your pores and give you radiant skin! Besides the benefits to your skin, milk can help with the treatment of dry and damaged hair, and it’s a great alternative to conditioner as it can make your hair smooth and shiny.

With that in mind, here are 7 easy milk bath recipes you can use to create your own home beauty treatment.

Oatmeal Milk Bath

Ingredients:
Dry milk powder – 2 cups
Baking soda – 1 cup
Oatmeal, finely ground to a powder – ½ cup

Blend all ingredients until they are mixed well. Add ½ cup of the mixture to your running bath water and stir it with your hand so that there are no clumps (the water should look milky). You can keep the rest of mixture in a glass jar with a lid for your next use.

This recipe can provide sunburn relief as well. If you have sunburn, don’t rinse off the bathwater as it can help to prevent any itching that might occur. Instead of rubbing your skin dry after your bath, blot your skin gently.

Relaxing Chamomile Milk Bath

Ingredients:
Dry milk powder – 4 cups
Boiled water – 1 cup
Chamomile tea – 5 teabags

Steep the chamomile teabags in the boiled water for 20 minutes before straining the liquid. Mix the liquid with the dry milk powder and add the mixture to your bath water.

No-Fuss Milk Bath

Ingredients:
Dry milk powder – 2 cups
Cornstarch – 1 cup
Essential or fragrance oil – 1 drop

Blend all the ingredients and add ½ cup of the mixture to hot bathwater. You can keep the rest of mixture in a glass jar with a lid for your next use.

Skin Lightening Milk Bath Cream

Ingredients:
Lemon juice, freshly pressed – 1 cup
Coconut milk – ½ cup
Organic honey – ⅓cup

Mix all the ingredients in a medium-sized bottle and mix it well by shaking it vigorously. Get into your bath and rub the mixture (cream) all over your body. Spend more time rubbing more cream into any sun spots or dark areas on your body. Let the cream soak for about 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse off. Do this 3 to 4 times a week for best results.

Bubble Milk Bath  

Ingredients:
Dry milk powder – 1 cup
Baking soda – 1 cup
Oatmeal – ½ cup
Handcrafted soap, cut into chunks – ¼ cup
Cornstarch – 4 teaspoons
Cream of tartar – 2 teaspoons
Optional: Essential or fragrance oil – ¼ to ½ teaspoon  

Blend the handcrafted soap and oatmeal until it is grainy. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until the mixture is powdery. Add ¼ cup to running bathwater. You can keep the rest of mixture in a glass jar with a lid for your next use.

Cocoa Butter Milk Bath

Ingredients:
Cocoa butter, finely ground to a powder – ¼ cup (you can buy cocoa butter in most baking shops)
Cornstarch – ¼ cup
Dry milk powder – 1 ¼  cups

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl until it is well-combined. Add ½ to 1 cup of the mixture to your running bath water and stir it with your hand so that there are no clumps (you might see yellow cocoa butter blobs but it is normal). You can keep the rest of mixture in a glass jar with a lid for your next use.

Cleopatra's Honey & Milk Bath

Ingredients:
Organic full fat milk - ½ cup 
Raw honey, melted - 2 teaspoons 
Optional: Rose petals – 1 handful

Add the honey to the milk and warm the mixture (but do not bring to boil), until the honey is fully dissolved into the milk. Let the mixture cool. Pour the mixture into your running bathwater and swirl it with your hand. Scatter rose petals. While you’re relaxing in the bath, use a damp washcloth to run your skin and remove dead skin cells. Rinse your body with clean water after soaking.