Hey there, super moms! If you’ve ever wondered about the amazing properties of breast milk beyond nourishing your little one, you’re in for a treat. Today, we’re diving into the world of DIY skincare with a gentle and natural twist – a homemade breast milk lotion recipe.
As mothers, we know that breast milk is a true liquid gold, packed with nutrients and love, and it turns out it can work wonders for your skin too!
So, if you’re ready to make the most of that extra breast milk stash, keep reading. I’m about to spill the beans (or should I say, milk!) on how to create your very own breast milk lotion from the comfort of your kitchen. Let’s get started!”
I was recently cleaning out our deep freezer trying to make room for the half steer we order once a year, when I found a few ounces of breast milk left over.
Of course I was not about to throw this liquid gold away, so I put it to the side until I could figure out a good idea for what to do with it.
There is only three or four ounces left so it’s not like there is enough to give my toddler a sippy cup of it, but still enough that I knew it could be used for something.
Enter this breast milk lotion recipe.
Can you use breast milk as lotion?
Yes! Of course you can use your own breast milk as lotion!Using breast milk in homemade lotion is a personal choice. Here’s why some of us moms choose to use it in lotion:
Breast milk is all-natural and gentle for the skin.
If you have extra breast milk, using it in lotion is a great way to make use of it.
breast milk is known to help soothe and moisturize the skin because it has special things like lauric acid.
Homemade breast milk lotion lets you create something special just for your or baby’sskin.
How Do You Make Homemade Breast Milk Lotion?
Gather the ingredients and supplies you need.
Supplies:
- Double boiler or a glass bowl and pot for melting ingredients.
- Whisk.
- Glass sealed container to store the finished lotion.
Ingredients:
- Beef tallow or beeswax. I wish I could use tallow for this recipe but I just ran out, so I will be using beeswax.
- Coconut oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, or olive oil. Whatever you have on hand. I will be using avocado oil.
- Vitamin E oil.
- Room temperature breastmilk.
- Essential oils if desired but not necessary. Two essential oils commonly used for skin care are lavender and frankincense.
If you need help sourcing some of these ingredients, I get the vitamin E oil from Thrive Market and the beef tallow from fedfromthefarm.com. Everything else you can find at your local natural store or of course on Amazon. Everything except the breast milk that is. 😉
Directions:
- Melt the beef tallow or beeswax and your choice of oil (I am using avocado oil) in the double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, add 2 cups of water to a small sauce pan and heat to a light simmer on low heat. Place a glass bowl on top of the pot and then add the tallow or beeswax and oil to the glass bowl to melt.
- Remove the double boiler or glass bowl from the heat and wait for it to cool down to room temperature.
- Once tallow or beeswax and oil are room temp add six drops of vitamin E oil while whisking mixture.
- Slowly pour the breast milk into the mixture while whisking everything together.
- Add your choice of essential oil (if desired) at this time and continue to whisk everything well.
- Once all ingredients are mixed well, pour into a glass jar for storing. The lotion will continue to solidify as it cools.
You will want to store this lotion in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
This breast milk lotion recipe will stay good for about one month if you keep it at room temperature, or up to three months in the refrigerator.
If you decide to store it in the fridge, the lotion will become a bit hard but it very quickly become easy to rub on your skin with your body heat.
I don’t recommend storing the breastmilk lotion in the freezer because the consistency will change once it thaws.
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Health Benefits Of Each Ingredient In This Recipe
Grass Fed Beef Tallow
Grass fed beef tallow has some amazing benefits for your skin!
So what is tallow, you might be asking.
All tallow is, is rendered beef fat.
Tallow contains so much goodness! One reason it works as an amazing moisturizer is because it’s basically made up of the same fatty acids found in our own skin.
Tallow that comes from grass fed cows is loaded with vitamins A, K, D, and E.
It absorbs quickly into your skin and doesn’t leave it feeling greasy all day.
I personally have been using facial skin care made with tallow for over a year now and I love it.
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Oil Variations For Breast Milk Lotion
- Coconut Oil is antimicrobial and it reduces inflammation. It’s full of antioxidants which helps reduce fine lines. It’s a good oil to use for eczema, diaper rashes, and other inflammatory skin irritations.
- Grapeseed oil is best to use for very sensitive skin. If you will be using this lotion for baby’s skin, this oil will be the most gentle, just make sure to try it on a small patch of skin first to make sure there’s not an adverse reaction. Use this oil if you have dry skin that causes persistent scratching or need to treat acne.
- Avocado oil is what I am using for this recipe. This oil is loaded with potassium, lecithin, and vitamin E, which help to moisturize and nourish skin. The antioxidants in this oil are great for fighting eczema and psoriasis.
