This article was co-authored by R. Sonia Batra, MD, MSc, MPH and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Dr. R. Sonia Batra is a board certified Dermatologist and the Founder of Batra Dermatology based in Los Angeles, California. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Batra specializes in lasers, medical devices, patient and public medical education, and skin cancer research. She received her Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree in Public Health, and her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees from Harvard University. As a Rhodes Scholar, she earned a Master’s degree in Molecular Genetics at the University of Oxford. She completed her residency training in Dermatology at Stanford University. Dr. Batra has contributed and reviewed for the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and JAMA Dermatology. She is also a co-host of CBS’ Emmy award-winning television show, The Doctors.
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Raw milk is milk that has not been heated or pasteurized to remove germs and bacteria. This means that it keeps its natural fat and protein structure, which are both great for rejuvenating and healing your skin. You can use raw milk to moisturize and tone your face every day, or mix it with honey or turmeric to even out your skin tone a few times a week. Use caution when you apply raw milk to your face, as it could contain bacteria like E. coli.[1]
Steps
Moisturizing and Toning Your Skin
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1Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Use a face cleanser that is fragrance- and dye-free to wash away any dirt and oil on your skin. Gently pat your skin dry with a towel.[2]
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2Dab 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of raw milk onto a cotton pad. Make sure the milk you are using says “raw” or “unpasteurized” somewhere on the container. Dab a small amount of milk onto a cotton pad and allow it to soak in.[3]
- Depending on where you live, raw milk may not be legal to purchase in grocery stores since it has not been heat-treated and could contain dangerous bacteria.[5]
- To find out where you can purchase raw milk near you, visit https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/find-raw-milk
Tip: If you have especially dry skin, add 1 drop of rose oil to the cotton pad. Rose oil helps to hydrate your skin and reduce irritation that comes from being dry.[4]
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3Rub the cotton pad on your face for 1 minute. Use gentle, circular motions to apply the milk to your face. Apply it to every corner of your skin, including your eyelids and up to your hairline. Try to catch any drips of milk before they run off of your face and rub them in.[6]
- The natural vitamins and minerals in raw milk help to lock in moisture and even out your skin tone.
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4Rinse your face with cool water. Cool water helps to close your pores and lock in the moisture that was provided by the milk. Rinse away all of the milk on your face and gently pat your skin dry with a clean towel.[7]
- Never rub your face with a towel. This can hurt sensitive skin and make dry patches even flakier.
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5Apply the raw milk every day for best results. If you want to keep your skin moisturized and even, apply raw milk to your skin once a day as part of your normal skincare routine. You can apply it in the morning or at night, whichever you prefer.[8]
- If you have oily or combination skin, raw milk may be enough of a moisturizer for you. If you have particularly dry skin, you may need to add some additional moisture to your face with lotion.
Lightening Dark Spots
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1Mix 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of milk with 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of honey. Raw milk has lactic acid that helps to dissolve impurities in your skin, while honey moisturizes your skin and leaves it feeling soft. Combine raw milk and honey in a bowl that you can take with you to the bathroom.[9]
- Try to find raw honey that has no additives in it for the best results.
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2Massage the mixture into your skin for 5 minutes. Pick up small handfuls of the milk and honey mixture and use gentle circular motions to apply it to your skin. Avoid your eyes and the delicate skin around them. Massage it into your skin for about 5 minutes total. If you have any noticeable dark spots on your face, spend more time massaging the mixture into those areas.[10]
- You can also use a cotton pad to apply your mixture if you’d like to.
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3Let the mixture sit on your skin for another 5 minutes. Milk and honey both work to refresh and rejuvenate your skin. Let them sit on your skin for about 5 minutes so that they have time to absorb into the deeper layers of your face.[11]
- You can finish the rest of your nighttime routine as you let the mixture sit.
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4Rinse your skin with cold water. Cold water helps to lock in the moisture from the milk and honey by closing your pores. Rinse your face until the milk and honey mixture is all gone and gently pat your face dry with a towel.[12]
Tip: Using cold water to wash your face can also help fight acne by closing your pores.
