What it is: A white liquid produced by female mammals, used as the primary source of nutrition for infants and as a food product for humans of all ages.
Where it comes from: Milk is produced by the mammary glands of female mammals.
Properties: Milk is an emulsion (mixture of unblendable liquids) of butterfat globules in a water-based fluid. It appears as an opaque, white liquid and contains the vitamins A, D, E, K, and B. According to studies, your skin responds well to the healing properties of milk, both internally and externally, which is why it is not only great to drink but also great for your skin.
What it’s good for: It is said that Cleopatra kept her skin soft and moisturized by bathing in milk. Skin-softening, moisturizing, and filled with nutrients, milk has been a favorite beauty aid for millennia. Lactic acid helps smooth skin by exfoliation, and milk also contains vitamins A and D, whose benefits include giving skin strength and suppleness. Indeed, the lactic acid in milk is an alpha-hydroxy acid, which is used widely in cosmetic products. In low concentrations, it dissolves the adhesion that holds dead skin cells together, exfoliating the top skin layer. As a natural source of lactic acid, milk can be used as a cleanser, softener, moisturizer, and also helps reduce pigmentation and sun spots. Creams with lactic acid can help treat drying of nails and cuticles by increasing the water-binding effect of the nail plate.
Where you’ll find it: You’ll find it at the grocery store in the liquid form that we drink, in creams, anti-wrinkle lotions, soaps, bath oils, shampoos, cuticle softeners, nail hardeners, and other beauty products.
Other uses: Combined with an acid such as lemon juice, regular, prolonged use will leave the skin lighter, with the acids acting together as mild bleach.
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