- Olive Oil is an all around well known oil. It is said to increase collagen and decrease your chance of developing acne.
- Sweet almond oil is gentle on the skin and can help soothe irritation, making it suitable for sensitive inflamed skin. Sweet almond oil can provide relief for certain skin conditions like eczema.
Vitamin E oil
You will want to add the extra drops of vitamin E oil even if you’re using one of the above oils that already has vitamin E in it.
Vitamin E acts as a barrier to help your skin retain moisture. The antioxidant properties in this vitamin help protect the skin from damage from the sun make your skin feel softer.
It will also help reduce the appearance of scars and dark spots.
Breast Milk
Okay this entire blog post could be spent on the health benefits of breast milk, but for the sake of time I will give you the cliff notes.
Breast milk truly is liquid gold.
It not only is a complete nutrient food source for an infant, but its properties continue to evolve as your child grows to meet baby’s needs and support proper growth and development.
Actual medicine studies have found breast milk to be an effective treatment for things like:
- Eczema.
- Dry cracked nipples.
- Itchy dry skin.
- Diaper rash.
- Eye problems like pink eye.
- Umbilical cord care.
- Cradel cap treatment.
- Ear infections.
- Nasal congestion.
- Minor scrapes and burns.
- Even help with psoriasis.
More specifically for the skin all the vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, stem cells, lauric acid, and antimicrobial properties found in this miracle liquid can help with the healing process and restoration of our largest organ.
Breast milk has been used as a natural remedy for thousands of years.
So for all you new moms out there with an oversupply of milk -especially those first few weeks postpartum when all your milk comes in. Or those times you have a clogged milk duct and you’re pumping extra to avoid developing mastitis. Making your own breastmilk lotion could be a great way put some of the over-supply to use.
Or if you’re like me and found a few precious ounces left over in your freezer.
Breast Milk Lotion Recipe FAQ’s
How long does breast milk lotion last?
As you can imagine, the shelf life of any homemade lotion will not be as long as the store bought brands.
Since this lotion has fresh milk in the ingredients, it will only last up to three months outside of the fridge. You still need to keep it in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight.
My advise is to keep it in the fridge and just take it out a few minutes before you want to use it, to give it time to soften a little. The colder temperature will make it harden but don’t worry, the warmth of your skin will help soften it quick.
How do you use breast milk as a moisturizer?
You can use breast milk as a moisturizer all on its own by applying straight milk on to the area of concern, or you can make it into a lotion using the simple recipe above.
You can also take milk baths to moisturize your entire body. Add about a cup of fresh breastmilk and a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your bathtub while it fills with water.
Can you have an adverse reaction to breast milk lotion?
Dairy sensitivities can be an issue if the breast milk has dairy protein in it from the mother’s own diet.
Breast Milk Lotion
Yield: 1/4 cup
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Additional Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes
Breast milk has so many amazing health benefits. Moisturize your skin or baby's skin with this breast milk lotion recipe made with a few simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbls of beeswax or grass fed beef tallow
- 3 oz of the oil of your choice. Coconut oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, or olive oil.
- 6 drops of vitamin E oil
- 3 oz of room temperature breast milk
- 10-15 drops of essential oil of your choice. (optional)
Instructions
- Melt the beef tallow or beeswax and your choice of oil in the double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler, add 2 cups of water to a small sauce pan and heat to a light simmer on low heat. Place a glass bowl on top of the pot and then add the tallow or beeswax and oil to the glass bowl to melt.
- Remove the double boiler or glass bowl from the heat and wait for it to cool down to room temperature.
- Once tallow or beeswax and oil are room temp add six drops of vitamin E oil while whisking mixture.
- Slowly pour the breast milk into the mixture while whisking everything together.
- Add your choice of essential oil (if desired) at this time and continue to whisk everything well.
- Once all ingredients are mixed well, pour into a glass jar for storing. The lotion will continue to solidify as it cools.
Notes
Two great choices of essential oils to use, if you choose, are lavender and frankincense. They are both very gentle on the skin.
Store this lotion in a cool place away from direct sunlight for up to three months.
For a longer shelf life keep in the refrigerator, and take out a few minutes before you wish to use it.
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Closing thoughts on this breast milk lotion recipe
Before we finish up, moms, I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about making breast milk lotion. It can be a fun and special way to take care of your or baby’s skin. But remember, it’s important to talk to a doctor if you’re worried about using breast milk on your skin, especially if you or your baby have allergies.
I’d love to hear about your experiences or any changes you made to the recipe. So, keep enjoying the benefits of breast milk, take time for yourself, and keep being an amazing mom. Your love shines in everything you do, whether it’s feeding your baby or making your own homemade lotions with all natural ingredients.
