Soap. It’s a funny, personal thing. Isn’t it?
Do you remember the ‘90’s and Gain detergent? I distinctly remember the first time I smelled it. I thought, “Ooh! How lovely!” I promptly bought it and used it regularly along with scented dryer sheets.
These scented products gave me a rip-roaring headache, and, increased the pain I felt in my body. I became more self-aware what my body was telling me. I began the search for products that contained purer, less harmful ingredients. At the time – they were only found at Health Food Stores. My education truly commenced. (And, continues).
Our skin is our largest organ. We wash our skin daily. What we wash our skin with, and put on our skin, should be top priority – along with nutrition.
My life’s journey has always been one of hope, exploration, learning, and progress. If I don’t feel I’m moving forward in some way, be it gardening (nutrition), living a sustainable, regenerative lifestyle that promotes well-being for myself (and the planet), then, I feel I’ve let myself down in some way. I set out to encourage myself to create my well of well-being on my tiny patch of land. My .6 acre.
My goats, namely, Iris, will play a major role here. Alex, a wether – gelded goat, is her companion. Iris’ mother currently provides the milk for all our soap.
Many soaps aren’t real soap. “Say, what?” Yup. Many soaps aren’t real soap. They use synthetic detergent products which can contain surfactants that can strip your skin of natural moisture and oils. Personally, I don’t like the sound of that.
Goat milk, in this case, La Mancha goat milk, contains all the healthful, natural, basic ingredients to promote a healthy, creamy, soap rich in both saturated and unsaturated fats ideal for soap production. Goat milk fats, namely caprylic acid, allows for gentle removal of dirt and debris without removing the skin’s natural fatty acids. Goat milk is rich in fatty acids and cholesterol, which make up a large part of the skin membrane. Saturated fats increase soap lather and unsaturated fats provide moisturizing and nourishing properties. And, the milk is a good source of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin shown to have anti-aging properties. Goat milk is also a good source of selenium, a mineral shown to support a healthy skin membrane. Goat milk soap has tremendous benefits.
In our soap, per batch, we add one litre – 4 cups – of raw, organic goat milk plus plant-based oils like organic olive, coconut, and sustainable, traceable, ethically sourced palm oil and almond oils which increase the content of healthy, nourishing fats.
We make a creamy, gentle and conditioning bar of soap supporting a healthy skin microbiome. I’m all for a healthy microbiome, aren’t you?
Have questions? Please, ask!
Lovely, lovely write-up! Yes! We need to make better choices for all the things we ingest and slather. Your goat soap sounds delightful. I wish it could be sold in the states. xox