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5Repeat this daily to remove dark spots and even out your skin tone. Raw milk and honey are very gentle on the skin, so you can use the mixture as long as you’d like to. Keep using the milk and honey on your face until you have evened out your skin tone and removed any dark spots.[13]
- You may see results in about 1 month, depending on how dark your dark spots are.
Evening out Skin Tone and Tan
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1Mix 4 tbsp (36 g) of turmeric and 5 tablespoons (74 mL) of raw milk. Turmeric is a spice that helps to lighten and even out your skin tone. Mix together raw milk and turmeric until they form a yellow paste.[14]
- You can purchase turmeric at most grocery stores in the spices section.
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2Apply the mixture to your face with your fingers. Gently rub the turmeric and milk mixture all over your face in circular motions, avoiding your eyes completely. Make sure there is a thin layer over your entire face and neck.[15]
- Turmeric is also a mild exfoliant, so you may notice a slightly rough texture as you rub the mixture into your skin.
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3Let the mixture sit for 25 minutes. The turmeric and milk will form a kind of paste that will be easy to keep on your skin. Allow it to sit for 25 minutes in order to lighten and brighten up your skin.[16]
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4Rinse your skin with cold water. Lock in the moisturizing properties of the milk by rinsing off your face with cold water. Gently pat your face dry with a towel.[17]
Tip: If you have sensitive or dry skin, apply a gentle moisturizer to your face once it is dry.
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5Repeat this 3 to 4 times a week until your skin is even. Raw milk and turmeric work hand in hand to even out your skin tone and brighten up your face. Put your mixture on your skin a few times a week until your skin looks the way you would like it to.[18]
- Turmeric is not a bleaching agent, so it won’t strip your skin of any natural pigmentation.
wikiHow Video: How to Apply Raw Milk on Your Face
Warnings
- Raw milk does not get heat-treated to remove any bacteria. If you get flu-like symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headaches, or fevers after ingesting raw milk, go to the doctor right away.[19]⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/dangers-raw-milk-unpasteurized-milk-can-pose-serious-health-risk
- ↑ https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-milk-on-skin--know-from-dermatologist
- ↑ https://www.ajas.info/upload/pdf/147.pdf
- ↑ https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-milk-on-skin--know-from-dermatologist
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/dangers-raw-milk-unpasteurized-milk-can-pose-serious-health-risk
- ↑ https://www.beautyglimpse.com/milk-ultimate-natural-moisturizer-skin/
- ↑ https://www.beautyglimpse.com/milk-ultimate-natural-moisturizer-skin/
- ↑ https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-milk-on-skin--know-from-dermatologist
- ↑ https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-milk-on-skin--know-from-dermatologist
- ↑ https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-milk-on-skin--know-from-dermatologist
- ↑ https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-milk-on-skin--know-from-dermatologist
- ↑ https://www.beautyglimpse.com/milk-ultimate-natural-moisturizer-skin/
- ↑ https://www.beautyglimpse.com/milk-ultimate-natural-moisturizer-skin/
- ↑ https://www.beautyglimpse.com/kasturi-turmeric-works-wonders-skin/
- ↑ https://www.beautyglimpse.com/kasturi-turmeric-works-wonders-skin/
- ↑ https://www.beautyglimpse.com/kasturi-turmeric-works-wonders-skin/
- ↑ https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-milk-on-skin--know-from-dermatologist
- ↑ https://www.dermatocare.com/blog/9-benefits-of-using-milk-on-skin--know-from-dermatologist
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/dangers-raw-milk-unpasteurized-milk-can-pose-serious-health-risk
About This Article
Some people use raw milk to moisturize, tone, and exfoliate their face, although more research is needed to determine if milk is an effective ingredient in skincare. If you want to give it a try, apply raw milk to your face every day after washing your face. Dip a cotton pad in a small bowl of raw milk and gently rub the milk into your skin. Then, rinse your face with cool water. To use raw milk as an exfoliator, mix 3 parts raw milk with 1 part honey, then rub the mixture into your skin. Let the mask sit on your face for 5 minutes. Rinse your face with cool water and repeat every day. Keep in mind that raw milk contains bacteria that could cause skin problems if you’re prone to acne.
