Beyond the Glass! Surprising and Unconventional Uses for Milk
Whether you are looking for fun or flavor, milk has you covered with these five activities!
DYK: Milk Can Be Used As Part of Your Skin Care Routine?
According to dermatologist, Dr. Surbhi, when it comes to cleansing the skin, milk has the unique ability to remove:
- Impurities that settle into the oil on our skin. Milk contains lipase, an enzyme that breaks apart fats (like oil) which releases the impurities to be washed away.
- Protein-based impurities. Protease, another enzyme in milk, breaks apart proteins allowing these impurities clear out.
- Dead skin cells. Thanks to milk’s lactic acid, which is an alpha-hydroxy acid (used in many skin care products!) old skin cells are exfoliated to leave room for a fresh new layer.
Milk may be used as an effective facial cleanser in two ways:
Fresh milk face wash:
- Massage your face with milk
- Wipe off with a wet cloth
- Pat dry with a towel
*Not recommended for acne prone skin
Powdered milk exfoliating scrub:
Best for dry skin, combine the following ingredients and store in a dry, air-tight container:
5 tbsp powdered milk
5 tbsp ground oats
½ tsp Turmeric powder*
1 tbsp lemon peel powder (leave out for sensitive skin)
- Splash your face with water
- Shake a small, quarter sized, amount of the mixture into your palm
- Make a paste by adding several drops of water to the mixture in your palm
- Massage the paste onto your face using gentle, circular motions
- Leave on for one to two minutes
- Rinse off with water and pat dry
*Turmeric may cause staining on towels
Sunburn Relief
Long day at the water park? We’ve got your back! And shoulders, arms… So how does it work?
- The protein in milk reduces sunburn pain and discomfort
- The fat content locks moisture into the cells and keeps skin hydrated and soft
Try one of the following methods to soothe your way back to summertime fun. That will include sunscreen!
Straight From the Bottle
- Apply cold milk on the affected areas and let it rest for few hours
- Rinse with cool water
- For extra soothing, add 3 drops of lavender oil or rose water to the milk
- Repeat 4 times a day
Cold Compress
- Soak a washcloth in cold milk
- Place the saturated cloth on the affected area, leaving on as long as possible
- Repeat this process until the redness and discomfort are reduced
- Rinse with cold water
- For extra soothing, gently massage extracted Aloe Vera gel onto the skin before placing the washcloth
- Repeat as needed for several days
Sweet Relief
- Mix equal amounts of milk and honey*
- Apply the mixture on sunburned skin
- Leave on for 20 minutes
- Rinse with cold water
- Repeat 2 times a day
*honey’s anti-inflammatory properties act to reduce skin’s redness and irritation