(image via nomoredirtylooks.com) 

When a beauty product is endorsed by Cleopatra herself, you know it's going to be good. Which is why I'm anticipating this edition of Beauty Detective where I'm investigating... Milk! Sounds more farm detective than beauty detective but milk used as a toner or in a bath has been a beauty secret of women for a long time. Queen Elizabeth was apparently a fan of the milk bath and as I mentioned, Cleopatra was a well known milk bather too. 


(image via comeovertohollywood.com) 
 
So, why use milk? Milk naturally contains lactic acid which is an exfoliant. It also contains vitamins A, D and E which are anti-inflammatory and will soften your skin (this means it's also a good product to use for soothing burns). When it comes to your choice of milk to use, it's really up to you. Cows milk, goats milk, soy or almond each have properties that can help do good for your skin. 

How you use milk is also up to you. Supermodel Amber Valletta uses goats milk to wash her face, for instance. A milk based face scrub with oats would provide extra exfoliation while not being too harsh. If you're interested in trying out your own, we posted a honey, oat and yogurt mask a little while back. Seeing as it contains a dairy product, you would achieve similar results. Or, you can replace the water and yogurt with milk instead. 

If you're looking for a more relaxing and calming experience, I suggest trying out a milk bath. Here's a recipe for a DIY milk bath for silky, smooth skin: 

3 cups whole milk (or 2 cups of powdered milk)
5 Tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped
3 Tbsp raw cacao powder (found at most health food stores) 
1/2 cup epsom salts
1 cup cornstarch (via beautylish.com) 
 
Or, simply pour about 6-8 cups of milk into a bath. You can add chamomile, lavender or additional herbs to your bath too. 
(adapted via thebeautydepartment.com) 
 

For my own investigation, I decided to try using milk as a toner/cleanser. I've been trying to cut down on my milk consumption lately after reading about how it contains hormones that contribute to acne. So, I've purchased a carton of goats milk to use instead. An added bonus is that goats milk is pretty tasty and its a good source of protein! 

I'm going to use goats milk as a toner for a week to see how my skin feels and if I notice any changes in my skin texture and appearance. Are you chicks as curious as I am to see how this works out? I'll update the article after a week and let you know my verdict! 

Have you ever heard of using milk in your beauty routine? Have you ever tried it or would you ever try it? Let me know!