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Milk in Skincare? What’s That All About?

Milk in Skincare? What’s That All About?

It might not be your most obvious skincare ingredient go-to, but milk offers a whole host of benefits for your skin.

Some beauty companies are all about high-tech ingredients and science-led formulations while others sit firmly in the ‘nature is best’ camp. Here at TruSkin, however, we live by the rule that the best skincare ingredients don’t have to be exclusive to either science or nature. Because why can’t you have one and the other?

We pride ourselves on combining clinically-proven, synthetic ingredients like sodium ascorbyl phosphate (which is an incredible form of vitamin C in case you were wondering!) alongside nature’s finest powerhouses, because we believe this is the most effective way to offer you and your skin the absolute cream of skincare.

And speaking of cream (groan!) one of our favorite, natural ingredients for the overall look and health of your skin is milk. Yes, it turns out Queen Cleopatra was on to something, after all…

What’s The Deal With Milk In Skincare?

When you think of milk in skincare, your mind probably goes straight to dairy milk. Now don’t get us wrong, we’re not here to question the benefits of cow's stuff because its high lactic acid content makes it fantastic for gently exfoliating the skin. By breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells, cow's milk encourages any dull, dreary cells to slough away efficiently, revealing all the bright, fresh stuff that’s waiting in the wings. We’re all over that.

However, dairy milk isn’t something everybody likes to get on board with, and this is especially pertinent if you live by a vegan diet or are lactose-intolerant.

Well, the good news is that milks from plant sources like oats and rice are just as good for your skin as they are on your corn flakes. Read on for three ways non-dairy milk can help improve your skin when you harness its powers in your beauty routine…

3 Benefits Of Non-Dairy Milk In Skincare

1. They’re Packed With Antioxidants Which Help Fight Aging

Rice and oat milk are both chock full of antioxidants. Quick refresher: antioxidants are substances that help counteract the damaging effects of free radicals. And while free radicals may sound nice and fluffy, they are anything but. In fact, free radicals are highly unstable, reactive atoms or molecules that form in your skin when it’s exposed to things like UV radiation, pollution, stress or an unhealthy diet that’s high in things like sugar, fat and processed carbs. Their whole purpose in life is to screw up important proteins in your skin (think collagen and elastin) to try and stabilize themselves, thus causing all manner of damage like fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and sagging skin.

The good news is that antioxidants, unlike skin's poor, unsuspecting proteins, have the ability to neutralize free radicals without being susceptible to harm. And this is why they’re some of the most important ingredients in a healthy skincare routine.

There are many incredibly effective antioxidants available in skincare – some of which are found in the natural world. Green tea and grapeseed are popular choices, but oat and rice milks are also up there with the best of the best.

2. They’re Naturally Moisturizing

Both oat and rice milk have humectant qualities. Not on first name terms with humectants? No problem, that’s what we’re here for.

Moisturizing ingredients generally fall into one of three types: emollients, occlusives and humectants. Emollients are lipids, butters or oils that help repair cracks in the skin to create a softer, smoother surface and thus prevent moisture loss. Jojoba oil and vitamin E are great examples of emollients.

Occlusives are similar but they create a thicker, physical barrier on the surface. They’re fantastic for super-dry skin as they stop any drop of moisture from escaping; but they’re not so cool if you have acne-prone skin as they can block your pores and lead to an increased frequency of breakouts. Occlusive ingredients, since you asked, include things like cocoa butter, beeswax and dimethicone.

Then you have humectants. The likes of hyaluronic acid would tell you that humectants are the most important of moisturizing ingredients as they draw water vapor (either from the air or from underlying layers of your skin) to the surface of your skin to increase hydration and prevent flakiness and cracking. However, without occlusives and emollients, all that moisture can easily evaporate into thin air.

This is why the most effective skincare formulations blend humectants alongside their besties, emollients and/or occlusives.

Rice milk contains a vitamin-like component called inositol which falls into the humectant category alongside classic favorites like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid. Meanwhile, oat milk is rich in beta-glucan, another humectant that locks in hydration and helps boost your skin’s barrier function. Both milks also contain skin-smoothing emollient properties which make them a veritable shoo-in for moisturizing your skin doubly well. 

3. They’re Awesome For Soothing Sensitive Skin

If you have eczema or rosacea, you’ll know that finding skincare products which don’t cause your skin to flare up is no simple task. Well, if you’re yet to try oat milk, now’s the time.

Overflowing with anti-inflammatory properties and naturally pH balanced, oats have been used for centuries to soothe, calm and treat sensitive skin. They’re even pretty kick-ass at controlling acne breakouts, helping to reduce redness, swelling and promoting more effective healing. 

The gentle nature of rice milk also works hard to keep inflammation at bay, providing a breath of fresh air for sensitive or easily irritated skin. As an added bonus, rice milk is also thought to have gentle brightening effects which can help diminish the appearance of dark spots or patchy, uneven skin.

Interested in trying out the benefits of non-dairy milk in your skincare routine? Both oat and rice milk are considered to be non-comedogenic which means that, even though they’re great for moisturizing your skin, neither are likely to block your pores or increase your risk of breaking out. Try our incredible Soothing Cleansing Milk which harnesses the powers of both oat and rice milk to gently cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize and protect your skin without any drying after effects or pore-clogging nastiness. 

 

More About This Article

Georgia Gould

Georgia Gould

Georgia is an award-winning beauty writer who has been in the business for over 20 years. British-born, she began her career as a magazine beauty editor in London before moving to San Francisco, CA in 2012 where she now continues her love as a freelance writer and editor. As well as her editorial work, Georgia has created content for many high-profile beauty brands, including Clarins, L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble, Simple and TRESemmé. Her passions include retinol (obviously), golfing, skiing and walking her beloved Schnauzer, Dave.

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