Donkey milk? From donkeys? In soap?
I raised a few eyebrows recently when I mentioned that some of our non-vegan soap contains organic donkey milk. Well, that’s not surprising at all, but it turns out that donkey milk has been used as a skin-nourishing and rejuvenating ingredient for thousands of years and is once again appreciated as a superfood and skin nutrient. Cleopatra supposedly bathed in donkey’s milk more than 2000 years ago, the Romans used it, and the 19th Century French Bourgeoisie used it as a skin softener.
What is donkey milk soap?
The donkey milk soap at SoapYard is made with vegetable oils throughout the saponification process. Once the soap has saponified and cooled, fresh organic donkey milk is added cold so that the soap retains all its beneficial and regenerative properties.
What makes it special?
Donkey milk contains very high concentrations of vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, vitamins A, B1, B6, C, D, and E and Omega’s 3 and 6. In addition, it is high in natural sugars which produce a creamy, rich lather. Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant that can help fight environmental damage by neutralising free radicals before they cause damage to the skin.
Donkey milk soap is claimed to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce skin irritation and redness. It is suitable for sensitive skin and is said to stimulate cell regeneration, hydrate the skin and reduce inflammation. It can be used in the battle against wrinkles, dehydrated dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and acne.
Because donkey milk has a pH level that’s very close to that of human skin, it can help regulate the production of sebum, decreasing the chances of a skin breakout. The proteins and fatty acids in donkey milk soap are also excellent for maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier which allows the skin to heal and breathe.
Donkey milk is an ingredient that has lasted the test of time and has been celebrated by the wise and the wealthy since ancient times.
If you have sensitive skin, or you tend to react to fragrances or the more fragranced soaps, donkey milk soap is a natural alternative which won’t break the bank.