Breast milk is not only a superfood charged with all the vital nutrients our babies need to thrive and develop but some of those benefits can be used in other ways.
Breast milk has been used to treat baby eczema, without the side effects of steroid creams, baby acne, ear infections, and even diaper rash, among many other uses.
And it’s believed to be so effective that there’s a recipe for homemade breast milk soap and breast milk lotion that can be easily applied to your baby’s skin to treat various ailments.
In this article, you will learn how to make breastmilk lotion.
Even adults can use this lotion if they feel like it, and it’s also a creative way to avoid wasting unused breast milk, especially in cases where you need to pump and dump because you may have to take certain medications and can’t nurse your baby right away.
Instead of wasting that liquid gold, repurpose it into breast milk lotion.
Breast milk benefits the skin
Breast milk contains antibodies and nutrients like whey proteins, casein, fatty acids, vitamins, and carbohydrates.
Those benefits can help with minor skin irritation, minor burns, bee stings, and even a moisturizer.
Breast milk has lactic acid, which is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. It also contains vitamins A, D, E, K, C, B6, B12, Folate, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Pantothenic Acid.
Vitamin A can reduce wrinkles and brown spots on the skin, while Vitamin D regulates skin tone.
Breast milk is also a natural antiseptic and has been used as a natural remedy for ear infections, sinus infections, and cuts. The antibody IgA in breast milk prevents germs from forming and speeds up healing.
But the best of all the plus points for breast milk is that it’s free. Your body produces it for you, and you can store it for as long as 12 months in your freezer to feed your baby or use it as a skin treatment for the whole family.
And it’s all-natural, free of harsh chemicals or irritants that could cause other issues to you or your family.
However, it may be a bit off-putting for some people, especially adult family members, to apply pure breast milk on their skin, so turning it into a lotion can make it much more appealing.
Other ingredients for breast milk lotion
The breast milk lotion recipe includes beeswax, grapeseed oil, vitamin e oil, and scented essential oils.
Beeswax has been used since ancient Egyptian times for skin care. Now, beeswax is in many products such as makeup, sunscreen, and baby products.
Beeswax is used as a hydrating and soothing agent, and it’s proven to be effective in conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
However, beware of signs of a potential allergic reaction because this product is derived from bees and may cause serious reactions to those allergic to bees or honey.
Grapeseed oil comes from pressed seeds of grapes, and it’s known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
Grapeseed oil has been used to treat acne, moisturize, add softness and elasticity to the skin, and to even out skin tone.
Also, the antioxidants in grapeseed oil help protect your skin against the absorption of UV rays and sun damage.
Vitamin E is a group of fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant effects that fight free radicals, which have been linked to many health conditions, from cancer to premature aging.
The main benefits of adding Vitamin E oil to breast milk lotion include moisturizing skin, wound healing, skin cancer prevention, and reducing itching.
Also, it aids in treating eczema and psoriasis. Vitamin E oil also minimizes the appearance of scars and prevents sunburn, among other benefits.
You can also add coconut oil which contains lauric acid, which softens and moisturizes the skin.
Another ingredient you can add is extra virgin olive oil which not only moisturizes but also helps with scarring and stretch marks and contains a lot of vitamins and minerals that can nurture your skin.
Scented essential oils have a whole other range of benefits, so you can choose one to add to your breast milk lotion depending on your specific need or the scent you wish the lotion to have.
The lavender essential oil, known for being the swiss knife of all essential oils, has a soothing scent, promotes tissue regeneration, and speeds up wound healing.
You can use many other essential oils in your breast milk lotion. Ensure these are pure essential oils, not synthetic ones, to avoid harmful reactions.
Use caution if making breastmilk lotion for babies because some essential oils are not safe for babies and kids.
Homemade Breastmilk lotion recipe
Making your own breastmilk lotion recipe is simple and easy within the comfort of your own home. Below we have listed the ingredients you will need as well as the step-by-step process.
For your breastmilk lotion, you will need:
- Beeswax, 1 tablespoon
- Grapeseed oil, approximately 3 – 3 ½ ounces (this can be substituted with coconut oil)
- 5 drops of Vitamin E oil
- Breast milk, around 3 – 3 ½ ounces at room temperature
- A few drops of your preferred scented essential oil (optional)
How to make breastmilk lotion
- For this DIY breastmilk lotion, you need to combine the grapeseed oil and beeswax in a pot on a heat source until the beeswax has melted. You can also melt it in the microwave on a low setting in a microwave-safe bowl.
- If you want to melt it in the microwave, a tip is to do it slowly by allowing a few seconds at a time, getting the bowl out, whisking the mixture a little bit, and then repeating the process until it fully melts. This way, you prevent burning or overheating it.
- Before it thickens again, slowly pour the breast milk, whisking rapidly until it gets a thicker consistency, and then add the Vitamin E oil and essential oil drops.
- Mix everything well and let stand to cool. As it cools down, it will continue to thicken.
- Store it in a dry and airtight container, and place the breast milk lotion in a cool and dry place. Avoid storing it in the freezer because this may change the texture and consistency of the breast milk lotion when it thaws.
- If you keep the breast milk lotion in a well-lit area, the color of the beeswax may change over time, but this doesn’t mean it’s gone bad.
- You can store it in your refrigerator if the weather is too warm. The breast milk lotion can be used for up to three months after making it, so you may want to label it to keep track. Make only small batches so you can use them entirely before they expire.
- You will notice that if you use coconut oil instead of grapeseed oil, the mixture will solidify when stored in the fridge. In such cases, you can use a spoon to scoop it out of the container, and the breast milk lotion will melt with the body’s temperature when you rub it onto the skin.
Why breast milk lotion is so good for the skin
The power and benefits of human milk still amaze us today because it’s a valuable resource for personal care beyond its original purpose.
Breast milk is a great tool to fight ear infections (use caution in these cases), sore throat, and cracked nipples, preventing infection in many ways and accelerating the healing process of wounds.
Breast milk’s benefits can be applied to the baby and the whole family without the risk of an adverse reaction from other medications.
This doesn’t mean you need to forgo medical treatment if you have a serious condition, but using breast milk lotion can be the first step or may be used in combination with other medical treatments in the cases that it may help.
Some treatments are too harsh on sensitive skin, and unless you’re allergic to a component of your breast milk lotion, like beeswax, it’s rare that an adverse reaction occurs, so it’s safe to use.
Dry skin also benefits from the emollients and moisturizing agents used to prepare breast milk lotion.
A common problem with dry skin is its difficulty locking in moisture, so even if the person takes breast milk baths, the result will not be the same.
However, beeswax acts as a binding element that makes the lotion thick enough to give time for the skin to absorb enough hydration from the mixture so the person can get all the benefits from the breast milk lotion.
Conclusion
If you use the homemade breast milk lotion on a baby’s skin, you don’t have to worry about it being too harsh on their sensitive skin because its main ingredient has been designed for them.
If you are interested in trying out this recipe, you can pump some fresh breastmilk, or if you have a freezer stash about to expire, don’t throw it away and repurpose it instead.
The quality of breast milk lotion, if prepared correctly and appropriately stored, can’t be compared with anything else. And it’s a way to give a new meaning to that precious liquid gold.